Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-30
pectedly burdened with tremendous respon-
! eibilities. which must be borne with self

|
Ths two young men became at once very
| fluent in the French language. They ex-
| planned with one voice that the regime of
! the house should be established on one
| basis. namely, the convenience. of their
| hostesses. They explained that neither of
| them was to be considered for one moment
and they added that they desired to make
| some amends for the trouble they would
give by placing their services at the dis
posal of their hostesses. Perhaps this was
not the usual method of settling business
relation, but it answered to perfection, and
| before Icing the young girls felt their for
| malfty and shyness melting like frost at
| sunrise.
| And how rrettily they laughed at the
| young mems discontinue when Scheher-
| aZade, the lioness bounded silently into the
| room and sprang onto the sofa.
| She lay there purring and licking her
| padded paws her tawny eyes mildly blink
ing at the company. Yolette ran over and
| leaned the sofa beside her one cheek
pressed against the creatures velvety
| head.
| Her ancestors for generations have
HARDWOOD. There is no more harm in
| her than in any house cat. My uncle
| brought her up; my sister and 1 have al
| ways played with her.
| Were YOU startled?" Yolette said to
| Bourke. Won't you come and be intro
duced?" Bourke went a little slowly; the
iioness. pleasantly Indifferent, suffered
| him to pat her head.
1
| tant observation of the splendid animal
| and remained where. without seeming to.
| he could watch Hide moving swiftly back
! and forth between the kitchen and parlor
/ removing cups and saucers and laying a
| cloth over the mahogany table.
| This room is also the smoking room,
! she said gravely. as she passed the table
| with her arms full of cups and plates; lit
| was my uncle's custom to smoke here az
| all times"
| She stood looking down at Hardwood, a
| faint smile In her brown eyes. Then she
glanced at her sister.
''Of course" said Yolette cit will be
pleasant to have the odor of tobacco in the
house again."
she spoke and he, accepting the permission
| as a command. lighted his cigarette with a
cheerful alacrity that made them all laugh
The morning sun poured into the room:
from the shop outside came twittering of
the birds, the chatter of the squirrel and
sharp screams from the parrot.
w ouid You care to see them?' asked
Hide, still looking down at Hardwood Il
Will go with you when / have taken away
| the cups
Never mind the cups" said Yoiette; Il
will take them II is time to change the
water for the birds, Hide
Hide went into the kitchen with the
cups and returned carrying pitcher of
fresh water HARDWOOD followed her, bow
standing on either side of the lioness. pull
| ing her ears and rubbing her hair the
wrong way-attentions which Scheher-
aZade ms jest ically igrorcd
Presently Yolette laid her head against
the creatures cheek, murmuring aiuerna tie
terms Of endearment and reI roof The
honess closed her eyes and purred ecstati-
ca!ly.
What IS her name?'' asked Bourke.
SchcheraZade. Her mothers name was
D1eDe Her fathers name was Saladin.
nave the pedigree in a book. 1 will show
| it to you some day. | am sure Won think
ahnl1 f,,1l ne
ana monkeys and birds. AS for me- |
should be very lonely without them
nave lived in the midst of them ever since
i can remember. except when Hide and
We're at the Ursalines." she continued,
| pulling Scheherazade's toes although
We Keep bird store Hide and l can't
bear to sell our birds. We grow so fond of
them-but, Of course. are obliged to sell
them. We have sold none at all since the
war began, although every week we have
| place at the bird market by the Hotel de
eiIe. lell me, monsieur, were you
frightened when you first saw Scheher-
"azade?'
Scared to death" admitted Bourke
graveIy
Yoiette dragged scheherazade's big law
head up to her own face and laughed gay
| ly. Il meant to tell you about nv lion but
| forgot. You must like her-won't you?
Bourke patted the lions paws dscreetly
He was pleased to find that she had no
claws.
of course I shall like her; am quite in
love with her now" he said with little
more confidence for this discoyery-..onIvE
i hope she'll know me in the dark"
1olette laughed again.
Perhaps you and Monsieur Hardwood
had better give me back the latchkeys
No" said Bourke IT think We'll retain
them If you will just remind her that lac
suppers produce Indigestion. And-er-WiJI
you show me where she keeps herself at
Yolette. greatly amused assented. rising
lightly, and dragging Scheherazade with
her. Bourke followed through the kitchen
along hallway and out into a garden full
CT trees and paths surrounded by high
stucco walls. A stone trough filled with
very clear running water stood in the deep
grass under the shadow of the wall. Be-
yond TINS stretched tangle of grass roses
ard fruit trees.
This is Scheherazade's playground"
said the girl. picking up big painted rub
per Dall. Strengthening up she tossed the
tall out into the grass with the charming
awkwardness that attacks the gentler sex
when throwing or catching anything.
The Honess, much gratified. bounded
after the ball. seized 1t. patted it first with
one paw, then with the other and finally
lay down. biting the ball and scratching
1t with her htnd toes.
Bourke observed this pleasing perform
ance in silence: When Scheherazade gam
boiled and frisked he nodded approval
When she Hoped heavily off to a thicket of
roses bushes, carrying the ball in her
mouth, he expressed himself as edited.
But to tell the truth. he was far from ex-
periencing that sense of repose in the COM
pany Of Scheherazade that he felt was ex-
pected of him.
Its fine Hon." he said. after a moment
or two, but perhaps one needs time to ap-
preciate lions. Shall go and examine
the birds?"
Yolette smiled and said. YES" and led
the way into the bird store.
Hardwood and Hide. standing together
by the window, looked up quickly as Yo-
lette entered. At the same moment Hide
dropped the pitcher of water.
why, Hide" exclaimed Yolette, you
have broken our blue pitcher. Dear me!
Lcok at the f1oor!
Hides CONSERVATION and HareWood's
forced gayety Jared on Bourke. He look
ed ut Hides flushed face. then at his COM
rade, who returned his glance mutinou sly
Yclette brought a mop. Hide. with a
hreathless smile at her sister, picked UP a
fragment Of the pitcher handle and held
1t out at arms length until Hardwood took
it and set himself to gather up tine other
scattered bits Of blue ctina.
you see.' he said lightly, I've just been
bitten by the squirrel and the monkey and
I was counting further mutilation from
the parrot yonder when the pitcher fell and
saved me, mademoiselle. 1 am very sorry