Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-15
The Interference of Monsieur.

thing about our travels In Venice, nor how
| had to drag you and Henry away from
that ill-smelling city by the hair OF your
heads"
Yes interrupted Ruth laughingly, land
whenever mother couldn't find Henry and
me- she'd make a Decline for the Bridge
of Signs, and there we'd be lying back
in a black gondola. each with a book OF
Venetian barcarolles, studying away fol
dear life"
"Henry?" Monsieur lifted his scholastic
eyebrows delicately, but he felt bold.
'Henry?' Why he's just an old friend,
who happened to be travelling through
Italy at the same time we were. We played
together children; we used to quarrel
over mud pies when he wore kits and
wore pigtails''
long time ago" said monsieur, smile
creeping around the corners of his sad,
stern mouth.
Ruth wrinkled her pretty nose at him.
Come said she, well stop talking. and
I'll sing you song. l don't know many
French songs, but 1 know a few" She
wheeled around on the piano stool where
she had been sitting. and softly played the
prelude on the ivory keys; then
"A la claire fontaine
Men allant promener
Jai trouve Teau 81 belle.
Que je my sus baigne-'
Even before she had sung the first word,
monsieur, sitting back of her, had drawn
his hand across his eyes, palm outward; as
one would who had received an unexpected
blow
That's from the old Clear Fountain
you know it. of course, monsieur she
asked, fitting her pretty head sidewise over
her shoulder. Monsieur withdrew his hand.
"Ehr' said he blankly. But Ruth had al
ready turned again TO the keys, and the
chorus of THE Clear Fountain" the mel
ody Of which is heartbreaking, was begun:
'.u a long tennis"
Don't. child, DON'T" interrupted mon
sleur. Don't sing that" His usually
evenly modulated voice was harsh, almost
irascible.
why. monsieur cried Ruth, straight
way wheeling about. Something she must
have seen in his face caused the rose-flush
on her cheeks to deepen.
II didn't know. 1 didn't wish to hurt
you" she said shyly. Did she understand?
Well-at least she was a womani
A little later, in browsing among mon
sieurs books Ruth came upon one which
had previously escaped her notice 1t was
a quaint, tiny volume that had been pushed
back behind some more pretentious ones.
Ruth uttered a perplexed cry.
'Why-do you know him?" she gasped,
holding up to monsieur the tiny book on
the fy-leaf of which was written, Henry
Van Eyck."
If Monsieur knew the name he gave no
sign of it. Indeed. he mentioned some
10 the erect tIldI he ndu picked up d
good many of his volumes in second hand
shops, So naturally, etc, etc.
Tomorrow night monsieur said to Mrs.
Allen early IN June, Pm going to play the
host If you will allow me. We shall go to
Delmonico's for dinner. Afterward we'll
go to the play, and then there'll be little
supper at the Waldorf. On, it is my birth
day" he added, hastily. as Mrs. Allen
opened her lips to speak. MY birthday is
time when people must do as l WISH" he
laughed
The next night monsieur had a surprise
for Ruth and her mother in the automobile
that waited for them. 1t was handsome
one, with chauffeur in livery.
1T belongs to my banker. / borrowed II
for the OCCASION" explained monsieur.
When they reached Delmonico's and were
shown to the table reserved for them Mrs
Allen noticed that covers We're laid for a
fourth person.
MY other guest is late" observed mon
sieur. looking at his watch with a curious
smile on his lips. AS he spoke, however, a
handsome, stalwart young fellow came
quickly toward them. He did not wait for,