The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-01-25
bit ner tongue but held an insidious
flavor.

/
rapidly filling the room. How lovely
the women all are!" she said softly.
The man raised his eyebrows. Him
-yes-if any of it 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 a moment.
"Then-then l must be very ugly in
deed. for | have nothing put on like
that"
A sudden fame leaped into the mans
| eyes as he looked across st the charm
ing face appraised to his.
You arc like lovely lily in a gar
den of very perfect artificial flowers"
Pierrette's heart beat quite madly
This was like the fascinating things
she used to overhear the men saying
to the women when she had looked
| down to earth and listened And now
they were actually being said to her,
| little Pierrette. She just wished that
Pierrot could hear-he wouldn't think
she was such n child and so unimpor-
tant.
Aloud she said ooh, how beautl-
full! Do say it again; l was so afraid
you were not going to tell me lovely
things like that, and l did want to
hear them So"
Again the flame sprang up in the
mans eyes and his voice was a bit
unsteady when he spoke.
81 wonder il you are the unsophisti-
! Gated child you appear to be, dropped
from heaven knows where, or is it
possible you are a very clever woman
OF the world?"
Pierrette clapped her hands and
laughed and then pouted. Il am not
child she said in an agrrieved
tone, "and | am 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 n 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 if
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 1 have just n lttle?'
Yes, but only very, very little"
Pierrette slipped daintily and with
great appreciation.
at is quite. quite perfect II feels
like heavenly sweet little needles
pricking my throat. Don't let us have
anything more to eat; 1 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 I want to pry," he
added quickly "but am greatly inter
ested Do just as you feel about it,"
Pierrette crumbled a bit of bread
and looked thoughtfully at her visa
Wis. She hesitated prettily before re-
plyingI
well" she began slowly, Il have
just come-and-aDd I shan't stay
very g-and-and-Tm quite alone
and I want a perfectly heavenly time
No" she corrected, Il want n nice
earthly time. That's it-real and
things-and- and you are not saying
to me all the lovely things I 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
trife roughly.
Pierretto shrank back in her chair
hurt and afraid Her eyes filed with
tears.
I'm 50 sorry If 7 have offended
YOU she said brotorly you are go
beautiful I'm your straight black
tiDlUen ana iNdL VINO SllII ana the
little eyeglass. and / had hoped you
woro going to like me so much and
tell me such fascinating things. I'm
disappointed. that's all"
There. there little Pieuette. did
pot mean TO wound you -inexplicable
whimsy that you are don't under
stand at all, 50 / shant try Lift up
your head and smile again We won't
think for the moment. We Will just
bo happy and pretend
NO. no. interrupted Pierrette.
Shaking her head vigorously. that's
exactly what I don't want everything
must be real-real" with sudden sus-
plcion, Were you only pretending
when you said I was much nicer to
look at than those other ladies' with
stun ON their faces?
"f certainly do moan you arc the
very loveliost thin., have ever looked
upon there is "a mysterious ethereal
something about you i cannot fathOm
which puts YOU in a place quite by
yourself don't at all understand.
YOU are stirring elements in me 7 new.
or knew possessed -staid. settled