Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-11
CHAPTER III.

When they drove up TO the Hotel de
Paris she alighted and bade him a srnii-
ing farewell, and went 10 her room With
the starlight in her eyes. The lift man
asked IL madame had won. She dangled
her empty purse and laughed. Then the
lift man, who had seen that light in
womens eyes before. made certain that
she was in love. and opened the lift door
for her with the confidential air OF the
Latin who knows sweet secrets. But
the lift man was wrong. No man had
part In her souls exultation. II Septimus
Dix crossed her mind while she was un-
dressing il was as grotesque, bearing
the Same relation to her emotional inn
preston of the night as a gargoyle does
to a cathedral When she went to bed
she slept the sound sleep of youth.
Septimus. after dismissing the cab.
wandered I'm his vague way over to the
Cafe de Paris. instinct suggesting his be-
Fora had forgotten. The waiter came.
Monsieur desire7'
"Absinthe," murmured Septimus absent
mindedly. "and-er-poached eggs-and
anything raspberry ice"
The waiter sazed at him In stupefac-
ton. but nothing being too astounding In
Monte Carlo he wiped the cold perspirR
ton from his forehead and executed the
order.
The unholy meal being over, septimus
drifted into a square and spent most OF
the night on a bench gazing at the Hotel
de Paris and wondering which were her
windows. When she mentioned casually.
a day or two later. that her windows
looked the other way over the sea he
felt that destiny had fooled him once
more, but for the time being he found
gentle happiness In his speculation
| Chilled to the bone. at last he sought his
has ~ xzf,, Adj
tative, with his hat on until the morning.
Then he went TO bed.
Two mornings afterward Fora came
upon him on the Casino terrace. He
| sprawled idly on bench between a fat
German and his fat wife. who were talk
| ing across him His straw hat was tilted
over his eyes and his legs were crossed.
In spite of the conversation (and mid
dle-class German does not whisper when
he talks to his wife) and the going and
coming Of the crowd--in spite of the sun
shine and the blue air. he slumbered
peacefully. Fora passed him once or
twice. Then by the station lift she
paused and looked out at the Bay OF Men
tone clasping the sea-a blue enamel in
setting of gold. she stood for some mo-
ments lost In the JOY Of IL when voice
behind her brought her back to the com
monplace.
Very lovely, isn't it?@
| A thin-faced Englishrnan of uncertain
age and yellow. evil eyes, met her glance
as she turned instinctively.
"Yes, It's beautiful" she replied. coldly:
| but that Is no reason why you should
take the liberty Of speaking to me-
II couldn't help sharing my emotions
with another. especially one so beautiful.
You seem to be alone herer'
Now she remembered having seen him
before-rather frequently. The previous
evening he had somewhat ostentatiously
| selected a table near hers at dinner. He
had watched her as she had left the
theater and followed her to the lift door.
He had been watching for his opportunity
and now thought IL had come. She shiv-
cred with sudden anger, and round her
heart crept the chill of fright which all
women know who have been followed in
a lonely street.
| 'I certainly am not alone she said.
wrathfully. Good morning"
The man covered his defeat by raising
| his hat with tronic politeness, and Fora
walked swiftly away, In appearance ma
jestic Amazon, but inwardly a quiver1ng
woman. She marched straight up to the
recumbent Dix. The Literary Man from
London would have been amused. She
Iinterposed herself between the converstns
Teutons and awakened the sleeper He
looked at her for moment with
dreamy smile, then leaped to his feet.
| "A man has insulted me-he has been
| following me about and tried to get into
conversation with me-.
| Dear me-" said Septimus. What shall
I do? Shall shoot himT'
Don't be silly" she said, seriously.
ITS serious. I'd be glad IL you'd kindly
walk up and down a little with me-"
with pleasure" They strolled away
together. but 1 am serious. II you
wanted me to shoot him I'd do IT, I'd do
anything in the world for you. I've got a
revolver In my ROOM
| CTo be continued tomorrow