Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-14

believe he is rooted to the spot-why
doesn't he go away?''
Miss Penrose looked through the ivy
trellis. The victim of the watering poi
was still looking up. his damp hat il
his hand and his white hair glistenine
in the afternoon sun. Child. l think you
have really made conquest
THAT old thing?" and Aurora flung her
self into a chair and laughed hysterical-
ly. just as the door bell gave sharr
peal.
Hes angry. and he's come to- and
Aurora turned pale.
My dear, if you will pour water over
elderly gentlemen. YOU must take the
consequences and Miss Penrose retreat
ed. laughing, just as the hall door opened
and the little maid servant ushered in 4
short. stout elderly man, whose gray
beard lay on his portiy breast as on 3
salver Aurora rose and stared appre.
hensiveIy at her victim.
Aurora he cried passionately. and
took her long, slim fingers in his own
"At last"'
Aurora stared at him with frightened
brown eyes.
II knew you at once" he said.
"You knew me at once" she faltered.
when saw your beautiful face among
the flowers
Aurora recovered sherself and smiled
He might be insane, but he was certainly
civil. 81 knew it must be Aurora Pen.
rose-this was the face OF my dreams
But why" he cried reproachfully. why
did you persist in maligning YOURSELF"
Forgive me- young Aurora said, in
polite perplexity. 'if ask who you are"'
He turned quite pale. Can you not
guess?' he faltered. did I not prepare
you to see the ugliest man God ever
made. and did you not say it was the
man and not the face?'
''Oh. dear me! / am afraid this is all a
dreadful mistake.'
"A mistake? How is that possible ?
Surely you are Aurora Penrose?''
Yes. / am Aurora Penrose--''
God be praised
But so is my aunt
He sank upon the nearest chair and
Aurora fingered. her hand on the door
knob. She was sorry for him, she knew
the disillusion in store for him.
Who shall 1 say" she asked gently.
Roger Lythgoe.
Young Aurora gasped. She looked at
him as at vision. He seemed taller
and simmer and his eyes were quite
beautiful behind the gold spectacles. AS
for the great poet. he vouchsafed her not
another glance, but bent all his energies
TO rubbing the nap Of his ruined hat. He
was still at it when Miss Penrose came
in. and for a moment they stood and
looked at each other in silence.
do you find me disappointing? Miss
Penrose asked abruptly.
Let me rather ask. do you find me so?"
They looked at each other again and
neither spoke. Then they both blushed.
Her last letter he always carried in his
breast pocket. and its very touch had
made him quiver-how often he had
kissed the fine. clear writing! His fore
head grew damp at the mere remem-
brance. and somehow he could not see
himself in future carrying about the cor
respondence of this elderly lady. AS for
Miss Penrose. she remembered with a
kind Of horror the long evenings she had
dreamed away on her balcony. his let
ter her only companion, reading the pas
sionate utterances of the man she had
never seen.
1t was Miss Penrose who first recovered
herself. $50. after two years. I at last
see the poet" she said, politely.
And 1 the distinguished artist he add
ed. with forced smile. Your pictures
are poems without words; mine were
needless
II had just sent you a letter begging
YOU not to COME she exclaimed abrupt