Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-03-12
CHAPTER 3

perfectly fitting evening ilothes, de-
manded an introduction.
Delighted, old chap" replied the
Englishman thus accosted. He smiled
wisely. "But it's waste of time, lar
my lad--the lady fair will never notice
yet another captive at her chariot
wheels. Well, so here goes. Permit
me, please" he bowed to the girl who
now stood smiling graciously. She
nodded and treated the advancing pail
to an expression so wholly winning
that Ian's normally steady heart did
a quick double-shuffle. "Mademoi-
selle la Comtesse, may have the hon.
or to present an old frend?"
Ian, amid queer confusion, watch
ed the girls red lips part in a quick
and convincing smile. "It is a
very great pleasure, Monsieur"
"Mr. Gray, the Countess Won Wal
deck"
Had a bayonet been plunged into
Ian's back, he could not have been
more startled. Nothing but his dip
lomatic training rescue him from
committing faux-pas of the worst
sort, but his head buzzed as it had
when a shrapnel splinter had dented
his helmet that day before Siecheprez.
Great Scot! Then this was the
famous or rather Infamous Countess
Won Waldeck? 1t could not be! Not
this simple, unaffected girl in white.
More than a bit of the world had Ian
seen in his thirty-seven odd years and
during those years he had become, by
common consent, singularly apt
judge of character. {"
To cover his mounting color he
bowed so low that the row of mini
ature medals and decorations glitter
ing on his left lapel of his dress suit
clinked softly.
"It is a great HONOR" he managed
to articulate, ''to meet the beautiful
Countess Won Waldeck." When for
the first time their eyes met fair and
then, Ian was conscious of strange
exhilaration. What the devil? Vain
ly he tried to read beyond those clear
and tranquil blue eyes.
Monsieur is English or an Ameri-
can," she stated swiftly. "Dieu, I am
sure of it; else by now you would
have made a dozen gallant speeches
which mean nothing and bore one so
terribly"
eyes," he stammered and cursed his
sudden uncertainty. Damn it, he, Ian
Gray, was as embarrassed as any
school boy speaking in public for the
first time! 81 am at the American
Ministry"
ooh" Her lips formed a perfect,
ruby hued circle, then her face lit.
"Ah, 1 have it-you must be Ian,
that friend of whom Leonard Holt
tells me so much"
Leonard talks to much--it's fail
ing he has. II hope he hasn't been
telling tales out of school,"
Laughing lightly the girl in the
1auyis ball gown held up slender
blue yeined forefinger and tilted her
blonde head just little to one side.
us this guilty conscience, Mon
sieur, But I will set your fears at
rest. Monsieur Holt has painted you
as the beau sabreur par excellence
sort of modern Bayard."
Lord forgive him for those lies"
laughed Ian and drew breath to fur
Their pursue the conversation when a
new contingent of guests arrived
Among them were the gay Captain
d'Armonot and, as sharp a contrast
as might be found, Major Harris.
When they beheld him standing some
what dazed on the outskirts of the
throng hemming in the fragile beauty
of Countess Won Waldeck, they both
treated him to a hooking lift of the
eyebrows.
Gre nom de Dieu-you waste no
timep cried Captain dArmonot, very
dark and picturesque in his artillery
dress uniform of black and red. Gre
member about the fools who rushed ?"
'Deuced stunning girl. Singular
purity of face and form. Eth what :?
Doesn't look a bit like the siren I've
heard about-more like some nice girl
who's just put up her hair and let
down her skirts. Refreshingly fresh,
Ell WHAT"
Ian noted that even the usually
somber eyes of the big boned Welsh
man lit when for moment. the throng
of those pleading for introduction
parted to afford a glimpse of that
laughing girl whom the other young