Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-22
CHAPTER x-Continued.

He found himself in one of the ''ptt-stails
during the performance of ventriloquist
In few minutes he had provided himself
with cigars, and a goodly tumbler of spirit
and soda-water.
A girl sitting next to him. touched
&C n.panton on the other side of her-a sol
der, whose name was John Brabant-and
whispered:
Just look at him: isn't he handsome?'
Her name was Ada Seward. She was the
woman who. alone in the world. had been
able to melt the ice of DIR. Yen How.
She was a small creature. with skin of
warm yellowish color. and little quaint
Chinese eyes, and light hair with the
whitest tinge of red in IT: not per-
haps pretty. but with some unspeakable
attraction of piquancy about her uncom-
mon, saucy little face, which had caused
her to receive twelve offers of marriage be-
fore she was twenty. Her friends declared
tthat she was the living image of Miss Marie
Tempest, the ''Geisha" prima donna In
inquire she was typically English.
she was perishfng to speak word to the
sweet pink face by her side, to it's delicate
aristocrauc lines At last. during a LOUD
song consigning the German nation to per-
dition. She found her chance.
Now, young gentleman, she said, that
Is my dress, please; 1t won't be lit to look
at tomorrow If you throw any more brandy
and-soda over it."
John gave her the sweetest smile she had
ever oeheld on mortal lips. AMI said
Pardon me-"
At the same time. he looked into her face,
and liked it.
The waiter had already borne him three
whispering glasses of BEVERAGE
May II" he said; here, waterway
order for you and your companion:
John Brabant bowed low with n hearty
thank you, sir,''
But Ada. who was quite three or four
grades higher in the social scale than he,
being in his company only owing to old
sociations. nudged the soldier deprecatnsly,
objecting to the obligation.
1t was too late, however. The offer had
been accepted In a few minutes John
Hardy and Ada were talking-lAla laughing.
John smiling. Brandy -and-soda became the
order of the day. Hardy nad soon good
deal more than enough.
The audience was in a queer mood, inn
patient, intolerant. There was neither al
empty seat nor spare inch of standing
room In the place; but the peoples interest
was all bent upon one future point in the
entertainment-the entrance of Miss Collins
and meanwhile they took not the least
pains to conceal their indifference. There
was something rowdy in the tone of the as
sembly.
by jove. 1 am liking YOU"
His lips were at her ear
"Ah, now, that's the drink talking, not
YOU.
THE drink? Nonsense I am, really.
Are you liking me back?"
"Ah. that would be telling"
you arei''
go away with you! Why, l have only
just seen you,''
That is of no Importance"
"Oh, isn't 1t, thought
Don't be a cruel girl Here, walter
DO you know what | think you are-from
your ways?"
NO tell me-"
You tell me: let me see If am right.
What are your
Yes
II am sailor
Had Ada's ears been more -deicately nur-
tured, she would have detected there half
drunk, though Hardy was, very slight in
tonation of imperial arrogance.
"A sailor? You? Go on! Show me your
hands,
"Oh my hands are not very rough ad-
nit. But STILL am sailor. You may be-
lieve me-in the navy, you know
II see. Well, do you know had an idea
of something like that? sailor. Yes that
is what you are. You come to the point so
soon, don't you?-like sailors do
We'll, but do you like me back. now?'
mo, thank you. No sailors for me- They
are here today, and gone tomorrow
THAT is because they must. You cant
punish them for doing their duty to their
country, can your"
THE country is one thing, but girls have
got to look after themselves, yoI see"
You are too practical.
Il have got to he
But you Will have me for your sweet
hearth"
Perhaps I will. and perhaps l won't 1t
depends
Here was an achievement in Indefinite
ness John Hardy fled from the mental In
determinateness in which the answer left
him. by turning to his glass for a drink.
The shutters of the Indicating numbers
removed the card I. and put up the card s;
So meant Lottie Collins murmur of
expectancy rumored through the building
no nj ORC oil ri ono lYpny
that great things were coming. Already
the nerves of the audience were strung high
asld tense.
THAT is very Indefinite"
~ can't help it. Wait and see how we
feel tomorrow morning"
only say now that you like me-"
well, suppose l say-yes. Mono it's
too stupid
sweet OF YOU Nell Is your name Neu?"
yes. How on earth did you know? II
is my second name. They call me Ada "
'Ada-Wnat?'
ada Seward
Il shall call you Nell I like that bet
ter"
And what is yours?"
Ada was smitten by coincidence On each
side of her was ''John"-one a soldier the
other a sailor. She was the link which
united and disparted her majesty's forces.
"John-What?"
Here john paused. He was now in
high state of fuddiement. but was capable
OF remembering that his name was on
placards all about the town, and about to
be proclaimed by mo. s."
"John--what?" came the question again.
But Miss Collins rescued him. There was
the rattle of a drawn-up curtain--an intense
"Sh-h-h'' swept through the buiding--and
at once there followed a clap and cry OF
applause as the whole audience leapt TO its
feet Miss Collins had bounded on to the
stage, bedraperied from head to heel In
the union jack.
The air was electric. Every heart bounded
In every bosom. John Hardys right arm
had stolen and twined round Ada Stewards
left, his fingers kneading and palpating
the soft flesh of her forearm. With his
left hand he lifted the glass to his lips.
He alone, on the subject of himself, re-
manned careless.
Amid a dead silence the artistic lifted up
her arm, and SO for minute stood. Then
she gave sharp. shrewd twist to her wrist
and passionately shouted:
Bravo John Hardy"
And again the audience leapt to its feet.
with bowls OF rapture. which lasted five
minutes
The boxes were packed with some quite
distinguished people
AT last there was quiet. The artistic be-
gan to sing The tune was simple and
stirring-the words were like raw rum, as
crude and strong: