Evening star., 1905-10-14

You remember how divinely she plays7 You
can? That's charming. At 8. then. We
will indulge In "reminiscences, and Con-
stance can get through her explanations,
whatever they are. / am really immense
ly curious.
When French mot Constance on Thurs
day evening 1t seemed to him that he
had never really seen her before.
So delicately built as to produce the Inn
preston of fragility, the faint cloud-like
gauziness OF her gray gown etherealized
her still more. Her hair, very simply ar
ranged at the top Of her head, seemed to
crown her with a kind of mellow glory,
beneath which the deep blue eyes shone
resplendent
do you always wear gray?' he asked.
And she nodded, smiling.
Very nearly always. That or white.
IT. whim of mine"
more than that; it's an instinct, should
say" he said gravely.
would your" Her eyebrows went up
and she laughed little.
1t was after dinner. under cover Of Mrs.
Levinsons really delightful music that the
moment Of enlightenment came.
You see," she began, very softly, yet
with admirable distinctness, at was like
this: Oh. I've been longing to explain the
thing to you, and yet It's horribly difficult
It's such an impossible sort of thing, don't
you see?"
She broke off, opened and closed her
fan nervously, and threw him a glance
that was half humorous. half appealing.
Well he queried, "am I to hear no
more?"
More? Yes. oh, yes. The worst, Mr..
French, / fear, is yet to come. Well, really,
you know, 1t was all the result of a ridicu-
lous bet-that was what led up to it. 1
can't imagine how. However, it
was really and actually 1, and I really and
truly did go through with 1t. You know
at one time-I wanted dreadfully to go on
the stage. 1 really have a talent"
II can we'll believe It," he murmured.
Don't. Well, / made bet that l could
act so well as to induce people-perfect
strangers-to believe that 1 was in despair.
And then, quite suddenly, this idea about
the purse came to me. My cousin Horace
was with me in the carve had been down
town together. He was horribly dsgusted.
1t was Horace l nearly knocked over when
1-you remember"
HE did not follow you when you got
out?'
Not Immediately, think he was para
lyzed! But he got out a block or two far
ther on. You can't imagine how ashamed
l am-now.'
Yet you wen your bet?" he said gently.
"And surely you have convinced the most
unbeleving of your talent. Are you, if one
may ask, still thinking of going on the
stage?"
NO, I have given up the idea-for many
reasons"
Gould you" he asked, bending forward
to look into her face. ''be induced to play
for a very limited audience, and quite
private you known"
Il don't understand you," she said, rather
family.
Forgive me. think you do. I am asking
for the benefit of one who would hardly
know how to exist without some hope of
a renewal of the piece
What folly! You know nothing of me-"
"Oh, you wrong"
The music ceased-abruptly, as 1t seemed
to them.
Constance rose swiftly and began to move
toward the piano
You are wrong" French repeated.
She turned toward him. her eyes met his
whimsical questioning.
We'll, she said, 1 suppose I amp"
Then you must acknowledge that I am
right And" he added, having won your
bet be generous"
PERHAPS she murmured
1t was vague reply, yet he seemed sat-
isf1ed.