Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-27
CHAPTER v.
A Strange Encounter.

CHAPTER v.
A Strange Encounter.
A seat on the aisle, not far from the back.
was turned down for him. and as he sank
into 1t a woman, primly attired. knet at
his feet; adjusted a footstool; then. alert,
expectant. Strengthened herself. But the
customary response was not forthcoming.
She raised her brows.
THE program. monsieur"
He took 1t and deliberately she held out
her. hand. When she drew 1t back the
ironical look had vanished; her lips were
voluble with thanks. At that moment.
however Richard Strong had no heed for
her. or any single person. He was con-
scious only of an effect: the merging o.
the phantoms Of the day-gross. ragged,
gibbering in the holy light Of stained glass
windowS-into a more glittering, yet not
less seemingly fallacious. throng. But soon
that general Impressions perception OF
over-vivid hues and Paphian. painted pup
pets-was succeeded by the more speciuc'
special cOgniZance of single figure.
She stood before the footlights singing.
Her scanty costume frankly revealed the
trim outlines of her figure; hat, la re-
publique, crowned her glossy curls. and
upon her shoulder, emphasizing Its powder
ed Wilderness a black velvet bow waved like
a mammoth moth. In the white light OF
the calcium she glittered and gleame1 a..a,
while her voice was not that of MaliDr'tn
OF a Pasta, her audacity and vivacity wero
well calculated to beguile an audience into
evidences of approval.
She took a high note execrably, out AT
the conclusion of the tone gave her head
such a prima -donna-like toss and regarded
Ter listeners with such ravishing smile,
even the critical auditor forgot the singer
in contemplation of the siren.
Bravo. Zoldene!
Whereupon she showed her white teeth
n nd Init 70
lights. Again the faulty tones: once more
the persuasive battery of smiles: the vary
ing pastures designed to display to advan-
tage the white shoulders and rourded arms.
why are you sober. MONSIEUR?
A girl, wearing Legion of Honor SASH.
bent forward. significantly regarding the
vacant place next to Richard Strong.
Aren't you going to ask lns to Sit
DOWN.?
He made no motion to remove his hat
from the seat
"Poofv she said, drawing back with a
gesture of disappointment. You are not
very polite
AS through mist--or was 1t the smoke
that waved and wavered around them? 1.-THE
figure on the stage approached and receded
Still the shrill treble OVERRIDE the clatter
and din of the soldiers of fortune. blase
handles and their lorettes. A sprightly In
fictitious rhythm. 1t was. however, In turn
interrupted, dominated by a more stento-
rian voice:
Paris is Durnlng.
AS passing cloud transforms the sur
face aspect of the sunlit water. so name
less fear changed and darkened the APP
pearance Of that sea of smiling faces Upon
the stage the words of the song dled on
Zoldenes lips; those In the background De-
gan to move about in disorder.
Go on! Go on!''
The leader of the musicians stamped ms
feet; violently waved his baton. In quaver-
ing tones Zoldene began once more. Gain
i,o a she proceeded. her manner
again became jaunty, reckless
Paris is burning"
The conductor by this time. however, had
the performers well in control. beating time
long arms.
1.-The Tuileres is in fames!-the Louvre!-
the Rue Royale--
Above a carnival of hues-fiuttering dolls
with sashes of all coiors and bows Of enor-
nous proportions fastened upon or perched
on their dresses-Richard Strong suddenly
discerned an unresponsive figure which ar
rested his attention to the exclusion or all
else.
He was seated in box-a young man. his
face marked with premature lines, his eyes
cold, his expression bored win haiI-
contemptuous. half-iroIiical look his gaze
slowly swept the multitude, then stopped
The languo- faded from his expression and
with a start he leaned forward staring at
Richard Strong. 49,
huff of smoke had curled outward from
behind and arose like thin VEIL II was
followed by denser cloud, and on the IN
slant the romping dolls were stricken mo-
tionIess like automatons that had run down.
Merriment gave way to terror: laughter to
shrieks Involuntarily Richard Strong had
stepped toward Dalton when, caught In the
outward rush of the swaying throng, he was
carried on as by q torrent. Powerless to re-
sist held in that mighty whlrl, his strength
was as nothing to the aggregate force
brought to bear upon him. In the
narrow doorway the jam became
greater: a moment he realized the
weight about him was crushing him
into Inconsistencies; then suddenly he was
shot forth against wall.
Above the heavens were red; against the
slowing background flashes of light played
omfnously Scarcely conscious of what he
was doing he staggered on, animated by
single purpose. The hotel-he would return
there-perhaps the porter had come back
perhaps he had learned something.
As Richard Strong raised his mead the
Seine now river of molten fire. burst upon
his gaze Cleaning with the radiance from
a burning palace. 1t swept on. tapping tne
Stone confines of its course with phosphor-
cscent rays Soon they grew darker, as
from the sullen caldron where once mon
archs had played at "divine rights, out
poured an increasing volume OF smoke;
xvhich now blotted from the sky the vivid
hues only sickly glow shot at intervals
through the fund mantle. making the
shadows appear deeper. the streets more
eloomy and the people tristful specters
that walked in darkness But that they
were not mere melancholy shadows, crea-
+ure. nassionIess from the realms Of night.
was quickly made manifest to the man near
the river.
LES petroleuses"
The dimness of the night became alive
with human figures; final explosion from
the palace again lighted up the scene and
In that brief interval Richard Strong saw
the face and figure of girl, standing on
the sidewalk, around her a number OF peo-
rio. a moment amazemcnt, incredullty.
held him motionless, incapable OF action
Stiu the light played on her features.
xiii her!
..The Seine! Throw her into the Seine!"
CHAPTER VI.