Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-26
Ter In solemn II cynical obed,eoce.


nae 50 complaisant fool, that, like
another Bottom. I was expected in this
modern Midsummer Nights Dream 70
accept this Difference without ques-
uonT l became more and more con.
vinced that she did not Once she
even referred TO the events OF the
night before In such a manner that /
believed her not ignorant Of my true
condition If she were persuaded that
/ had been acting a part then. that
would account for her confidence In
expecting me to continue acting that
part. It would give her encourage
ment that 1 was the willing tool she
looked for.
And suppose that she really believed
that, did she think that expected no
reward? She had hinted that in sery.
inS her ends l was to serve myself as
well. But Madame de WARMER was
not the kind OF woman 10 believe that
. mau would be allured by a promise
so vague. Then the reward?
She had protested that she had not
expected me to fall in love with her.
She had protested that, but In the
same breath she had confessed a half.
resolve TO bring me to her feet. Now
as she exerted every charm OF coquet.
~ sho was giving the lie to her own
words. oh, the reward was obvious
enough. IL I chose to take It.
We will smoke our cigarettes in
my favorite music room. You must
hear DR.. Starva play on the cello.
You have had the piano carefully
tuned. JacQues?"
"All is in readiness" replied the
servant. as he preceded Us with can.
dies.
DIT. Starva nd pushed back his chair
eagerly. For the first time since I had
met him his face lost something Of
its heavy sullen expression.
"sIy fingers have not the practice"
he said modestly. but TO play with
Madame de Varnier-ah. that is worth
while"
We were in the music room that
Madame de Varnier had described to
me so enthusiastically the day before.
Dlmly lighted with wax candles, pan.
eled In dark oak to the ceiling. the
floor waxed and polished 70 a dazzling
luster. it was room almost bare. but
Il had its melancholy charm. There
was little furniture. At one end OF
the room was row OF carved seats
built into the wall. There were no
pictures or tapestries. The one touch
Of color was the vivid fame Of blaz.
Ing logs.
The strife OF the world. its lies
a
enter here" said Madame de WARMER
sentlmentslly. Look. I throw Omen
this easement. The noisy Aare browns
my voice. Beyond. you soc the moon
light on the valleys and stiIl beyond.
the mountains. This is your seat.
Once this was a chapel. in these
carved seats the monks chanted YES
pers; IN the seat OF honor which you
occupy drowsed the father superior.
When you hear the enchanting melo-
dies Of Dr. Starva you will not have
lived In vain"
This hour at least was innocent.
Perhaps Il was the luu before the
storm. but why should look for clouds
when the heavens were clear?
The long. darlly 9aneled room. its
shining floor seeming 20 rise and fall
mystorlously in the pickering fire
light. the noisy murmur OF the stream
below. the white moonlight that strug-
sled feebly through the easement win
dows-an had It's charm. And these
two adventures. INSCRIPTIONS and
conscienceless. had abandoned them
selves for the moment 20 the Joy OF
their music.
/ looked over toward Madame de
WARMER The shaded light of the can
dies fell on her white shoulders. The
splendor OF her beauty had never
seemed more seductive.
asked myself Incredulously IL this
dreaming woman was the desperate
adventures whom Locke had warned
me against.
Slowly she looked where I sat: I
seemed to draw her eyes toward me.
she smiled vaguely. a smile that was
adorsble-yes. I could almost persuade
myself that IL was the smile OF an
innocent girl. For n moment 1 was
content 10 forget the unpleasant task
that was before me; 20 invest even
nc AAblAolNA bg ANl sue III the EdIe OF
humanity.
The servant who had shown me to
nay rooms appeared At the door. let
tiers on his salver. held up my hand
warningly 20 him that be should not
disturb them, and motioned that he
bring the letters to me. He did so
without either OF the musicians MOTTO
ing his entrance
The sonata OF Beethoven swept to
It's glorious climax. started 10 my
feet TO take the letters to Madame de
WARMER
But without a pause DR.. Starva be
gan a tender romance. The woman
sat at the piano, her hands falling idly
90 her lap.
Again she smiled across the room
at me. But now 1t was no longer
spontaneous. The lips held something
of that indefnable cruelty of that
woman OF the Renaissance made IA
nous by Da Vinci. l frowned; ] re
fused 20 meet that smile.
Then, as 1 looked down deliberately,
1 felt myself turn pale. A shudder