Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-06

| race Drlgntens with a smile OF tenoer enec-
ton, ''you cannot imagine how that lovely
creature enlivens my sojourn in this society
| vortex"
She went to a table and began to take some
| photographs out of a plush case.
Here" she said, handing one to me, this
will give you some slight idea Of her appear
ance. You can imagine what pleasure II is to
! have her near me with that Grecian nose, after
/ living years surrounded by my daughters
| 'pugs.' They all took after their father, not
| one looked like the Van Courtlands. It's a
wonder and a blessing they ever got married ~
During this disquisition was staring at the
picture. which was the full-length figure of g
young lady in walking dress. Even to my un-
sophisticated eyes it was evident that the gown
| was Partisan. Figure and profile were perfect,
but was disappointed. The pose was very stiff
and it was tantalizing not to be able to see more
of that faultless face.
II am going to take her to Paris next year, {"
she said, ITO have her portrait painted by
Cabanal. IL Is the only way to do Justice to
her beauty, which is of expression. The pho
togrspher said it was impossible to catch dear
Eugenias expression" added Mrs GRAY. az
proudly as il sitting for a picture was chase
In which Miss Van CORTLAND was to be COM
mended for her skill in eluding the photoa-
rapher.
Now, said Mrs. Grey, lam thinking of q
delightful plan. Go to the piano and piay
while it natures. Play Chopin's eleventh noe
turne, dear Eugenias favorise."
lovely original Of the photograph might be an
unseen auditor.
"DelightfulT exclaimed Mrs. Grey, when I
stopped. You must know Eugenia. have o
plan Lent will be here soon. Your music
eievstes me to heaven. My dear fellow, won't
as long as you please. Tell me you will"
1t happened that this invitation Just &C.
corded with my plans, and / accepted on the
spot After few moments of arrangements
and expression OF pleasure at my acceptance
the foOtman announced Mrs. Crews carriage
into which helped her, vending anyway home.
ward through the gaslit streets, esteeming my
self very lucky fellow. In this opinion was
Endorsed day or two later by Commodore
sapRsr c ,.u
Mrs. Grey has taken prodigious fancy to you
and asked you to stay with her. you young
rascal. Can't see what she sees in you myself-
. good looking BARRIERS block, filed with
music and sentiment But tbs good thing for
you Miss Van CORTLAND is immensely rich.
Now, Archie, your mother was q sweetheart Of
mine, and for her sake I'll give you the advice
the Quaker gave his son: MY son. he said,
don thee marry for money, but, my son, be
sure to 60 where money is
If 1 had been her relative Mrs. Grey could
not have made me feel more at home. came
and went as l pleased, my hostess rising late
and being so engrossed by engagements that
sometimes only saw her at o'clock dinner
and in the evening. Several days passed with
out glimpse Of Miss Van CORTLAND.
Il am sorry" Mrs. Grey said, that you can
not meet dear Eugenia just now. The poor
child has just sustained a fearful shock. A
school friend of hers, to whom she was bound
by ties of warmest affection, met most pain
full death. Eugenia has such a tender nature
that this loss has affected her 80 that she can
not bear to meet strangers or to 60 out for
some time. am afraid that humor her-but
when love-! She has poets soul. She
told me yesterday that your music soothed her
and brings her calm"
Ny imagination was taken captive by this
sensitive creature, SO unlike the majority of
society girls, by this elusive beauty whom. al
though we were living under the same roof. I
had never seen. Aimless wanderings in the
halls, excursions from my room at fancied foot
steps, peerlngs over the banisters, were to no
avail. had begun to think that there wasn't
such person when at length fate afforded me
evidence to the contrary by ocular demopstra-
ton. For an hour before dinner while Mrs.
Grey was resting and dressing, used to go
into the drawing room and there in the twilight
play over selections from tho masters and
improvise on the grand piano.
One evening as l sat there the fancy struck
met seems rather absurdly aesthetic to me
now-that wanted to place on the piano. 40
| could inhale their perfume. vase full of
Mareehal Neils which stood on Ia BILE in the
smaller back drawing room.
Between tie two rooms hung a portiere of
bamboo. Before putting out my hand to part
this paused, seeing in the dim freight. which
she sat facing. the figure Of young woman.
Here, at last, was Eugenia,
The reddish glow fell on her golden hair and
half averted face and richly clad and perfect
figure, which the photograph had amped upon
my mind. The waving parti-colored strings and
dim light gave the effect of mirage to her mo-
tionless pose. so that the details and sharpness
of contour was lost. She was seemingly Loaf in
airalessly of something she
had been reading in the open book which Law
upon her lap.
As lovely as was the vision my conscience
Pricked me for playing eavesdropper. / softly
stepped BACK to the piano and began to play
1t was no doubt to listen to nv music that She
had come there. Mrs. Grey had told me that
she enjoyed 1t passionately. The thought
stimulated me and the music made bond he
tween us so that | could almost feel her near
ness. After while there was a faint sound
ana rustic In the back room, and when stole
softly to the portiere it was to find that Miss
Van CORTLAND had vanished
entered and sat down in the large velvet
chair in which she had been seated. Around
was a faint perfume of violet, one of those
delicate odors which belong to beautiful women
and to flowers
lhe book she had been reading, an edition
de luxe OF Brownings poems, lay upon the
table opened at the .'Tocatta of Galuppe's."
with dese lines marked in lead pencil:
Nnht those lesser thirds SO plaintiye, sixths
diminished sIgh on sigh told them Something's
Those suspensions. those solutions must Ne die,,,
In answer took my pencil and marked the
next line: Life might last-we can but try"
Leaving the book open, that she might see NV
answer.
The next day she was in the same nlace-
pensive. motionless. Evening after evening
passed In this way. The very mystery and
intanglbleness of the affair gave me a pleasure
which could not analyZe, never having been
In love before. The dusky hours in which /
poured forth my whole soul through nv finger
ups to the strange. lovely, unseen creature.
VINO Tor some unknown reason would not
emerge from her retirement became to me
the one thing that the day held or life even.
Then, too, she was conscious of nv presence.
She communicated with me through the pencil
marks IN her Browning. Never was there more
delicate, more poetical communication. l
knew her innermost thoughts and feelings.
The progress OF my love was marked by few
incidents. livery evening, after thought she
was gone, stole in and found her book. in
which, as my feeling grew stronger my quota
lions marked an urgency Of appeal that she
would cease the mystery and come into the
common light Of day. while she eyaded the
question and limited at some sorrow or Injustice
IN her life. And all this time had not snoken
to her once or caught but fleeing and stolen
glmpses through the portiere of her. always
exquisitely attired In some new costume.
Mrs Grey was full Of apologies for Eupenia's