The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-01-18
bit her tongue but held an insidious
favor.
OH but like it," she cried.


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 colorngs."
Really" exclaimed Pierrette, in
disappointment After a snoment,
"Then-then | 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 at the charm
ing face appraised TO his.
You are like lovely lily in a gar
den of very perfect artificial flowers"
Pierrettes 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 child and so unimpor
tant.
Aloud she said: "Oh, how beauti-
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.
Il wonder if 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, land / 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 child.
What manner OF stray nymph or dryae
or sprite are you?"
why, I'm just Plerrette," 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 a
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 l have just a little?'
YES. but only very, very little"
Pierrette slipped daintily and with
great appreciation.
at is quite. quite perfect. 1t feels
like heavenly sweet little needles
prlcklng my throat. Don't let us have
anything more to eat; | much prefer
this beautiful drink"
The man was greatly amused, but
promptly denied the request After a
time he asked her very gently, Would
you care to tell ne anything about
yourself? Not that / want to pry," he
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-
plyingl
We'll" she began slowly Il have
just come-and-and shan't stay
very long -and--and-Im quite alone
and | want n perfectly heavenly time
No." she corrected, Il want a nice
I
things-and-and you arc not saying
to me all the lovely things had hoped
you were going to. Perhaps 1 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 lie pushed her hand away q
/ tribe roughly.
Pierrette shrank back in her chair,
hurt and afraid. Her eyes filed with
| tears.
I'm so sorry if ! have offended
YOU she said brokcnly you are so
beautiful in your straight black
clothes and that white shirt and The
little cyoglass; and / had hoped you
were going to like me so much and
| tell me such fascinating things. I'm
\ disappointed. that's all"
There. there little Pierrettc. did
not mean 10 wound you ineXplicable
whimsy that YOU are don't under
stand at all, SO ] shant try. Lift up
/ your head and smile again We won't
| think for the moment We will Just
/ be happy and pretend
! mo. no." interrupted Pierrctte.
shaking her head vigorously. that's
/ exactly what I don't want! everything
must be real-rcal" with sudden 8us-
plcion, Were you only pretending
when you said was much nicer to
look at than those other ladies with
stuff on their faces?'
II certainly do mean you are the
| very loveliest Trims have ever looked
| upon. there Is q mysterious ethereal
something about you cannot fsthom
which puts you I'm a place quite by
yourself don't at all understand
you are stirring elements In me I new
or knew ! po8sessed-stald, settled