Evening star., 1909-06-27


than Nature had given them,-a contrived
to make for the sophisticated Parlsians novel
show. Men, women, and children, laughing,
staring, gesticulating, followed Roxie and the
Baby
Miss Mary cla' TO goodness this chile mus
jes' beat the worl' fur looks" Roxie remarked,
when, ceasing her buffoonery for moment, she
noticed the people gazing at her. Why, peo-
pies Jes stops to look at him evyWheres |
goes. Don yo' sposen they sense that he's
roy.ltys"
ing with Roxie into one of the long twilight
avenues of the maple grove. Here they met
only an occasional ider, who looked at them
with eyes yelled by the misty dreams of such
solitudes They fingered awhile in the little
round Queens Garden 'overshadowed by old
trees and encircled with statues, where the
fatal diamond necklace one night passed from
Marie Antoinette's patrician hands.
When Mary and Paul reluctantly left these
scenes where quietness brooded and stepped
again on the green carpet, they met stream
OF sightseers hurrying IN one direction;
Evidently, Mary, this is a Sunday when
the big fountains play, said Paul. looking at
his watch. Shall we go back to Paris now, to
avoid the crowd2"
We'll stop to see just one fountain play
Paul, because it will SO amuse the Baby. He
rejoices to see rapid motion After having
shown him statues and gardens and great
many things he doesn't care about it isn't fair
to deprive him of the one thing that would de
light him" this last in answer to Pauls mock
ing laugh.
Paul led the way to the edge of the crowd
pressing round the Fountain of Latona, which,
with the gilded frogs and lizards spoutlng
against marble group, represented the punish
ment of the metamorphosed peasants OF Lyc1a
who refused Latona drink of water The
water from the reptiles mouths rose high and
fell in pearly showers the dripping, pure
white figures. The American Baby liked it
and held up his hands to grasp at the shining
Ic 10,
Mary again began to picture the Versailles
OF other days. when Kings and Queens with
their courts assembled on the marble steps to
see the fountains play. She wished the press
ing staring crowd away. Then she saw form
that made her wish herself away. The English
officer was coming straight in her direction!
CHE knew in flash how he had brought it all
- about. Now he found her gaping with the
multitude at the playing OF the fountain She
had only time to say under her breath to Paul.
Remember! traglcally, as Charles /. SAID
that memorable word on the execution block,
Paul afterward vowed-when Hamilton neared
her.
Mary gave the smile and bow one gives to a
travelling companion who has been helpful
but whose name she does not know. Hamilton
swept his hat off with the air OF man who adj
mires woman and is overJoyed to see her.
In a matter OF fact way he found himself
place to view the fountain near Mary. She
turned to her cousin, who stood little back
of her, with, Paul, this is the gentleman who
was SO very kind to me the train" Then,
she saw that Hamilton joyfully regarded
this as an unavoidable situation for intro
ductions, she rushed on to comment breath
lessly on the beauty of Versailles, the playing
of the fountain, the loveliness of the spring
foliage, scarcely giving him time to insert suit
able replies.
Paul was vastly amused at his cousins flow
of conversation and the Englishman's utter
rout in the matter of introductions. Keep it
up. Mary he managed to say into the small
ear turned from Hamilton Your flow Of
conversation beats the fountain display by al
odds"
Then occurred to Paul's fertile brain plan
fraught with sorrow for Hamilton and NOR
tification for his cousin. He would help Mary
to get rid of the Englishman-for with the
Southerners experienced eye for sentimental
affairs, he had already sized up Hamilton
hard ht-and also pay back Mary an old score
that he owed When Mary paused for mo-
ment in confusion as he whispered his teasing
admonition into her ear, Paul took up the
thread of conversation.
I'VE are enthusiasts about Versailles, and
always come out here whenever are in
Paris. he said, using the plural pronoun with
the proprietary JUNCTION of settled Benedict.
When Hamilton looked at him with question
ing fear in his eyes, and Mary turned bewil-
dered face toward him, Paul hastened to COM
NIT matters irretrievaby. The kidde here
must begin to enjoy Paris before he shufes off: