The Washington herald., 1908-05-27

the mans eyes was not afraid Of the
swarmlng demons behind the woman's.
Her lips parted 20 allow the pent-up
breath to escape, the tense forearm re-
laxed, and the small hand fell toward
Vandraken in a gesture OF invitation; the
lashes Quivered across the eyes again into
the sensuous curve and a SOFT voice. with
a pretty foreign accent. said: Mon
sieur wishes to dine with me-yes?"
And from the time Yan6raken had sat
down. 10 the time when the bows fell
with a triumphant crash on the violins Of
the Tziganes, and the dreamy waltz NOV
ed on. to the accompaniment Of the clap
ping Of many hands. there were only
thirty seconds registered on the clock
tower over the gates OF hell
Vandraken. slightly shaken by the rev.
elation Of absolute wickedness and throb-
bling passions he had seen in the woman's
eyes, and startled by the applause which
had followed the invitation. did not reply
at once.
And again the woman questioned:
''Yes?'
1T is very good Of madame to forgive
my impertinence,' stammered Vandrak-
en-. but there was DO other vacant chair,
and thought perhaps you would let me
be the host"
ravishing smile. ''you-shaIl be-my guest
tonight Veeda spoke slowly, except
when she was angry.
-Oh. no. really. You-you must dine
with me-"
Monsieur must be my guest tonight"
she repeated, with emphasis But you
shall order the wine-yes. you may pay
/ for the wine-nothing else"
Vandraken leaned forward breathlessly
When you said to-night-did you
mean
Veeda laughed. you so too fast. mon
sieur. Let US see what wine you order, %
and she handed him the list
why did every one applaud when
sat down, and why are they all rubber
neclSing now?'
"Rubber-neckingi" she repeated. in her
pretty. foreign drawl What is that?'
Turning their heads round 10 stare at
| US. Haven't they ever seen a man dine
with girl before7"
"Oh. yes-but nevaire with this girl.
| They have seen the chair turned up. and
they have seen the men take II, but ac-
! cept the Invitation? No! They sit down
so jauntee. and then look at them. so
nicelee as / look ar you-and pOuffi-
I the man is gone, so red in the face and
such funnee noises in the throat Six
months I have lived in Paris. but 1 al
ways dine alone-till tonight"
80 they couldn't stand your eyes?
| They ran. Ell? I wonder why? Here s
the wine I was looking for-Parfait
Amour-and I see they have some Of the
Palace champagne. Or can you suggest
/ anything different?'
Mails. non, They are the wines OF
/ kings, What would your
! vandraken gave MS order 10 the wine
garcon while Veeda was arranging some
addition 70 the dinner she had already
| ordered.
Just fancy running away from eyes
\ like yours, What fools. What more
could they want?"
''Ah. monsieur. il is not that they want
more-it is that they do not want so
much. The silly things, They think they
want TO dine with a uaughtee woman.
All the time what they want is a good
woman 20 make naughtee Then they can
say 10 her: This much naughtee you
| shall be. and this much good With such
men l feel fatig1e-for Of good I know
nothing, and 1 viii not pretend. II I
tell them this they would not believe
so with my eyes I tell them Then they
believe 1 am wickeder than they are
that makes them frightened On. I am
the most wicked woman in all the Worldr'
And she laughed delightedly.
| And what did you see in my eyes
that pleased your" asked Vandraken.
II see the man who has killed his con-
! science while he is young. I have seen
| old men without the conscience, but the
young man who Is not in fear OF mon
sieur the devil is rare. Oh, they think
/ they fear him not-till they see him naked
behind these eyes. Then they fear. Are
you rich?" she added, abruptly.
Then you don't know who amp
asked Vandraken, eagerly. for II was
always a delight to him TO be liked apart
/ from his money
But how should know? think you
are stranger to Paris"
''Why?"
'Of all these people. no one knows you.
How do you cali yourself? I think I
name you the Angel Of Sin. You are
pink and fiuffy-all but the back of your
eyes
Il am Standish Vandraien." announced
the young man. But he was disappointed
in his expectation Of creating an impress
sion. She had evidently never heard of
him. The mult-millionaire," he added.
"Oh you are milliOnairel That is
naice" Her eyes sparkled.
4 have q thousand billion francs"
Monsieur is jOldngi"
Morally 1 am an American
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.
/