The Washington times., 1923-11-24

window and an those dreadful
stories in the newspapers. But
you kept watch beneath my win
dows like a preux chevalier and
felt SAFE"
"I felt rather a fool If the
truth be told" His eyes had q
curious exploring look and Claver-
ing felt unaccountably irritated, in
spite Of all that her words i'm.
piled. 'I'd have done the same IL
you had been old and withered.
Served me right. I should have
thought before left the house to
telephone for a watchman."
All! Quite so. American men
are famous for their gallantry, are
they not? Myself, I have always
liked them" The smile rose to
her wise penetrating eyes, and
Clavering colored like a school.
hoy. Then 1t faded and her face
looked suddenly rigid. ST won.
DER" she muttered, then turned
her back abruptly. "You must
not forget your cocktail. And
dinner has been announced"
Mr.. Dinwiddie made a pretext
of slipping his cocktail as tina
three raised their glasses stimuli
taneousiy to their hostess. She
had declined to join them, with
little grimace. Perhaps in time
I may become American enough
to like your strange connections,
but 80 far I think cocktails have
a really horrid taste. Shall we
go in?''
The Judge offered his arm Will:
the formal gallant air he could
! assume at win and the other nep
followed at a discreet distance;
her shimmering gown had long
tail. Mr.. Dinwiddie's eyes seemed
to bore into that graceful sway
ing back, but he was not the
man to discuss his hostess unit!
he had left her house, and Claver-
ing could only wonder what con-
illusions were forming in that
avid cynical old brain.
The Dining Room.
The dlning-room, long and
narrow, was at the back Of the
hall and extended along the en-
tire width OF the large house.
Like the hall. It was paneled and
dark, an imposing room hung
with family portraits. A small
table at the end looked like q
fairy oasis. It glittered and
cleaned and the flowers were
mauve. matching the tall wand
like candles.
II do hope, Madame Zattiany."
said Mr.. Osborne. as he took a
seat at her left, that YOU
won't succumb to the pre-.
vailing mania for white, and
paint out this beautiful old
walnut. Too many Of our houses
look entirely too sanitary. One
feels as IL he were about to be
shown up to ward to be re-
ceived by hospital nurse with
warning not to speak too loud"
There was no chill formaIity in
his mien as he bent over his
young and beautiful hostess.
"Ah, you forget this is Count
ess Zattiany's house." she said.
smiling. "But I will admit that IL
it were mine I should make few
changes White was quite q Ia
mode in London long before the
war, but, myself, I never liked It,"
Judge Trent sat opposite his
hostess at the round table. She
had placed Mr.. Dinwiddie and Mr..
Osborne on either side Of her,
smiling at Clavering. ''I am sorry
do not know any young ladies'"
she said graciously. although there
was a twinkle in her eye. "You
look rather lonesome"
why should he?" growled Din
widdie. HE is young and you are
young. The rest Of us are the
ones to feel out of It."
mot bit Of 1t! Not a bit Of
it," exclaimed Judge Trent. "You
forget that Madame Zattiany has
lived in Europe since infancy.
She's talked to elderly statesmen
all her life"
"Well, we're not statesmen, the
lord knows" Dinwiddie could
always be relied on to make the
obvious retort, thought Clavering,
although it must be admitted that
he was seldom with none at all.
But you must have seen more
young men than old during the
war, Madame Zattiany. I under.
stand that Mary turned her palace
in Buda Pesth into a hospital and
that you were her chief assistant"
THAT is quite true, and had
by no means confined myself be-
fore that to elderly statesmen; but
I had almost forgotten what a
young man on his feet looked like
before the war finished. Or
society. for that matter. My one
temptation to enter society here
would be the hope Of forming a