The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-02

| mGnJ.
..The-the one with brown eyes-whai
did you say her name is?' asked Har:,-
wood. without turning.
Il said her name was Hide" said
Bourke, drily. THE other is named
Yolette. They are both pretty
Yes. They're both extremely orna-
mental admitted Hardwood.
Bourke looked at him sharply, say
ing:
And they're as innocent as tive
kittens. You might as we'll know that
] don't mean wishy- washy l mean
they are really, absolutely and deli
] ciously good. Oh. you can see it at a
glance. BY the way, did you ever see
such a perfect combination of deep
blue eyes and silky purple-biack hair,
with a skin like snow"
| "AS-?''
AS Yolette's?"
'Oh. I've seen that in Ireland-often, -
replied Hardwood, but 1 never before
assisted at the color symphony which
her sister presents-brown eyes and
| gilt-colored hair"
Gilt" laughed Bourke. Nice way
you have of putting things"
''Oh, well. come on, I'm ready. Does
this bump on my head show much?"
When they reached the stairway that
| led into the bird store, Hide met them
with shy reserve, and led the way
across the han. They followed her to
the Darlor, which was also the dining
room. Yolette sat at small mahogany
table, solemnly watching the steamine
kettle. She raised her clear eyes as
they entered, and said good morning,
with a smile that was at once aDDre-
hensiVe and confiding. The two young
men had made their bows. Then Ho-
lette poured the cafe-au-lait. Her man
ner was that of a very young person
unexpectedly burdened with tremen-
dous responsibilities, which must be
borne with self-Dossession.
My sister ara 4. began Yolette,
'dine at would ,at ho,L suit you,
messieurs %
She spoke to both, looking II Bourke,
perhaps because Hardwood was looking
at Hide.
The two young men became at once
very fluent in the French language.
They explained with one voice that the
regime of the house should be estab-
lished on one basis, namely, the con-
venience of their hostesses. They ex-
planned 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 a
perfection, and before long the young
girls felt their formality and shyness
melting like frost at sunrise.
And how prettily they laughed at the
young mems discontinue when Sche
herazade, the lioness. bounded silently
into the room, and sprang on to the
SOFA
She lay there purring and licking her
padded paws, her tawny eyes mildly
blinking at the company. Yolette ran
over and leaned on the sofa beside her,
one cheek pressed against the creatures
velvety head.
Her ancestors, for generations, have
been born in captivity" explained Hide
to Hardwood. There is no more harm
in her than in any house cat. My uncle
brought her w; my sister and l have
always played with her.
Were you startled?" Yolette said to
Bourke. Won't you come and be intro
duced?" Bourke went little slowly:
the lioness, pleasantly Indifferent, suf-
fered him to pat her head.
Hardwood contented himself with
distant observation of the splendid ami
NAL ard remained where, without
seeming to, ne could watch Hide NOV
ing swiftly back and forth between
the kitchen and the 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
saucers; 1t was my uncle'S custom TO
smoke here at all times"
She stood looking down at Hardwood,
a faint smile in her brown eyes. Shen
she glanced at her sister.
"Of course" said Yolette, st will be
pleasant to have the odOr of tobacco in
the house again" AS before she look
ed at Bourke when she spoke, and he,
accepting the permission as COM
mand, lighted his cigarette with a
cheerful alacrity that made them ali
laugh.
The morning sun poured into the
room: from the shop outside came the
twittering of the birds, the chatter of
the squirrel and sharp screams from
the carrot.
Would you care to see them?" asked
Hide, still looking down at Hardwood.
Il will go with you when 1 have taken
away the cups"
Never mind the cups said Yolette,
L will take them. 1t is time to change
the water for the birds, Hide"
Hide went into the kitchen with the
cups, and returned, carrying a pitcher
of fresh water. Hardwood followed
her, bowling to Yolette. She and Bourke
were standing on either side of the
lioness, pulling her ears and rubbing
her hair the wrong way-attentions
which Scheherazade majestically ig-
.,ore6
Presently Yolette laid her head
against the creatures cheek, murmur
ing alternate terms of endearment and
reprcof. The lioness closed her eyes
and purred ecstatically.
What is her name?" asked Bourke.
''Scheherazade. Her mothers name
was Diebe. Her fathers name was Sal
adm. l have the pedigree in book. 1
will show it to you some day. l am
sure you think this is a strange house
hold-full of lions and monkeys and
birds. AS for me. should be very
lonely without them. 1 have lived in
the midst of them ever since / can re-
except when Hide and were
at the Ursalines,' she continued, pull
ing Scheherazade's toes. Although we
keep a bird store, Hide and 1 can't
bear to sell our birds. We grow so fond
of thenl-but, of course, we are obliged
to sell them. We have sold none at
all since the war began, although every
week we nave a place at the bird mar
ket by the Hotel de Vile. Tell me.
were YOU frightened when
you first saw Scheherazade?
Scared to DEATH" admitted Bourke
gravely.
Yolette dragged Scheherazade's big
lazy head up to her own face and
laughed gayly. Il meant to tell you
about my lion, but forgot. You must
like her-won't your"
Bourke patted the lions paws dis |
creetly. He was pleased to find that
she had no claws.
"Of course I shall like her; 1 am
quite in love with her now" he said !
with a little more confidence for this /
"only-I hope she'll know /
me in the dark
Yolette laughed again.
Perhaps you and Monsieur Hare /
wood had better give me back the /
atchkeys then"
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