Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-18

two places laid. Why, if she want the
whole table2"
So Vandraken marched upon his
fate, and in the restaurant, as in the
kitchen of the Sleeping Beauty, sus-
pended animation held sway.
AS shuddering spectators watch a
rabbit approach snake at the Zoo,
so the diners at d'Armenonville that
night watched the pink-and-white
youth with the curious red-brown
eyes, draw near to the Cobra
The Cobra knew by the sudden hush
that a rabbit was approaching, but
she made no sign. With the disdainful
calm that was her usual pose, she
turned over the pages Of the wine list.
| II she betrayed any consciousness of
the little drama at all, it was by one
of the queer, sphinx-lil1e smiles which
quivered OF her lips and eyes.
| When Vandraken had put his hand
questioningly on the back of the tilted
chair, not even knowing in what Ian
guage to address the woman, she
looked up from the wine-list, and her
smile changed to one of challenging,
non-committal invitation. Il am not
offended it seemed to say, "but at
your own peril That chair is yours
! If you can sit in it. No affair of mine,
assure you"
| Vandraken drew back the tilted
chair, and even the Tziganes held
their sensuous waltz tune in the air.
The young man cleared his throat as
he took his seat, but before he could
say anything his voice was beaten
down by the eyes of the woman op.
posite. He had the sensation of being
looked at by hundreds of eyes behind
a latticed screen The Cobra sat in a
relaxed attitude; the pressure of her
hand, supporting her chin, threw her.
head backwards; the line of her fore
arm. from her wrist to the table, was
the only tense, restraining stroke in
the picture; all the rest suggested
abandon. A culver of the woman S
/ half-closed eyes made Vandraken con
scious of a change from scrutiny to
a sensuous invitation to look at the
vision she was unwilling.
Then, as the dark lashes lifted, she
drew deep breath, and the mobile
| body moved forward without disturb
ing the tense lines of the head and
forearm. The blinds on the windows of
woman and man were up now, and
the devil behind the mans eyes was
not afraid of the swarming demons
behind the woman's. Her lips parted
to allow the pent-up breath to escape,
the tense forearm relaxed, and the
small hand fell towards Vandraken
| in gesture of invitation; the lashes
Quivered across the eyes again into
a sensuous curve and soft voice,
with pretty foreign accent said:
Monsieur wishes to dine with me-
yes?"
And from the time Vandraken had
sat down, to the time when the bows
fell with triumphant crash on the
violins Of the Tziganes, and the
dreamy waltz moved on, to the ac-
compartment of the clapping of many
hands, there were only thirty seconds
registered on the clock-tower over
the gates of He'll
Vandraken, slightly shaken by the
revelation of absolute wickedness
and throbbing passions he had seen in
the woman's eyes, and startled by the
applause which had followed the invi-
tation, did not reply at once.
| And again the woman questioned,
''Yes?"
''It is very good of Madame to for
give my impertinence," stammered
Vandraken, "but there was no other
vacant chair, and l thought perhaps
you would let me be the host"
But no." purred the woman, with
ravishing smile, "you-shall be-my
guest-tonight." Veeda spoke slowly,
except when she was angry.
ooh, no, really! You-you must
dine with me-"
Monsieur must be my guest to-
night" she repeated with emphasis.
| But you shall order the wine-yes
you may pay for the wine-nothlng
else"
Vandraken leaned forward breath
lessly when you said tonight did
you mean"
Veeda laughed, "You go too fast.
Monsieur: L5t II, see What w.:l- YOU
ORDER and she handed Rim I'll" list.
why dill everyone applaud when
I sat down, and why are they rubber
necking now?"
Rubber-necking?" she repeated n
her pretty foreign drawl. What is
that?'
Turning their heads 10 stare at
u.s. Haven't they ever seen man dine
with girl before?"
ooh. yes - but nevaire with this
girl. They have seen the chair turned
up and they have seen the men .akc
it, but except he Invita- on. No! They
sit vn so iauntee, All then look
at them. so nicelee as look at yCu--
and polff! the man is e. ne, so re-! n
the face, and such funnee noises in
the throat Six months I have lived in
Paris, but I always dine alone till
tonight
i $50 they couldn't stand your eyes
They ran Ell? I wonder why? Here's
the wine I was looking for-Parfait
Amour-and see they have some Of
the Palace champagne. Or can you
suggest anything different?"
"Mais, non! They are wines O.
kings What would you?"
Vandraken gave his order to the
wine garcon while Veeda was arrang
ing some addition to the dinner she
had already ordered.
Just fancy running away from eye;