The Washington herald., 1908-05-28

one Of them-she certainly has Aztec
blood in her-and some cells. handed down
from generation % generation, bat always
dormant until now, have been warmed
to life by our exotic civilization.
That's another theory. Perhaps Ike
causes create like effects. and civilization
Is reaching the same condition OF mind
which prevailed at the time OF her last
clmacteric. Our cry is for more. more.
more-primitive sensations grow blunted
with safety. vast fortunes like that
young mans over there demand sens2-
tions in proportion TO them. All creation
has had the power Of rubbing the lamp.
What It has wished en- masse has come
10 pass. Even the deer. wishing that his
coat would be made 20 look ike the
leaves Of the forest. has been given a
dappled coat. The first protoplasm had
its wishes granted. and, demanding more
more. more became a man. The man.
demanding more, more, more, was given
al the wonders OF civilization. Ciyiliza-
ton has moved quickly Of late. Vast for
tunes have been heaped up. Ny theory
is that you viii see all manner Of pheno-
mena created, all kinds OF inventions 20
meet the needs OF the owners Of these
/ fortunes. The snake-woman has crept
/ forth in answer 20 some such call, and
I has met her mate"
II envy his capacity" said the other
man. Look al those bottles OF winer'
! With such wealth as that. and such
woman as that. there must stu be a
/ lack amounting 10 T. tragedy"
! What IS that?"
The tanned face Of the man from
4 South America looked sympatheHcally
at the blonde face OF the young man al
] OIL hnr al. ha
cal limitations which the millionaire
shares with the laborer. That chap car
buy all the wine in Paris. but think OF
the head he viii have in the morning.
Yes; unless your theory works thai
/ all kinds Of inventions viii arise. TO keeT
pace with the demands OF wealth. Per.
haps he has an antidote. at a guinea a
drop"
Lucky man. If he has," muttered tho
man from South America: and he and
his companion. having satisfied the ad-
dici0ne Of a foot long, presented by the
waiter strolled out, looking back with
deep interest at the absorbed couple with
the many wine bottles
The restaurant was nearly empty; one
by one the tables We're being deserted
Their occupants. as they went out, look
ed 0ack at the Cobra and the youth viii
uetR AAlttehA- II MO UcCpflc KNOW
that the latter was the American multi
millionaire about whom most Of them haS
heard 1t seemed a fitting climax 10 tn,
CObra's long fast this glorifed meal o.
deeply-gilded youth. The variety Of pos
sible denouements had furnished food 10
though and material for conversation a
many a table that night. and more thar
one demi-mondaine, who thought sh
knew her business. had, metaphOrically
kick I'd herself under the table when sh
realized the success which had crowne,
the Cobra's wiles.
Vandraken looked round ar the de
serted tables and the inscrutable face
of the walters. do you realize. my host
ess, that we are almost the last? Wha
is TO be our next move. I quote you
words I invite you 10 be my guest 90
night 1t IS time that you made I
clearer how much you meant by that in
vitation I have fallen frightfully in low
with your red lips"
Veeda laughed her little growing laugh
barely across the borderland of a smile
But that is right: they were made q
J be loved, these red lips OF mine" Sh
leaned across the table 70 him, chin o.
, hand, I'm her fayorite attitude He
: sleepy eyes were swooning into his. "Hoy
[ much yen are in love with my lips2"
/, Vandraken made a quick move towar
her. The passion with which she in
Spired him was stronger than his sens
Of environment. The woman leaned bac
in her chair and laughed again. Il di
. not ask you to show me how much:
only ask that you tell me, and that
quite different"
Vandraken looked sulky. He was no
used to being played with by women o
her class
i Il tell you what" said the Cobra
! noticing the frOwn on the young man
: face. c'YOu shall take me to the opera
T it is 'Salome.' How I love that music
that llbretto, II goes TO the very earth
where the roots Of passion feed on Tn
. exquisite pleasure of pain"
' 'SalOmer gTumbled the young mar
! "Why 'Salome2 "
You will see" answered the Cobrs
, tensely.