The Washington times., 1920-02-16

massed glory OF color in their
Huge punches of pink protsas.
spiked lilies of every hue. bales Of
heather. and waxen white thinker
iohees filled the air with heavy per-
fume. The sellers came pressing
to the passing carriages. soliciting
custom In the soft, clipped speech
of the Cape natiye~ Bellew, for all
he was so distrait'ehad the grace
full Inspiration to stop and take on
q load OF color and perfume. and
April for q moment. lost count OF
her troubles In sheer Joy NJ the
senses.
But where do they come from,
she cried. IT have never seen such
flowers In the world!
The Pride Of the wsrId.
There are no flowers in tho
world like those from Table Noun
tain" he said.
"Tha t old bleak beastg She
gSzed in establishment at the gray
mass still lowering above. and about
them. 'She looks as though moth
Ing would grow on her gaunt sides
except sharp hints"
Bellew laughed.
"Those 'gaunt sides are covered
with beauty. and hundreds of. p-o-
plA make their living from them"
Africa Is wonderful" sighed
April, and suddenly the weight Of
her burden returned.
."Africa's all right. II it. weren't
for the people in it," he retorted.
moodily.
The hotel proved to be a pic
turesque building perched on rising
ground above lovely gardens. Some
of its countless windows looked
over the town to the sea; but most
OF them seemed to be peered into
by the relentless granite eyes Of the
mountain. ,Aprirs first act was to
draw the blinds of her room.
IL I stay here long" she thought,
and felt despairing. Bellew had en-
gagged rooms for her, boldly inscrib-
ing the name of Lady Diana Sandi-
lands" in the big ledger, while she
stood by, acquiescing In. II not con-
tributing to, the lie. Afterward he
went away to superintend the I'M
loading of his luggage. 1t appeared
that the three immense trunks con-
tanned much valuable glass and
china for the governors wife, and
their safety.
Although. making only a short
stay, in spite Of the glum looks of
the porters he had everything car
ried carefully up to his room, on the
fourth floor. Glum looks were
wasted on the bland Bellew. who
lived by the motto: "Je men fiche q
tout lie monde" and, who, on his
own confession. would have liked
Africa to himself.
No word concerning the tragedy
had yet passed between him and
April, but she knew that something
was impending. and that she would
probably do as he told her, for he
seemed, in the strange circum-
stances. to occupy the position OF
sole executor Of Diana's will.
All the World There.
On going down to lunch she found
that he had engaged a small table
for them both. but was not there
himself. What pleased her less was
that as regards company, she
might, just as we'll have been back
on board the Clarendon Castle. AL
most every one Of her fellow-pas-
sengers was scattered around the
multiplicity of small tables.
1t would seem as IL the Mt. Nell
son was the only hotel in the town.
although she remembered quite a
number Of others In the directory.
Eyen Vereker Sarle was there. Far
down the long room she saw him
sitting with two other men-one
much at home; the. other, a distin-
ev,Iighed lnnLfn0 man
with an English air to him in spite
OF being burned as black as the
ace of spades. She was aware that
Sarle saw her and had a trembling
fear that he might join her.
1t was almost a relief when Bel
lew came in toward the end Of the
meal, for she knew he would prove
an effective barrier. He looked hot
and weary Rnd explained that he
had been obliged to go back down
town to attend to some business.
II think you had better take up
your quarters here for a time" he
added
She flinched at the prospect.
But why? It is so public. Every
one off the boat seems to be here,
and I shall have to keep on telling
lies just because I know them. IL.
seems to be I can't open my mouth
without telling a lie, and" she nm
ished desperately, at makes me
sick"
He looked at her coldly. His fine
brown eyes could be hard as flint.
IT thought II was promise
some sort Of n compact-to do what
was best-for herr" he remarked.
A little cold wave of the sea
10
she could see her hands trembling
as she. dealt with the fruit on her
plate.
VERY WELL" she acquiesced tone
lessly at last. eff you think IL best.
How long am I tn stay7r