Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
- THE MPERSONATOR. -"=7:
Mary Inlay Taylor,
AUTHOR OF my LADY cLANCARTY." ETC

resonant with melody Mary was seeking
for an avenue of escape But she saw
| none, not even Col. Foxboro had appeared
| In the group near her She knew that
| Lawrence Ryand avoided entertainments
| which were even semi-offic;al and she
| could not signal for help TO Schelltng or
| some mere acquaintance. After all she
would be left to Cheever against her will;
| she felt that Madame Syrene was amply
| avenged. She conscious that he was
| watching her with an admiration that he
| was at no pains to conceal either from her
| or from the others. and she remembered
| that the publicity of his fiirtations had al
ways been one source OF amazement to her.
| He seemed to be eternally in bad taste. but
| she had supposed that this implied lack
| of refinement on Madame Syrene's part;
now she saw that 1t a fault OF the
| man. While they sat there she could at
! least avoid being the object of observation.
! but she knew that the end OF this song
] would be the signal for a general dispersal
| and realized that she would have to walk
i through the rooms on Fred Cheever's arm.
| The thought of the possible comments OF
| 800 busy tongues made her cheek burn.
and she was in no very happy mood when.
| the song ended. the applause dying down.
| Cheever turned again to her.
| It's impossible he began Mrs. Whit
ing's crazy-Schelling isn't anything So
| cially he's only q big chump of mil
| lionaire-a-"
Mary interrupted him. smiling. Don't
| let US discuss IT. she said lit isn't
| happy subject, is IT.!
| why. no. 1t isn't he admitted. "put-oh.
| hang 1t all.-don't you see how 1t makes
man feel to see girl sacrifice herself In
| this way? girl like you ought to marry
| a man who could appreciate you.
! YES" Mary assented but do men usu-
| ally appreciate their wives? DO you, for
instance. thoroughly appreciate the charm
| ing woman whom you married.
| Cheever flushed and laughed. You can
hit hard. Miss Hadding' he said: II shan't
| dare to drop in to lunch when my wife has
| you there.
You never do" said Mary calmly: I'VE
/ have Archie, who Is impartial to every
| thing but boned turkey
| There was stir people rose from
! their seats and began to move around and
| break up into groups. Cheever walked be-
| side her down the long room Several per-
] sons turned sharply and stared, and
Madame Syrene broke her fan. Mary bore
| the ordeal well: her progress was in way
a triumphant tribute to her beauty and her
| success: she was becoming more and more
| central figure and was curiously forgetful
at such moments Of May Hadding's all
| powerful claims and Leonard Bishops fatal
| proximity. She let them slip behind her
| and gave herself up to the present. the new
| life that had opened so marvelously for
| her Even the annoyance Of Fred Chew
| er's attendance did not quite spoil her even
| ing. and the fact that Madame Syrene had
| been no match for her was a flip to her
| vanity. AS for Cheever, he devoted himself
to her for the remainder Of the time and
| waited upon her aunt and herSelf when
| they went to their carriage.
| After a while the coachman succeeded in
! getting through the gates and free Of the
| other carriages and automobiles and they
| whirled away toward the house. The In
| terror of the vehicle was quite brightly IL
| Illuminated by the outside lamps. and Mrs.
| Whiting was plainly visible in her corner,
a mountain of furs and lace. for IT was
| cold night and her sables were muffied to
her chin. Mary. leaning back on the OPP
posite side. caught the steeiy CLEAN OF her
| small eyes under their white lashes and
| the heavy lines Of her face. For a few
| moments both were silent, then Mrs Whit
ing spoke
my dear" she said smoothly. FIRED
Cheever Is very amusing. but he is very
| fragrant Besides you'll rouse that She
she's dangerous
Mary blushed and drew her furs closer.
| Mr.. Cheever Is not in good taste" she ad-
mitted quietly; Il really couldn't escape at
| the last
Mrs Writings small eyes flickered a lit
| tie. But at the first she said astuteIy:
| my dear Mary. can't play with fire
without burning our fingers. Besides
| Christine Jerome was there, and she is
! easily equal to an evening paper.
Mary bit her lip; the old woman's tolerant
attitude spoke volumes. The girl would
| have preferred a curtain lecture. anything,
| to show that she belonged to the type that
she was familiar with in that generation.
| which had sharper standards than ours.
! she began 10 suspect now tndt MIS-. " MT
| ing's yellow teeth were stained with to-
| bacco that she had all the vices that were
| in the fashion. The amount of liquor that
| was freely consumed at private tables had
| already amazed her; it was an age of
! Scotch whisky and cocktails The divorce
! and the matrimonial poacher were freely
| recognized. She had a vague feeling of
! slipping over precipice with all her old
| prejudices. of finding q society she had
never pictured where gambling COM
| mon and even fashionable. She saw that
! Mrs. Whiting did not care how much she
| f1irted with Fred Cheever. II 1t did not re-
| pulse Schelling. Her momentary CLEAN of
| pleasure at the admiration she mad excited
died like snuffed candle and she recoled
| into her corner. She was beginning to feel
| the temptations which might assail her. to
see some of the pitfalls that actually beset
| her, and to realize the callousness of the
| worldly woman who was her guide in these
! labyrinths
AS the carriage turned a corner near
| home she looked out and saw Ryland walk
| Ing alone toward his house. The sharp,
| clean outlines of his figure were cut out by
| the electric light. and she saw the severe
repose of his face. 1t was momentary
| vision, but she passed her hand quickly
over her eyes. What was she after all? A
miserable sham! Mrs. Writings voice
| broke in again on her reverie.
| Madame Syrene is dangerous" she
! repeated thoughtfully. very dangerous:
she has an ugly temper and she won't be
| interfered with. That's my warning to
you. Mary and you had better remember
| It."
Mary shuddered; what far-reaching con-
| sequences q little moment of thoughtless
ness seemed to entail Good heavens!"
| she exclaimed with Impotence: cant
| girl do anything simple and natural in the
! world without being talked about?"
! Mrs Whiting shrugged her shoulders.
MY dear" she said. mo one Is simple or
/! natural in society. and a manageable girl
| can't be too careful: her chances in
| limited matrimonial market just
I delicate as blown glass.
XIV
! The snow was falling heavily outside and
| Mary ordered the tea table nearer to the
| fire. 1t was after 5 o'clock and one had