Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-12-09
however, az l held gambling to be deadly


table d'hote the boulevards, the cafes, the
theaters, the restaurants and the complete
freedom; seeing the gay, busy crowd pass
iry on to their pleasures and occupations,
interested in their movements as mere
spectator, but never inclined to mix with
them or to make friends and acquaint-
arces. Sometimes as passed on the broad
asphalt of the boulevard a bright glance
shot at me from the eyes of an alert and
sprightly woman would send thrill
through my frame, but il 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, ''Sont-ils done betes, ces Ang-
lais?"
One night after the New Year | heard
some men at cafe talking of the Bal de
POpera. / wondered how sensible, honest,
moral men could show themselves in such
place. Then l speculated 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 l 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, a 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 small, plump
hand on my arm, and said, in a high
pitched, artificial but very silvery voice:
81 know thee!'
How could she know mes
Yet she evidently did. or else she would
not have singled me out of the crowd and
plainly told me SO. l 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, Il know theep'
Curiosity got the better of my shame
facedness, or perhaps the fact that the I'M
known was closely masked gave me I'M
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 it
in LondonS In Parish In the country?
She shook her head negatively at each
query, and refused to vouchsafe any en-
1ghtenment, only repeating, with charm
ing pertinacity, Il know theer'
Growing more and more excited and in
terested, earnestly implored her to tell
me at least who she was No. Well,
would she lift her mask but for one in
slant and let me see her facep l waxed
eloquent. l told her knew she was beau
tiful; that hesitated-that remembered
her now, in spite of disguised face and
voice; that she was-Helen. WAITED. She
did not shake her head quite so positively
this time, but enough to send subtle
wave of the heliotrope perfume around me-
Helen Ardine?" 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 questionings
and "reminiscences? We are here to enjoy
ourselves; let us begin to do so-and that!
for the past.'
She snapped her fingers with a sharp
noise as of castanets, which could never
have been achieved by an English woman,
and before had time to realize that she
was not Helen after all she had led me
away. Arm in arm we walked together in
the crowded opera house, or set side by side
in secluded corners. / was no longer
shocked or Disguised by the strange, gro
tesque or vulgar sights around me; the
blue domino seemed to throw glamor
over them. pressed close to my heart the
rounded arm that rested on mine.
Once, in the heavy shadow of a draped
balcony, lifted her pretty fingers to my
lips. told her that she was distractingly
lovely, although the jealous mask only al
lowed an occasional flash of white teeth to
shine through the lace, for she never lifted
the loup once. In fact, made love to her as
If had had a lifelong experience Where
was my awe of women now? was lifted
out of myself by her gracious presence.
Surely she must be some foreign grande
dame. some aristocratic beauty, seeking an
hour of freedom from loveless life Of
thraldom and etiquette. would become
her knight, and like a chivalrous gentle
man crafty her desires and respect her Sc
crets.
In answer to my oft repeated question,
shall we meet again." she answered at
last Perhaps" in an enigmatical but not
NioSoui"SihS iiduHcT. pTtSScu ueT closer
to my side and murmured, "Angelp' do
not know what should have added had
she not at that moment quickly slipped her
arm from mine, and before l could ask the
reason of that swift movement she was en-
quilted in noisy melee of debardeurs and
clodoches hurrying to the last gallop of
the night.
/ sought the blue satin domino and
waving feather fan through the entire
building-in the boxes, the Hobbies, the
passages-retracing my steps hundred
times in my fruitless quest. | repeatedly
asked the bystanders if they had seen the
woman ] described they shrugged their
shoulders, and l read in their humorous
smile the old sentence, "Sont-ils betes, ces
Anglais!"
At last, in the gray dawn, | left the
opera house or rather / was politely in
formed by the janitors that l must do so.
! went back to my rooms at the Cont
mental to ponder on the nights adventure.
1t was an adventure-my first!-a glorious,
q m frQn f.i M har aIx