Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-28

AldO Uo6u moro imam usually uAlSAuAs A. -
no wonder that the sight Of the girl Yvette.
In her finest and daintiest raiment "a
gown which had been sent her from Paris
by her friend Mile. Eugene La Gracieuse).
bending eagerly as IL to watch for his re-
turn. over the iron balustrades OF the stair
way landing sent warm glow through his
heart.
And indeed. Yvette was a lovely vision.
head, confined at the back with a small
diamond and tortoiseshell comb. the flush
OF youth and health on her cheek. and her
lips as ever, red as the pomesranate bios
som, the most Joyous of all earthly hues
seen against the eloudless sapphire of the
sky. Her gown was of the palest blue,
such as an ordinary girl would have
thought possible only with a roseleaf COM
plexion and skin of milk. But in this, as
in all that pertained to attraction Yvette
Foy made no mistakes.
She knew that none can wear pale blue
with such effect as a dark-eyed girl with
an ivory skin and heaped masses of hair.
with blood that went and came in dusky
wine-red hushcs upon her cheeks respon-
sive to the beating of her heart. A little
white fringe of f1eecy lace about the neck.
above the heaped careless tumbled masses
Of dark hair, the subtle drawing power or
willing eyes, the slender lissomeness of her
figure. Small wonder that night Maurice
Raith owned to himself that there were but
few maids in France equal in beauty to
Yvette Foy of the Bon Chretien. in the lit
tie Camisard village of La Cavalerie.
He stood a moment beneath her, struck,
regardent. while she smiIed-smiled with
the petulant assurance of a girl who is
sure of her charms. and aplonb OF woman
who can afford to give a man the full pleas
ure OF the eye without compromising her
self.
"Ah." he murmured In English. without
thinking how he spoke. but you are very
lovely! had not thought II!
Pardon me-" she said, in her own pretty
French. but I do not understand. have
not the EnRfSh-n0 word of II 'IYS
misfortune"
Though, indeed. she had understood we'll
enough the start. the stoppage on the stair
way, the dumb gaze upward.
You VIII get cold standing there In that
light DRESS he said, as he came up to the
landing, unable to take his eyes on such
| a radiant vision.
Yvette laughed with light amusement.
Il wonder" she said ''how long it will
take you to get the parade rasp out OF
your voice when you come into my par
lori
Ibid / order you'll did not mean itv
said Maurice penitently enough.
Indeed, 1t sounded much like it," she
said. but give me your cloak! will
order you in my turn"
Indeed. will notion other nights when
you are not arrayed as one Of the angels
Of heaven-all in white and blue. But not
tonight
She stamped her little foot sharply. with
a mock of Intolerance.
Of the Bon Chretian-you or II" she cried.
"You-you-of a surety-you and no 9TH
err he replied with mock humility and as
If in haste not to displeass her.
well, thenHyour cloakT
And she took the great heavy folds from
on his shoulders with a masterful action.
They were no light weight. as she held
them out dripping at arms length.
ments do more for you than little Yvette
Foy-aye, even the sour-browned gypsy
down stairs himself?'
And indeed the light way in which she
bent to the ground and lifted heavy
she could upon occasion and with the ut
most nonchalance do the work of a man.
proved the exquisite perfection OF the
muscles which worked so smoothly con-
tracing and extending automatically I'M
der that satin skin.
Then after a little pause she spoke ca
ressingly. yet simply. as his mother might
have done Cat least so Maurice Raith
thought, who could not remember his
mother) come into this little room where
there Is fire. Change your wet boots
there, and then, when you are ready, come
into my parlor and tell me all about your
troubles. l see you have been distressed
today. Catinat, I suppose as usual. But
you shall tell me all afterwards"
She vanished light as the fitting shadow
Of bird when 1t crosses the road. Never
theless 1t remained long in Maurice's mind
that ere she went she had tossed him a
careless kiss, such as a sister might have
done. Maurice had sister, but In this.
as in other things. he felt that he had been
badly treated by nature. Such sister as
Yvette Foy, SO full of understanding, so ca
pable, so sympathizing In all things, never
in the way and never out Of IT,
But he did not get time to specify further
before low; quick knock returned to the
door Of the little room. 1t had evidently
been occupied for other purposes than the
doffing of wet masculine garments, for pet
ticoats and feminine falderals hung about
it, all in a faint, indescribable perfume
which went to Maurice Raith's head like
wine.
Gngerly the young man opened the door,
Yvette Foy stood before him, smiling
pair Of slippers in her hand and dry stock
ings over her arm.
They are my fathers" she said in an
excusing tone. You may find them rough
All the same, 1 knitted them myself SO l
can promise you that they are warm; and,
indeed. I have had them for an hour or
more before the fire before bringing them
down."
She nodded brightly once more and turn
ed to go. while he stood dumbly gazing at
her. with the stockings and slippers in his
hands.
Perhaps 1t was that which made the girl
turn her head over her shoulder with a
peculiarly witching smile as she stood on
the second step Of the stair.
Am not good hostess-to those IL
like?" she said.
f1Hu SiC last part VI the sentence was
spoken very low, and the expression of her
eyes at the moment would have satisfied
most men.
Then she seemed to take fright at what
she had said and took to her heels.
Maurice Raith could hear her pretty little
Partisan slippers clitter-clatterng I'D the
stairs toward her bed room at a great rate
Then came the slam Of a door and-silence
All the while he stood in the blank door
way. the warm wooleE stockings and the
easy slippers in his hand. his heart trying
IN vain to beat out Its admiration for two
girls at once. His heart was not so he told
himself. In the least untrue to Flower-o'-
the-Corn. How could he be? But-he GER
tatnly wanted Yvette Foy very much-as a
sister.
(To be continued.)
BLACKMAILED RUSSELL SAGE.