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

II nave NOT MANY FRIENDS, DOLORES"
81 have not many friends, Dolores" he said
TO his wife that evening, as she sat yawning on
a law ottoman in front of the wood fire while
he smoked his after-dinner cigarette, ''but the
few | have devoted to me and they are
dying to know YOU don't care about giving
a dance. as / told YOU the other day. but I've
no objection to giving dinner now aud then,
If you like"
Dolores stihed yawn before she answered.
She had been looking at the burning logs in
waking dream, and this suggestion OF a din
ner party did not arouse any enthusiasm in
her.
The people You know are so dreadful" she
said, You have pointed out men in the Bots
As your dearest friends whose appearance
positively made me shudder. A long. lantern
jawed man with red hair, and a threadbare
oyercoat. for instance"
'HausrOth." murmured Perez. recognizing
the picture: "a man only second in importance
to the ROthschids and the MIres"
''And blOated creature. with a complexion
that suggests nothing but the refuse of the oil
mills"
.'Joffroy"
And little wizened wretch with one
shoulder higher than the other. and long
greasy hair of a greenish gray"
''StrnOskl said Perez. "a Pole by birth and
the keenest tinancier in Paris. DO you know.
Dolores, the amount Of solid capital which
those three men represent
Il neither know nor care. All | hope is that
they will never cross my theshOld. unless in
deed. you allow me 10 get together so many
artistic and agreeable people that shall hardly
be conscious of your capitalists"
where are yOu to get your agreeable peo-
pleE' asked Perez after pause of discontinue
vexed that his compromise found 50 little favor
with his idol.
.'Oh. 1 will find them easily enough if you
only give me leave TO send out a few invita-
tlOns. Duturque knows lots of clever people
and he can send out NV cards. Monsieur and
Madame. Perez invite Monsieur or Madame
Chose to spend the evening with them-with
monsieur Duturque compliments at the corner
OF the card"
But have you ever met these people in
Madame Duturque's salon-a third floor IN the
Rue des Saints Peres!' inquired Perez, incred-
ulOusly.
Certainly not They would not go to a
third floor III the Rue des Saints Peres. They
would not go anywhere 10 be entertained with
Duturques music and Madame Duturdue's
weak tea, but they will come to my villa. they
will come to the wife of Perez Peru. Voyons,
mon ami. let Us make a compromise-"
Perez sighed. 1t was his own word
You shall invite those dreadful-looking
human ingOts OF yours TO dinner a dinner
OF all that Is most precious in the way of gor-
mandlze. and after dinner l. Madame Perez
will be al home to all that is most distinguished
In the art world; the painters and sculptors;
the actors and actresses. the Journalistic
Nv no Will write about your party in their
sceursed papers, and who will ridicule your
husband"
WHY should they ridicule you? Is it ride
ulous 70 have married youth and good looks
instead Of age and uglInessg 1 can't under
stand Pedro, why you are so ashamed of your
wife.
She lighted a cigarette for him as she talked
seating herself careless,y upon the arm of his
chair, and transferring the cigarette delicatey
from her lips TO his. She knew that he was
yielding, and that caress and a few sweet
words would clench the bargain.
Ashamed of my wife; no. 1t Is Of the contrast
between vile and husband am ashamed Ii
is that which the newspaper men Will rldicule -"
They will be too wise to offend SO powerful
man"
''Ah, but they have lampooned me, they
have seized every occasion"
SIMPLY because you live in your shell like a
bnall. lou are of no use to the clever people
% Paris You fulfill none OF the duties of
milhOnalre. You will be a few thousands richer
when you die. but you will have off ended every
body while you live. Give me carte blanche
fedrO, and you shall have all the journalists
and caricaturists whom you dread at your feet
There shall be dancing there shall be no
iootlsh young men. but Will give a party that
will dazzle Paris
he diG not yield without a struggle He
smoked third and a fourth cigarette of ms
vile HShtlhg; Her gentleness, her graceful
eoquetrIes. made him forget every resolution
he had ever made 10 live his own life and TO
Keep the tlnsel and folly of the pleasure-Ioyinp
world outside his gate. He yielded after the
fourth cigarette, Ahasuerus might have
yielded 10 Esther when Esther was still the
latest novelty IN the royal harem.
DO what you like. ma chere Invite whom
You Please he murmured a. last
The cards of invitation went out two DAYS
After that hreslde discussion. The list of names
was made out with the and of the good Du-
turque, whose professional career had brought
nm INTO communication with the art world of
Paris, though II had not elevated him to init
macy with celebrities Dolores trusted much
10 her ownreputatlOn a beauty whose charms
had been hidden from the outer world The
cards Despatched. she went TO all the great con-
fecuOners. electricians, florists aud wine mer-
chants OF Paris She called IN upholsterers and
tent makers. She arranged for "A series ofthree
large marduees, which were to cover the lawn
behind her villa. The house in all its beauty
anu splendOr was to be only a yestibule to these
tented halls. The first marquee was To be dec
Grated with palms and tropical plants and was
TO serve as a promenade pure and simple Her
drawing room was to be the entrance TO this
outer tent. and here she was to receive her
guests The second marquee was to be decor
Ated contrastiyely with tapestries and Oriental
brocades. and here and there was TO be a con-
cert By some Of the hrst artists IN Paris and in