Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-12

French officer at my left, with the
snowy uniforms of the staff officers scat
tered among the beautiful evening gowns
of handsome women, and all reflected ana
multiplied by the great mirrors which lined
| the room. Truly, a goodly sight for the
French sociological student to behold in
democratic America!
And truly goodly place for the woman
OF small beginnings to blossom into So
cial favorite. The governor was most at
tentive throughout the dinner hour, while
the count paid me open court, with but an
!, occasional word for Mrs. Parsons who sat
| on his other side-a fact which she never
quite forgot. And was at my triumph. re-
membering that the mayor who was now
third on my list of attractions, had been
the greatest lion at her last "gentlemen's
night"
For So doth the spirit of rivalry wax
great among women, even to the separa-
ton of friends.
BY the time the coffee was served my
| brain was at its clearest, and had no need
flee of SO much needed sleep, when / came
to introduce my guests. The right words
fell involuntarily from my lips, and my
graceful characterizations of each speaker
were singularly feicitous. Never had 1
been SO brilliant; even my enemies were
proud of their president before the even
ing was half over. Indeed, had but to
glance at my own reflection In the mirror,
and note my glorious setting of notables
to feel the utmost confidence in myself and
in the occasion.
The speeches. too. were most brilliant
Seldom had his excellency been more elO-
quent, for in addition to the stimulus of
the occasion, he knew that the hand of the
Good Government Club ian offshoot of the
Nota Bene) had been instrumental in his
election. These things are not spoken OF
openly, but the Difference which he paid the
club spoke volumes for its place in the
community.
ut is fit" he said at one time. that this
club, which has come to be one of the most
Influential organizations of our big, bus
tling, splendid city-a wonderful flower of
wonderful modern civiliZation-should he
represented tonight by SO beautiful a flower
CT modern womanhood, a glorious carna-
ton, if l may be allowed the pleasure of
saying so,'' he added, bowling to me amid a
burst of applause. 1t was then I drank
saw not that there were dregs in me cup
His excellency," began the Count de
Beauvafs, when l introduced him to the
admiring audience, has spoken of your
president as a glorious carnaton. Me Il
would go further and pay my deferential
honors to the queen of the roses, La Beaute
Americana. l would call her-not Mrs.
Jack, as you democratic Americans debut
Madame Jacqueminot, the beautiful prod
uct Of your finest American civilization"
He said much more, really making fine
speech about the development of women IN
this country, and comparing us favorably
! with women of other lands-but 1t was his
open nattery that went to my head like
wine and made that night the beginning of
a new episode in my life.
The mayors speech, the scholarly address
by DR.. Philip Haven. the fine music and the
attentions from great men made this the
red-letter evening of my life.
When it was all over and farewells were
being said, the Count de Beauvais bent low
over my hand and touched it with his lips.
Madame Jacqueminot, to whom 1 pay
my honor" he murmured. Il beg the priv
ilege of calling upon you at your home.
VIII you not designate an hour-soon?"
/ named o'clock of the following day,
and with another pressure of the hand he
was gone.
II was indeed a proud moment when Jonn-
aphene Henning stood in gorgeous apparel
to receive the goodnight SalutationS of the
governor and his cortege and the other dis
tinguished visitors. l was in another world
SO lifted out of myself that 1 did not even
recognize the proud and naughty creature
whom 1 saw reflected in the mirrors OPP
posite, as the last Of the procession filed
out.
Philip, ever faithful to my interests, stood
waiting for when 1 finally appeared
in my new opera cloak. / must have ac-
cepted his homage with a most queenly
air, for as we passed down the steps to
my carriage I overheard my spiteful
friend murmur to companion:
Goodness! You'd never think that
naughty creature was the wife of a gro
GER"
Good thing he's abroad" returned the
other.
Poor Joe! 1 had completely forgotten
his existence.
jTo be continued tomorroW)