The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-10-27
bit nsr tongue but held an insidious
aavor.
"Oh! but like it." she cried

oh! but like It," she cried.
Presently she was gazing with eager
attention at the crowd of diners now
rapidly filling the room. How lovely
the women all are!" she said softly.
The man raised his eyebrows. HIN
-yes-if any of 1t is real"
Real" echoed Pierrette. What
do you mean?"
why, even with your evident mex
perience you must know that the deep
rose of those cheeks, the shadow be-
meath the eye and the very scarlet
lips have all been assisted In their va
rious colorings."
Really" exclaimed Pierrette, In
disappointment. After moment,
"Then-then | must be very ugly in
deed, for l have nothing put on like
that"
A sudden flame leaped into the mans
eyes as he looked across at the charm
ing face upraised to his.
You are like lovely lily In a gar
den of very perfect artificial flowers =
Pierrette's heart beat quite madly.
she used to overhear the men saying
to the women when she had looked
down to earth and listened And now
they we're actually being said to her,
little Pierrette. She just wished that
Pierrot could hear-he wouldn't think
she was such a child and SO unimpor-
tant.
Aloud she said: "Oh, how beauti-
full Do say 1t again; was 80 AFRAID
you were not going to tell me lovely
things like that and I did want to
hear them So"
Again the flame sprang up in the
mans eyes and his voice was bit
unsteady when he spoke.
81 wonder If you are the unsophisti-
Gated child you appear to be, dropped
from heaven knows where, or Is 1t
possible you are very clever woman
of the world?"
Pierrette clapped her hands and
laughed and then pouted. Il am not
a child" she said in an agrrieved
tone, "and | am a very clever woman
Of the world"
The man threw back his head and
gave way to unrestrained mirth.
"Out of your own mouth you are
convicted. The woman of the world
would have insisted she was a child.
What manner of stray nymph or dryae
or sprite are you?"
"Why, I'm just Pierrette," replied
Pierrette, gravely.
"'Pierrette'; the name suits you
wonderfully, so let it be Pierrette II
that is your whim; you certainly are
not of the earth earthly"
Pierrette was enchanted with all
the strange dishes. and when with
loud pop that almost terrified her from
a dark green bottle something bub-
bled forth that fixed delightfully."-, she
looked at her host with pleading eyes
MAY | have just a little?"
Eyes. but only very, very little"
Pierrette slipped daintily and with
great appreciation.
at is quite. quite perfect. 1t feels
like heavenly sweet little needles
pricking my throat. Don't let us nave
anything more to eat; l much prefer
this beautiful drink"
The man was greatly amused, but
promptly denied the request. After
time he asked her very gently, would
YOU care to tell me anything about
yourself? Not that l want to pry,' ne
added quickly, "but am greatly inter-
ested. Do just as you feel about it."
Pierrette crumbled bit of bread
and looked thoughtfully at her visa
Wis. She hesitated prettily before re-
plyingi
WELL" she began slowly, Il have
lust come-and-and | shant stay
very g-and-and-I'm quite alone
and want a perfectly heavenly time.
No" she corrected, Il want nice
earthly time. That's it-real and
things-and-and you are not saying
to me all the lovely things had hoped
you were going to. Perhaps am very
dull-or something
The man had listened to this recital
with varying emotions. Then he lean
ed across the table and covered the
small fingers lying there with his own.
Don't" he said sternly. Don't,
child or not, you must not say such
things; you don't know what you are
doing" He pushed her hand away
tride roughly.
Pierrette shrank back in her chair,
hurt and afraid. Her eyes filled with
tears.
'Im so sorry If I have offended
you," she said brokenly. "You are so
beautiful in your straight black
clothes and that white shirt and the
little eyeglass; and had hoped you
we're going to like me so much and
tell me such fascinating things. I'm
disappointed, that's all"
There, there, little Pierrette, l did
not mean to wound you--inexplicable
whimsy that you are. | don't under
stand at all, so shan't try. Lift up
your head and smile again. We won't
think for the moment. We will just
be happy and pretend"
mo, moi" interrupted Pierrette,
shaking her head vigorously, that's
I vxf Ia . n