Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13

S-S3@S She came over to him and loo
down across his shoulder at the pictures Of
seen those wonderful old on Notre Dam
Paris, that gaze down on the city roofs w
ways wondered why they placed them on beau
churches"
on the engraving. But to my mind they S
bolize the ancient cult of Wonder. In the
Middle Ages men really wondered; they didn't
anticipate flying machines years before they
invented, we modernS do. They took
nothing for granted. Everything in life was
miracle
Valeska dropped quietly into seat to
listen. Astro had many moods. Sometimes
he was the dreamy, occult seer cryptic,
mysterious; again he was the alert man OF
affairs, keen, logical, worldly She had seen
him too in society, affable bland, jocose.
But in this retrospective, whimsical, analytic
mood she got nearest him and learned some
thing of the true import of his life
He went on. his eyes half-closed. his red
silken robe enveloping him like shroud, the
diamond in his turban glittering as he moved
his head His olive skinned, picturesque face
with its dark eyes was serene and quiet now.
A little blue tailed lizard, one of Astro's many
exotic fances, frisked across the table. He
caught it and held it as he talked.
IN the thirteenth century clergy and laity
alike believed that the forces OF good and
evil were almost equally balanced. They wor-
as we'll; SO these horrible beasts leered down
from the cornices of the house of God, and
watched the holy office of priests. The devil
had his own litany, his own science. They
were forbidden practices; but they tourShed
then among the most intellectual people as
they flourish now among the most ignorant.
Magic then a science; now it is a fake.
Still mans chief desire is to get something for
nothing, to find short cut to wisdom The
gargoyle is replaced by the dollar mark. So
he If One must earn ones living. Selah! |
have spokeni
He looked up with smile and boyish
twinkle in his eyes. Then his business1ke,
cynical self returned He jumped up, tall and
handsome. a picturesque oriental figure in
formed with the stirring life of the West.
''Valeska I've been reading about the devil
worshipers of Paris.-the black mass, infant
sacrifices, and all that That's anachron-
any genuine survival of the worship of Evil
Valeska shuddered "Oh, that would be
horribe'
But interesting He clasped his hands
behind him and gazed up at the silver starred
ceiling. g don mean degeneracy or insanity,
but man that does evil for the love OF it, as
did in the old days
Il hate to have you talk like that!" Valeska
hand on his arm.
Very we'll | won't" He snapped his finger
if to rid himself of the thought, and walked into
reception room adjoining the great studio.
Valeska went back to her work For some I
utes she arranged her cards in their tin box; Il
hearing voices outside, she looked up and listel
Then she walked softly across the heavy rugs
touching button in the mahogany wainscoat
passed through secret door.
SCARCELY had she disappeared when Astro
~ turned, ushering in young woman styi
dressed in brown When she put aside her veil
face shone out like portrait vivid instinct
grace and delicate, rare, high bred beauty, flu
character and force. Astro showed her seat III
the electric lamp.
Il thought you would help me if anyone cou
she was saying, in continuation of her converse
in the retention room sIf II was anvthinp