The Powers and Maxine

The Powers and Maxine

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Title: The Powers and Maxine
Author: Charles Norris Williamson
Release Date: December 8, 2003 [EBook #10410]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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The Powers and Maxine
By C.N. and A.M. Williamson
Author of

"The Princess Virginia," "My Friend the Chauffeur," "The Car of
Destiny," "The Princess Passes," "Lady Betty Across the Water," Etc.
Copyright, 1907, by C.N. and A.M. Williamson.
_With Illustrations By FRANK T. MERRILL_

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
LISA'S KNIGHT AND LISA'S SISTER
II. LISA LISTENS
III. LISA MAKES MISCHIEF
IV. IVOR TRAVELS TO PARIS
V. IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE
VI. IVOR HEARS THE STORY
VII. IVOR IS LATE FOR AN APPOINTMENT
VIII. MAXINE ACTS ON THE STAGE AND OFF
IX. MAXINE GIVES BACK THE DIAMONDS
X. MAXINE DRIVES WITH THE ENEMY
XI. MAXINE OPENS THE GATE FOR A MAN
XII. IVOR GOES INTO THE DARK
XIII. IVOR FINDS SOMETHING IN THE DARK

XIV. DIANA TAKES A MIDNIGHT DRIVE
XV. DIANA HEARS NEWS
XVI. DIANA UNDERTAKES A STRANGE ERRAND
XVII. MAXINE MAKES A BARGAIN
XVIII. MAXINE MEETS DIANA
XIX. MAXINE PLAYS THE LAST HAND OF THE GAME

LISA DRUMMOND'S PART

The Powers and Maxine
CHAPTER I
LISA'S KNIGHT AND LISA'S SISTER
It had come at last, the moment I had been thinking about for days. I
was going to have him all to myself, the only person in the world I ever
loved.
He had asked me to sit out two dances, and that made me think he
really must want to be with me, not just because I'm the "pretty girl's
sister," but because I'm myself, Lisa Drummond.
Being what I am,--queer, and plain, I can't bear to think that men like
girls for their beauty; yet I can't help liking men better if they are
handsome.
I don't know if Ivor Dundas is the handsomest man I ever saw, but he
seems so to me. I don't know if he is very good, or really very
wonderful, although he's clever and ambitious enough; but he has a
way that makes women fond of him; and men admire him, too. He

looks straight into your eyes when he talks to you, as if he cared more
for you than anyone else in the world: and if I were an artist, painting a
picture of a dark young knight starting off for the crusades, I should ask
Ivor Dundas to stand as my model.
Perhaps his expression wouldn't be exactly right for the pious young
crusader, for it isn't at all saintly, really: still, I have seen just that rapt
sort of look on his face. It was generally when he was talking to Di: but
I wouldn't let myself believe that it meant anything in particular. He has
the reputation of having made lots of women fall in love with him. This
was one of the first things I heard when Di and I came over from
America to visit Lord and Lady Mountstuart. And of course there was
the story about him and Maxine de Renzie. Everyone was talking of it
when we first arrived in London.
My heart beat very fast as I guided him into the room which Lady
Mountstuart has given Di and me for our special den. It is separated by
another larger room from the ballroom; but both doors were open and
we could see people dancing.
I told him he might sit by me on the sofa under Di's book shelves,
because we could talk better there. Usually, I don't like being in front of
a mirror, because--well, because I'm only the "pretty girl's sister." But
to-night I didn't mind. My cheeks were red, and my eyes bright. Sitting
down, you might almost take me for a tall girl, and the way my gown
was made didn't show that one shoulder is a little higher than the other.
Di designed the dress.
I thought, if I wasn't pretty, I did look interesting, and original. I looked
as if I could think of things; and as if I could feel.
And I was feeling. I was wondering why he had been so good to me
lately, unless he cared. Of course it might be for Di's sake; but I am not
so queer-looking that no man could ever be fascinated by me.