The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15
| T
GID

She defed Times stern hand, for the
beauty Of attraction hung round her still,
unmarried by the flight of years.
She was English by birth. but French by
education. and had married Monsieur Did
erst. a wealthy Partisan. who to his dying
day declared that If madame were not of
his country, she was certainly French by
every instinct and quality of her charac-
ter. Finding life lonely, she adopted since
her widowhood. an exceedingly beautiful
niece. Louise Diderot, clever complex
young woman. with such warm enthusiasms
that she succeeded in giving back TO her
benefactress something OF the lost vigor
OF youth
Louise possessed the happy gift of max
Ing friends There was an ease and freedom
In her speech at first a little astonishing,
but her light-hearted manner. witty tongue,
and pleasing personality broke down even
the reserve of the most rudish and conven-
tional She brought 10 the old house In
Chelsea the magic OF a sweet presence,
brilliant spirit, and strong magnetism. Mad
anne fancied she could read in the varying
expressions Of the girls face a thousand
emotions appertaining to the soul beneath
The power OF her mind, as well as the
charm Of her nature, brought with 1t the
happy knack of being TO every one exactly
what he or she wished her to be. Yet,
strange to say, Ii was the older woman
who all unconsciously attracted to far-away
Chelsea people of rank and fashion, men
of light and learning.
Her ready tact, honest insight. and depth
Of character, marked her as singular, in an
Gha hrnr h
into her simple unostentatious lat homes"
something of the spirit Of the by-gone
salons, something OF the flavor of old
France-where woman's sway controlled the
history of the hour.
She always received at night; afternoon
callers were an aboraination tc her. The
well-known japanese room, with its vary
ing shades OF color. held many threads of
destiny for those who gathered within its
walls.
For lovers the place has proved abso-
lutely bewitched.' Madame Diderot fire.
quently declared. with sphinx-like ex-
preston In her kindly eyes. wandering low
ingly over the rich embroideries and decor
atoms of that historic apartment. Yellow
and pale blue predominated. while inserted
into the recess of each corner large panel
of exquisite Japanese work sparkled with
gems. An adjoining lounge revealed panels
wrought on olive-green. Venetian-red, and
peacock-blue. the background darker than
the blue and yellow of the slanted roof and
Corinthian-p.llared walls.
But love had somehow escaped Louise,
whose affections settled first here, then
there, never to remain steadfast for two
minutes together.
In Madame Diderot's gatherings of celeb
rites Louise had first allowed her waver-
ing heart to sway In the direction Of a
great statesman, simply because he talked
brilliantly; then to a man OF letters on ac-
count of the exquisite binding in which his
works appeared. and the breadth OF his
massive forehead; an artist. too. who made
q divipely sympathetic listener. and high
dignitary Of the church. whose voice was
like a roll of thunder, might be added to
the list.
But. alas! the statesman was too busy
to love! The author unconsciously offended
by describing her weaknesses In a very
readable novel. The artist maligned her
complexion. making a positively plain
academy picture for all the world to criti-
else. while the vigorous cleric took a vow
o.. cslibacy which prevented her thoughts
from further lowering In his direction. At
last, however. she confessed-one man
alone had just stepped carelessly into her
life, creating from the first moment OF
his entrance an upheaval of her platonic
soul.
He might have belonged to the French
aristocracy before the Revolution" she said.
knowing the description would please her
aunt His manner was the perfection of
good breeding. 1 invited him to your even
ing because I felt 1 simply must see him
again or diel He asked me why i was so
ford of society (you see. ne summed me up
a. once) and I answered: Because occa-
sionally, In society, If one is fortunate, one
meets a man like you After that posi-
lively forced an invitation upon him. He
could not refuse. told him my aunt loved
lions and he told me. with a little touch OF
cynical humor. he was only the son of a
lion. Then discovered his father is the
great politician, John Henley. and that sx-
planned everything. This boy, for he Is
still gloriousiy young-young enough to be
fiattered I hope-inherits immense intelli-
gence. There are possibilities in him which
make me dream. may, perhaps. be clair
yoyante. but heaveni what a lot I saw
and felt I'm that man"
Madame Diderot stroked the girls fever
ish forehead with her cool hand.
The touch OF the elder woman could al
ways calm with it's magnetic thrill the
highly-strung nerves and impressionabIe
temperament or her warm-hearted, sensi-
tive young niece.
MY dear. such scstatic admiration seldom
fa ha -
hammable imagination. He will come, and
for day or two your eyes may see him
az a god, then the veil slowly rises, and you
are either bitterly disappointed or convulsed
with laughter at the trick your senses
played you. A handsome face. / have no
doubt. His father Is still exceedingly good
looking. His mother. Lady Maria, was
one OF the beauties of her day. The Henley
family have climbed the ladder of fame
with singular success. 1t is fortune that
governs human life. not wisdom. There is
an old saying: Better be lucky than wise:
lucky men need little counsel"
lis his mother still alive?" asked Louise.
whose disregarded the newspapers. and
knew little OF the great personages peopling
the drama OF the day until they appeared
upon the stage OF her own personal ex-
perience.
Lady Maria died some years ago. and
during the past six months there have been
rs1fuors aff0af that Iohn TIanla,. -.