Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-30

ION Brooklyn bridge"
ooh. worse and, worse. What spot for
SO enchanting q meeting.
"Whatl Don't you Ike Brooklyn oridsef
To me It is"
"oh. daresay., Please 80 on with your
story. You are at 4 Most interesting
but can't have you do injustice to my
favorite structure, just pause a moment
and look at that bridge Bee how It hangs
against the dark sky, a very necklace Ok
FRs sirTr!!'' Could anything be more 's'0o-
From their great elevation the immense
bridge was plainly outlined with points OF
light. The girl withdrew her hand from IRON,
his arm. and stood a step further from
him. while he with great enthusiasm ano
no little eloauence dilated on the beauty o.
the picture.
she said. carelessly. Nevertheless, they
are not pearls to me. but sputtering giooe
ules Of electric light, the most blatant Oh
illuminants. II you want electricity; look
at the Jersey shore. There are miles OIL
electric lights
The young man was disturbed ny the
lack of sympathy with his mood that nad
so suddenly come into her tone, ana S ms
attitude showed his bewilderment. She
laughed, but without much merriment.
How horrid am she said. taking ms
arm again II am like the little girl who
had the curl on her forehead, with the ex,
ception of the very good part I'll admit
that Brooklyn bridge is the ideal place LOT
a lovers meeting 1 suppose you come up
here all alone on dark nights Just 10 pay
your distant devotion to that loop OF
lights
Yes, I do"
Then as 1 seem to know so much more
about women than you. let me give you
girl, and forget about the bridge. 1t Will
be much more to the purpose.
II believe you are right. I'll follow that
advice"
ooh, yes, silently"
"Ah, that doesn't count. Well. tell me
about her. Don't you see m dying Oh
curiosity? You take so long in getting on on,
with your story, introducing unnecessary
bridges, and all that. Have you me. her!
"Oh, yes
And talked with her, of course?'
Certainly"
"Did her conversation at all equal her
good looks?"
Good looks? There are hundreds Of good
looking girls: New York is full OF them
This lady is superb. There is no one TO pe
compared with her"
Really! AS a general thing these superb
creatures are tiresome when they pesin 10
speak. I'm glad your Lady Superoa is an
exception. She must be paragon sup
pose, then, she is the inspiration-she is the
Denora of your story?'
"She Is both the inspiration and the
heroine"
the actual writing Of the book, or was she
only the model?'
Il don't like your word only Were 1t
not for her, the book would never nave
been written You see, her presence was
so strongly stamped upon my memory that
when I wrote she was before me-almost
as If actually there. All l had TO 90 was
to put that woman in my book and success
was mine Although the public has praised
the so-called creation, / alone know how
far 1t has fallen short Of the reality. But
l did my best. hoping not for their ap-
prevail. but for hers"
And did you get it?"
81 am not sure that I did
"Have you asked her about it,
1--WE have discussed tho book together
At first l thought she liked 1t, but after
ward | began to have doubts.
probably the poor girl has no opinion
one way or the other; she wants to cay
what will please you, but is uncertain
of her ground. know Of no situation
are so sensitive that misplaced praise is
almost as disastrous as blame
DO you know many literary people,,
II know one novelist. Is the Lady Su,
perba aware that she is the heroine of
your book?''
Il think not.
"Then she can't be very clever. Still,
am doubtless doing her an injustice. she
probably knows all about it, and plumes
herself greatly on the fact to all her friends
except you. Nevertheless. I should like
very much to meet her. Will you introduce
n,e?'
81 should be delighted. but 1 fear you
would not do her JUSTICE
"Oh. yes. I would. My estimate would
probably be much nearer the truth than
yours We women arc s&li to be severe
critics of each other. In reality, we are
true critics. which a cynical person might
say was the same thing. Have said any
thing which makes you think should be
unfair in my Judgment OF her!
Yes, you have
"Oh, we'll, L was talking carelessly Be
sides, it Is Ill your fault In being SO
exasperatingly slow in your telling of
story. You went along all right when
you began: but latterly 1 have had to
ask question after question, getting my
answers mostly in monosyllables. One
would think l was your rival in the af-
fections of Superba, and that You We're
determined to give me as little informa-
ton as possible. Even now you haven't
finished your story. You met her on Brook
Ign bridge. What then? Did she take any
notice Of you?
Not the slightest / doubt If she saw
me: she was looking straight ahead
Yes. that was the fashion two years ago
What next?
over to Brooklyn; 1 turned and followed
her
"Oh. never"'
81 had to. Do you think I was going
had found her? determined to learn
whore she lived. l succeeded"
"And then arranged an introduction-or
was an introduction necessary? Perhaps
you simply called on her and said, L am
Mr.. Gilbert Strong.
well. really, Miss Colburn. you are near
er the truth than you imagine
"Ah If that Is the case, i don't think
much of your Lady Superba.''
That is not the worst you have said of
her"
ooh, what said before was merely by
way of joke, or rather with the purpose
| of bantering you. You were much in
earnest. What did 1 say that offended
your
"You called her a coward"
What!
Down by the open window you called
my Lady Superba a coward. l say and
| said she is the bravest woman in the
world"
Maud Colburn stepped back a pace or
| two, and stood with clasped hands and
| bent head, her eyes on the graveled floor
at her feet. He could see her face palmer
now-pale at first. then slowly flushing.
Her mind, he surmised, was retreading
| the steps of their conversation. adjusting
| sequel to precedence. When she looked up
| her brow was glorfied by the salutation Of
| the coming day.
| How beautiful is the dawn" she whis-
pered.
| He glanced over his shoulder, and saw
the widening band Of light along the east
/ h0r;