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

ton Of his party by the recital Of some In
teresting little foreign story.
When they were about to break up for the
night Henry fingered behind to speak to
Ruth.
when may call7' he asked, humbly.
Monsieur was near enough to hear the
question. and when Ruth hesitated to reply
he half turned.
'T'll let you know" said Ruth, indiffer-
| emily. 'In let you know-through mon
AS they mounted the first fight OF stairs
the girl caught her breath quickly.
"Of course you couldn't know she said
70 monsieur. but; on, Pm SO sorry you GIG
1t! want nothing to do with an opera
singers man. and he may not call at all.
Not at all-please tell him." Her mouth
quivered.
monstrous grip on himself as they parted at
the landing Make no mistakes, little one"
he added softly. Henry Is young, you see,
and he may have been little foolish"
perhaps that is it, said Ruth. relenting,
and feeling oh, so wretchedly heartsick.
But, monsieur, Henry has been sort OF
Sir Galahad to me all my life And Sir
Galahad wouldn't take such orders from a
woman like that
"a la claire fontaine-" In Mile.
Yvonne's gay hotel apartment that most
wistful of songs ebbed out like sobbmg
tide upon the shore. 1t was Interrupted oy
q mans footsteps.
''Mariei' cried mademoiselle angrily to
her maid, you haO ORDERS 10 duHlit ~ INV.
Marie remembered me, you see, SAID
the man, quietly. Mile. Yvonne ~wheeled
suddenly round on her stool at the souhu VI
his voice. Then she ran to him like an ri
descent-throated song bird hying across INC
fields.
you! You! Your The three words ran
the gamut from surprise to pleasure.
Just as clever as ever, . fvonhe' vo' Op q
served monsieur Il always thought you
better actress off than on the stage.
why must you repeat that old phrase!
1t makes me feel old. Tell me where
you've been, what you've been DONG this
whole year, and how you knew was
here?'
ALSO how much money have 1 left?'
Yvonne trembled visibly. But you are
detestablei" she cried.
you are very unoriginal, 1Vonne,
laughed monsieur easily. Those were the
last words 1 heard you utter"
Grand Dieul' returned she. Let US
stop fencing and talk like old friends"
But monsieur had sprung to his feet. On
a table near him was large photograph.
He broke 1t in dozen pieces
why. DON'T" cried She That's the only
portrait have of my Henri. And he's such
NICE clean, wholesome little Henri.
Though harmless-oh, perfectly harmless,
1 assure you" She threw back her head
and laughed.
You see no more Of him-do you under
stand. Yvonne?' stormed monsieur. She
lifted her exquisitely penciled eyebrows In
delicate surprise; 1t was so long since mon
Sieur had cared WhOm she saw.
He came closer to her and took her hand
almost gently. "Yvonne," said he, Henri
Is going to marry-marry an American girl.
American men like Henri don't have friends
after they marry. They are loyal men,"
Did Henri send your
No" returned monsieur. He did not
send me. l am no mans Mercury Then,
without mentioning their names, he told
the story of the financial troubles of Ruth
and her mother. Henry started out to
hunt them" he concluded. He found you
instead. You are an interesting creature,
Yvonne; but he loves this girl, and-well,
you must not see him when he comes this
afternoon. How did / know? Oh, over
heard you command him last night In
fact, you had better send him a note now
not to come"
But 1 like him, 1 tell you; he's such
nice"
Come, Yvonne. you have drunk long
enough of the goblet of love. Let some one
else have a taste. Don't poison the girls
first draught from the trimming cup
"OvideH Her eyes filled with sudden
tears the old mastery of his mesmeric
voice upon her.
The man went to her and laid his hand
on her wonderful hair.
How good you are, Ovide," she said to
him, with little break in her exquisite
voice. She stopped to gather the frag-
ments OF Henrys photograph from the
floor. Then she lighted a candle and burned
the fragments, one by one.
DO you know she said at last break
ing the silence, 'SOmetimeS-I wonder"
Her voice trailed off into vagueness
Il, too. Yvonne,' said he solemnly. some
times-wonder-'
After her caller had gone Mile Yvonne
went back to her piano and took up the
song that had been interrupted-"A la
claire fontaine-' 1t melted into sobs
few days later, while monsieur was out,
Ruth tiptoed into his apartments and
placed a vase filed with roses upon his
desk. Then she ran out. laughing guilty.
Later, when he had called to thank her for
her thought, she picked out a fresh bud
kissed 1t bashfully and fixed It in his but
tonhole.
THANK you so much. child" he said. and
gazed wistfully down al her. The fresh
ness of June was in her blood, eternal youth
in her eyes and on her lips and cheeks
Are you happy?'
oh. I'm very. very. very happy. mon
sieur!" she bubbled." It's all right between
Henry and me now-he's promised not TO
see that woman again, and-and next
month were to be married, Oh l owe you
so much for my happinessw
But little she reckoned how great was
the debt that she owed to the interference
of monsieur.