Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-17

81 congratulate you upon the success of your
fete, he said. holding his cousins hand with
lingering pressure. 'All the notabilites of
Paris are pouring in at your door, / am glad
l returned in the nick of time to assist at your
triumph"
WAS it worth while to return at all after you
had stayed away so long! asked Dolores, look
ing at him with deliberate disdain which had
all the effect of a cold douche after the hot
room in n Turkish bath.
'My dear Dolores, matrimony seems to have
made a remarkable change in your manner to
your own kith and kim" he said, smiling at
her. Il hope your head is not going to be
turned by social success"
No, my head will not be turned. but my
eyes have been opened. You left Paris without
a word to the people who-who cared for you.
Can you wonder IL they were emil ghtened bv your
conduct and left off caring for one who set so
small value upon the ties of kindred? |
think | have learnt to understand your charac-
ter during your long absence and that know
you now almost as well as Louise knows you"
His face darkened at the name and he looked
around the room and beyond into the crowded
tent as il he were searching out an enemy.
Il see." he said. Louise has been SANDER
ing me to you. l will not detlin you from your
guests, but later you must give me few min
utes' quiet conversation. | have something
important to say to you. 1t Is a matter of life
and death"
Il recognize the old prelude" said Dolores;
THAT means money.
Leon Duverdier moved onward into the tent
where people were promeuading amid Babel
Of talk to the tent beyond.
Yes. the party was success, and walking
about quietly among people who were for the
most part strangers to him Pedro Perez was
gratitied with enthusiastic praises of his wife's
grace and beauty, her Jewels her costume and
the originality OF her reception. True, that
he heard more than one witticism at his own
expense. and was reminded of a fact which he
had never ignored-the fact that he was old
and plain, and insignificant, and that his only
value in the eyes of the houri in blush rose
satin and many-colOred gems must needs lie
in his millions. He heard. and he did not
despair. There was something-an undefina-
BILE change in Dolores of late which told him
she was not altogether ungrateful and he
thought that if he could pension off Madame
Quliada and have his young wife all to himself,
free from the mothers sinister influence. there
would not be a happier husband in all Paris
than he, Perez Peru.
The concert closed with eclat in a new part
song composed by Monsieur Duturque who
had adroltly converted to his own use a certain
almost forgotten march in opera by Lulli, a
stirring melody which put the audience in good
humor, and with the last chord the velvet cur
talns which concealed the supper tent were
drawn suddenly apart, and the roc's egg lamp
bathed the scene i'll a soft. yet dazzling light.
which set off the vivid coloring of fruit and
flowers, silver gilt and Venetian glass, Saumon
n la Chambord and Homard en- aspic, on the
fifty supper tables.
There was lively chorus of approval from
the guests who had been wondering where the
supper was to come from, and whether they
were going to be put off with tea and coffee
ices and iced drinks at the buffet in the dining
ROOM The fifty tables were occupied as if by
magic. and two hundred and odd tongues were
chattering about the roc's egg.
The supper tables were occupied till nearly two
o clock and there was no failure in the supplies
At two everybody had supped and almost every
BODY had departed, save few night-bird Jour
nalists, who still sat drinking and talking at a
couple of tables. Among these was Leon
Duyerdier.
AS tine clock struck two the roc's egg lamp was
extlnguished and the curtains fell, leaving the
lingering guests in total darkness
Il call that about the broadcast hint our fair
hostess could give u.s." said the editor of a
famous P3risan paper, and there was a good
deal OF talk and laughter from the Bohemian
band during some minutes of darkness at the
end OF which interval the curtains were drawn
back again by invisible hands and the last
guests strolled through the empty tents to the
drawing room, where Dolores was waiting to
bid good night, with the faithful Duturques to
| keep her company. Madame Quijada had re-
tired within the last hour and Pedro Perez had
sneaked off to his own apar tment soon after
the opening OF the supper room.
The editor was full OF apologies.
That Is the worst of the brotherhood Of
letters" he said gaiy; I'VE are so fond of one
| another's society that it is much easier to
assemble than to dispense us; besides who
would be In hurry to leave fairyland? If it
had not been for the sportiveness of the roc's
egg we should have fingered till the sun put
that emblem OF magic power to shame"