The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-29
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~ Virginia Leila Vents


f
brought her caDlegrnm.
II was message from her lord and
master In Chicago declaring that her
Immediate presence was required. Al
once all the brightness faded out OF the
Tuileries, for the frivolous gayety Of
Paris had been especially attractive to-
this portly, easy going, good natured
matron OF the west.
But, mother, you'll have to 30 alone,
It'll be a whole month before my sing
Ing lessons are finished. you KNOW
broke In Elya, who was having her
Naxen hair shampooed by real pari-
sian hairdresser.
Mrs, Dix clasped her ring bedecked.
pudgy hands. She always clasped her
hands when she agreed about anything
You'll have to have chaperon, Of
course, DEAR she added. Now. who
can we get on such little noticeY
There was silence for moment.
while the deft fingers OF the hairdress-
er ran through the faxen hair with
soothing touch. Then Elya's giriish
voice sounded in delightful treble:
"Oh, mother! know the very per
son. She's terribly nice and awfully
ladylike' tElya always emphasized her
adverbs and used indiscriminate ones
at that, .'and she's an American, and
that's the best Of all--ouch.' In her
eagerness she'd turned her head a Bit
too suddenly, and some soap had got In
her sapphire eyes.
"0h. know who you mean," helped
out Mrs. Dix, while her daughter strug
Sled with the soap. You mean Miss
Clemmens. the governess to that little
English boy who died last week. Yes,
she's looking for another engagement.
that's true. And she certainly is a
lady
So Miss Dorothy Clemmens OF New
York was engaged to chaperon Elya
Dix for month in Paris and then
bring her back to America.
To console herself for her mothers
departure, Elya had Miss clemmens
secure tickets for that nights opera.
She sat In box in her young beauty
set on by $500 Paquin gown and Sc
renely allowed the audience to stare.
Already she was learning that the
mission OF the beauty is to support
modIstes and to be stared at Behind
her, robed In some soft, inexpensive
gray stuff, with narrow white lace
collar, sat her chaperon.
The opera was 'Siegfried," the scher
no Of Wagner's great symphony. as
Lavignac has called 1t. Upon Miss
Clemmens' music parched- soul shed
not heard an opera for over year. 1t
fell like gracious dew and fetched
sweet refreshment When the orches-
ira tells the mood of Slegfried In the
second act, feeling the first fret Of
awakened passion, her eyes shone like
stars, her lips parted slightly. and just
at that Juncture man In the audience
caught her perfect profile as she leaned !
slightly forward.
That same look, downward and side |
wise and smiling! That exquisite head /
In its cloud Of wayy dark hair! Paul
.Demarest brushed away the years that
had blurred II all, and then suddenly |
he remembered Yes, he remembered. !
oh, 1t was so long ago, SO many years
ago!
And she was In the same box with |
that gay little butterfly, that American
nirt, Elya Dix. Bless Elya Dix! 1t was
the first time he had ever felt grateful I
to her. He would make his way to her
box at the end OF the second act.
why, Mr.. Demarest! I'm awfully |
glad to see you II honestly am!
Thought you'd forgotten me. And I'm |
all alone now = mother sailed unex-
pectedly for home this morning and
I'm all alone now. Elya greeted him
In her young untamed effusiveness as
he entered the box.
.'All alone?" he questioned gravely.
well. there's Miss Clemmens here,
my chaperon BY the way, she's an
American too. Miss Clemmens, Mr..
Demarest. You've heard mother speak
of him, I'm sure Oh, here come !
Dickie Marston and Bob Sawyer!
How terribly jolIyw Elya reached out
her daintily gloved hand to greet two
newcomers.
They were of the aggressive type,
these two English chaps, and In few
seconds Demarest made his way TO
Miss Clemmens In the rear.
"Do you know, Miss Clemmens," ne
began curiously, "the last time | saw
you you wore your hair In two braids,
and wrote poem and dedicated 1t to
the curls at the end"
His voice and mouth were grave, but
there was smiling CLEAN in his eyes.
Miss Clemmens glanced rather blank
ly from beneath her heavy lashes at
this man well.under forty.
II think" she began, with calm
dignity BETTING her position but just
then, on the very second word OF re-
provaI, fash of understanding radiat-
ed over her tired, lovely face. You
surely you're not Prince Paul"
"The very same princess
Paul Demarest bowed very low. Wy
"But- but why Demarest" pursued
Miss Clemmens, With puzzled lmccr-
faIntv. M4