Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20


himself for the weakness of it
1t seemed paltry, trivial this revival of de;
issues, this quckening of dulled pulses at the me
sight of womans face. And of all women's fac
-hers 1t was as though a warrior, who had far
through the battles din and havoc, had com
SCARED and manned, from the lannon's mouth in
the pleasant places of the world; was, nevertheless
weak enough, fool enough, to be moved by Il
bursting of squib and the scent of a spoonful
powder
And yet How we'll she looked! How light
Time had tried her! Not that three years ought
make any perceptible difference in a of fi'
and twenty, but it rather hurt his of self 10y
to find that the separation had told as little GU
wardly upon her as it had upon him. Not chan:
in her; not flaw in her! 1t was as though Tin
had reversed the rolling of the scroll and brougl
her back to the springtime and the days of her TO-
white girlhood. The sweety smiling mout
the same brightly flashing eyes, the same prett
bIrdlike trick of the never quiet head. 1t would
have been irritating in any other woman, that
constant futtering disquiet, but in her Lanis-
ter hesitated for moment, and then swung away
from the throng about him and made his way
across the room to where she stood Sometime
he must meet her, he told himself-that was
inevitabe-so, why not now as well as any
other!
Within yard of where she stood, and now SO
near that he could have stretched forth his hand
and touched her, his hostess barred the way.
She was one of those amable social idiots who
label all their guests at introduCtions though
the glory of their attanments shed some reflected
greatness themselves.
Mr.. Lanister, permit me to detain you for
moment" she interposed g want to have the
pleasure of introducing a relative. My nephew,
Mr.. Fawdrey, Mr. Lanister. You must have
heard of Mr.. Lanster even in the West, Philip
Mr.. George Lanister who wrote Don Scarpia'
and The Sands of Pactolus.' Everybody has read
them and talked of them-everybody."
LanSter knew from the sudden cessation of
sound that she too had heard, and the conscious
ness that she had turned her head and was looking
at him brought another vague indefinab1e thrill
He got through the introduction somehow, then
lifted his eyes and let them find their way to hers.
Always, since first he heard of her success, and
knew that the laurel of attained desire had come
to her at last, he had known that some day, some
where, somehow they two must meet again
that nevitable-and always he had wondered
what form the words of greeting would take.
Now that the moment had come
Err How do you dor" he said namely as
he put forth his hand to meet hers
Gas please, thank YOU" she replied with one
Of her joyous laughs, You know always did
Doady-it's way of mine.
Doady. The old pet name fell from her lips
as naturally as though it was only yesterday she
used it last, and although the mention of it
brought faint gust of color to Lanisters face no
change came over the smiling loneliness of hers
g half fancied l should meet you-one meets
everybody OF Importance at Mrs. Montressors
sometime you know" she went On in slightly
lowered voice. 1t is the tax that Art has 10 pay
to Commercialism- Commercialism is in a
position to write its check for millions After all,
the call of Mammon penetrates even the Temple
Oh the MUSES., Doaoy, ana mllllonalresS can lul
even Mepomene, if she serves strawberries an
peaches in midwinter. Yes, l rather thought
should meet you here
Did that influence you at all?'
q" Influence me?" She gave one of her sweet Ri
ping laughs and twtched her barred shoulder in II
way Lanister remembered well. MY de;
Doady, why should it?"
Yes that's it-why should it," said Lanster
trif1e moodily. We each chose path eac
cut adrift, and, as you say, why should mere NEE
ing again influence us? 1 read great deal abo,
you in the papers last winter That chap WI
writes the Musical Matters in The Era spoil
highly of your success in Milan and Rome; 1kene
your voice to PATHS in her prime, and all that
of thing"