The record-union., 1891-09-26

sieur! 1t would remind me only now of
how i'll you think OF me. beg you to
keep it,"
The music had died away suddenly,
and its ceasing had been followed by a
loud murmur of applause. The prima
donna rose and stood for moment OBJ
serving me irresolutely.
Il leave you and your violin, monsieur.
/ have to sing presently, with such voice
as our talk has left me. / bid you both
adieu.'
''Ah, madame" I deprecated. .you
will think again of this. / will send it
you in the morning. l have no right
She shook her head; then with a sudden
flash OF amusement or fantasy-"I
agree, monsieur, on a condition. To
prove your penitence you shall bring it
me yourself"
Iprofessed that her favor overpowered
me. She named an hour when she would
be at home; an address in the Avenue
des Champs Elysees, which l noted on
my tablets.
Not adieu, then, monsieur; but au re-
| goi3!"
| bowed perplexedly, holding the cur
tain aside TO let her sweep through, and
once more she turned back, gathering up
her yoluminouS train, to repeat with
a glance and accent which l found nysti-
lying: Remember, monsieur. it is only
az rep0iT''
That last glimpse of her, with the
strange mockery and an almost selfish
malice IN her fine eyes, went home with
me later, to cause vague disquiet and
fresh suspicion of her truth. The spell of
her extraordinary personal charm re-
moved, doubt would assert itself Was
she quite sincere? Was her fascination
not a questionable one? Might not that
almost childish outburst of grief so
touching and at the time convincing, be,
nt oil pfI :
born actress and enchantress of men,
quick to seize as by nice professional
| instinct or opportunity of an effect? Had
her whole attitude been deliberate pose
a sort of trick? The sudden changes in
| her subtle voice, the undercurrent of
mockery in an invitation which seemed
/ inconsequent, put me on my guard, re-
! inforced all my deep-seated prejudices
against the candor of the feminine soul.
1t left me with a provision Of her, fam
taStlcally vivid, recounting to an intimate
circle, to an accompaniment Of some dis
Greet laughter and the popping of cham
pagne corkS, the success of her imposi-
ton, the sentimental concessions she had
/ extorted from q notorious student of
| cynical moods.
"a dangerous womanr' cried Mrs.
| Destrier, with the world, which might
| conceivably be right; at least, was fain
! to add, woman whose laughter would
/ be merciless. Certainly l had no temper
/ for adventures; and visit to Madame
| Romanof on so sentimental an errand
seemed to me the more / pandered it, to
! belong to this category, to be rich in dis
tasteful possibilities. Must l write my
! self pusillanimous ii confess that never
made it; that | committed my old friends
/ violin into the hands of the woman who
had been his pupil by the vulgar aid of a
commissionaire?
Pusillanimous or simply prudent: or,
perhaps, cruelty unjust to person who
had paid penalties and greatly needed
kindness? ltis point have never been
able to decide, though L have tried TO
raise theories on the ground of her acqui-
escence. 1t seemed to me on the cards
that my fiddle, bestowed so cavalierly,
should be refused. And yet even the fact
of her retaining it is open to two inter
pretations, and Cristich testified for her.
Maurice Cristich! Nine. Romanoff! the
renowned Romanotf, Maurice Cristich.
Have l been pusillanimous, prudent, or
merely cruel? For the life of me / can
not say!-Ernest Dowson in Macmillan's IS
Magazine.