Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-12-27

was SJlll lingering Oh III my plehShub Ioonlo
at the Hotel Continental, enjoying the
table dhote, the boulevards, the cafes, the
theaters, the restaurants and the complete
freedom; seeing the gay, busy crowd pass
ing on to their pleasures and occupations,
interested in their movements as "A mere
spectator, but never inclined to mix with
them or to make friends and acquaint-
ances. Sometimes as passed on the broad
asphalt of the boulevard bright glance
shot at me from the eyes of an alert and
sprightly woman would send thrill
through my frame, but if the glance be-
came questioning or provocant | would
avert mine and hurry on, not always fast
enough, however, to avoid hearing behind
me hooking voice say half angrily, half
scornfully, "Sontils done betes, ces Ang-
laisp'
One night after the New Year l heard
some men at a cafe talking of the Bal de
POpera. wondered how sensible, honest,
moral men could show themselves in such
place. Then l specialized ON what that
place was really like, and later on, to my
own incredulous establishment, found my
self in my dress clothes walking, dazed
and ineXpressibly shocked, in the corridor
of the first tier of boxes gazing stupidity
on the scene below every time / came to
one of the openings affording ingress or
egress to the seats in front. / believe was
meditating on the way of escape, leaning
against the side of one of the boxes, when
L became aware of female figure who
had stopped beside me. She wore a sky
blue satin domino, elegantly trimmed with
white lace, loup of the same color and
material, with deep fall of blond, CON
cealed her features, and she slowly waved
fan of blue feathers A strong perfume
of heliotrope seemed to emanate from her
person or her dress as she drew closer to
me. Presently she placed a small, plump
hand on my arm, and said, in high
pitched, artificial but very silvery voice:
81 know theel"
How could she know me9
Yet she evidently did, or else she would
not have singled me out Of the crowd and
plainly told me so. | tried to solve the
mystery by ransacking my memory, but in
vain. As if to reproach me with my silence
the voice repeated, in exactly the same
tone, 81 know theew
Curiosity got the better of my shame
facedness, or perhaps the fact that the un
known was closely masked gave me un
usual courage, for not only entered into
conversation with the blue domino, but be
gan to question her, begging her to refresh
my dulled souvenirs and tell me when and
where | had previously met her Was il
in Londony In Parisg In the countryi
She shook her head negatively at each
query and refused to vOuchsafe any en-
lightenment, only repeating, with charm
ing pertinacity, II know theen
Growing more and more excited and in
terested, | earnestly implored her to tel
me at least who she was. No. Well
would she lift her mask but for one in
slant and let me see her faceg waxed
eloquent. told her knew she was beau
tiful that hesitated-that | remembered
her now, in spite Of disguised face anC
voice; that she was-Helen. Iwaited She
did not shake her head quite so positively
this time, but enough to send subtl,
wave of the heliotrope perfume around me
Helen ArdineY | added, mentioning my
whilom pretty neighbours name, who had
been married some time
She eluded the direct answer but com
ing closer to me she slipped her arm within
mine confidently and whispered:
IF know you and you know me, why
waste our time in senseless questioning,
ourselves; let us begin to do so-and that
for the past"
She snapped her fingers with a sharJ
noise as of castanets, which could nevsl
have been achieved by an English woman
and before | had time TO realize that sh,
was not Helen after all she had led m,
away. Arm in arm we walked together IL
the crowded opera house, or set side by sid,
in secluded corners. | was no Longer
shocked or Disguised by the strange, gro
tesque or vulgar sights around me; tn,
blue domino seemed to throw a glamoi
over them. pressed close to my heart tn,
rounded arm that rested on mine.
Once, in the heavy shadow of a drapet
balcony, lifted her pretty fingers to my
| lips. told her that she was distractinglJ
| lovely, although the jealous mask only al
lowed an occasional flash of white teeth Il
shine through the lace, for she never lifted
the loup once. In fact, made love to her Al
/ II had had a lifelong experience. Wher'
was my awe of women now / was lifted
out Of myself by her gracious presence
| Surely she must be some foreign grand,
dame. some aristocratic beauty, seeking an
/ hour Of freedom from a loveless life o
| thraldom and etiquette. | would becom,
/ her knight, and like chivalrOus gentle
man crafty her desires and respect her Sc
crets.
In answer to my oft repeated question
/ "Shall we meet AGAIN." she answered a
last Perhaps" in an enigmatical but no
Encouraging manner. pressed her close
/ to my side and murmured, "Angelr d,
not know what should have added hat
she not at that moment quickly slipped he
arm from mine, and before / could ask tn,
reason Of that swift movement she was Ell
quilted in a noisy melee Of debardeurs AM
clodoches hurrying to the last gallop 0
/ the night.
l sought the blue satin domino ant
waving feather fan through the entir
building-in the boxes, the lobbies, tn
passages-retracing my steps a hundrei
times in my fruitless quest. / repeated
asked the bystanders if they had seen tn
woman I described; they shrugged thei
shoulders, and | read in their humorou
smile the old sentence, "Sont-ils betes, ce
Anglaisw
Al last, in the gray dawn, / left tn
opera house-or rather ] was politely in
formed by the janitors that / must do sC