, 1888-06-05

little supper; you win sing US some Schu-
bert; Eugene viii play US the Apas-
sonata; you will meet your ideal; we
will persuade ourselves that every loss
has a gain TO match and forget
show miserable we shall feel in the
morning" Jack finishes for her.
"Pessimistl' says Cara, smiling; "wil
you Gomez"
"Do 1 ever refuse an invitation from
your" as he rises preparatory to taking
his leave.
i'Then it Is settled. II you care to you
may take the photograph with you"
THANK you," he says, slipping 1t into
the pocket Of his great coat.
"Now l am going back to the bread
and butter part Of existence. There's
something almost dreary In the per-
sistency with which one and one are two,
isn't there?''
There have been cases''-what a CO.
quette the girl isl-'there have been
cases where one and one made one"
He has taken her hand to say good
night, as she speaks, and a passionate
light comes into his eyes at her words.
'Ah, Cara" he says impulsively, 'if I
only thought"-
Don't think" she answers, consult
the proper mathematical authorities"
On Thursday night Jack, having made
a very careful toilet and mislaid every-
thing with a cheerful sense of the entire
responsibility of Betty, the chambermaid,
takes a last look at the photograph which
occupies the place of honor over his
dressing case, before setting out to meet
the original. 'Something will probably
hava honnaraI fO LaaD lnr ~ hOp,a 80
something" he soliloquizes as Tho leaves
the house.
1t is the middle Of the first act when
enters. The rest of the party are COM
pletely absorbed, but he can see that she
Is there. Her back is toward him, but
surely only n woman could have hair
like that, and wear black lace the way
she does. Jack suddenly remembers his
ideal costume for n woman has always
been made OF black lace.
And Cara7 Well, Cara Is a very beau
tiful woman, but her she could never
give much love to any one, and what
emotional gymnastics she would require
Of the man TO whom she was married.
AS the curtain falls the orchestra be-
gins "Weber's Last, " and Cara motions
him toward her. "Eugenie, I" she says,
leaning forward "Eugenie, let mo pre-
sent my friend"- Jack doesn't hear
the rest, for the lady turns and he sees a
f~ascinatingly ugly woman with a de-
lightful directness of gaze, who ac-
knowledges the introduction In the mid
die of a remark which she is making to
Lieut.. Willoughby. Jack glances ap-
pealingly at Cara, who is rather sus-
piciously engaged in II leisurely survey of
the house through her glasses.
There's Mrs. Dunbar" says Cara's
aunt, leaning forward for a better view.
''She has succeeded in engaging her
daughter in the army"
"Did l hear you say" laughs Cara,
that her dearest wish is Accomplishment"
"No," says Mrs. Lorrimer. Zone
doesn't say those things, my dear"
Let us consider, them" says Cara,
demurely, ''that no one has spoken"
II have been having something of that
sensation all the evening"" says the lieu
tenant. 'Bernhardt's French must be
provincial; l can't understand her,"
There is a little laugh, in the midst of
which Jack pauses abruptly; for in
Mile. LIE Croix's face, as she smiles, ho
suddenly sees, almost ghostlike, an ex-
preston of the photograph. 1t is gone
before he can be certain, and she has
turned from him to Mrs. Lorrimer, who
is saying plaintively: 81 wish Bern
hardt would play in English"
eff some one would suggest 1t to her,"
says Jack, ''she would probably sit up
late one night and learn the language"
did I ever tell you," says Eugene,
turning 30 that Jack again has a full view
Of her face, "of an experience / had
when l was first learning your EnglishP
MOI / was just at the point where I
found for myself that you wrote one
language and spoke another, when one
evening 1 had the good fortune to meet
Gen. Lawson. You know his reputation
as a conversationalist, and / wished to
convey TO him an idea Of the pleasure
which / felt at meeting him, so / said
impressively, in broken English, 4 am
glad TO meet you, general, esI am max
ing a special study of American idiots.'
His composure was superb. He never
faltered for a moment. His face had all
the calm of n eternal Sabbath, as he
answered, ~suavely; This Is the only
time in life, mademoiselle, when / feel
that I can fully justify a p~rejudged opin-
ion.'"
Jack has watched her while she speaks,
and again sees the subtle something that
reminds him Of the picture. A curve to
the cheek, an expression in the eye, an
indefinite something surely suggests 1t to
him, and yet, as Cara sat listening with
a half smile on her lips, she might herself
have been the theme of which the paint
ing was the finished harmony.
'If this thing keeps up" said Jack,
my mind will be O mosaic. / shall
speak to Cara about it when / get an OPP
portunity." But he doesn't get an OPP
portunity, for just then Cara announces,
''Ahi there is Helen, now, Eugene, and
IL cousin is with her."
he takes a long breath and feels him
self a sane man again. Here, at last, Is
a solution Of the problem. A mutual
cousin Is the original; nothing more
likely. He returns Cara's glance In q
manne which intimates that he under
stands the situation at last, and awaits
with interest the entrance of the two
ladies. There Is a little rustic just out
side the box, q mans voice heard In q
tone Of remonstrance, a woman's low
and self contained, and the lady herself
stands at the door Of the box. A woman
in the prime of life, with that repose of
poapnar uyhf%h oOp,oa oftor o-A Loa fe.,-I