Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04

them all round her--thst type has an ir
resist:blez atmosphere-but she passes
them by with her magnificent head In the
air She is looking all the time for the
big man The pathetic comedy OF II is
that she Is as innocent and as uncon-
scious Of the object Of her search as the
flower that opens its heart TO the bee
bearing the pollen on its wings. I'm not
infallible as a general rule. In this case
am.
He FASTENED to consume his soup. which
had got cold during his harangue.
you've mixed much with women ana
studied them said Sypher. n haven't.
l was engaged TO a girl once. Int e was
tepid affair. She broke II on because
1t was much more vital to me to work
In my laboratory than to hold her hand
In her mothers parlor. No doubt she was
right. This was in the early days, when
was experimenting with the Cure. Since
then I've been a man of one Idea. II has
absorbed all my soul and energies. So
that I've had none to spare for women
Here and there. q course--
Il know. The trifling things. They are
part OF the banquet OF life. One eats and
forgets.'
Sypher glanced at him and nodded his
appreciation Of the Literary Mans neat
way Of putting things. But he did no;
reply. He ate his fish in silence. hardly
tasting ii. his mind far away following
Fora Middlemist across the seas. A hor-
rible, jealous hatred OF the big man TO-
whom she sought sprang. up in bis heart.
His pink face flushed red.
This sole bonnie femme Is excellent,
said Rattenden.
Sypher started in confusion, and praised
the chef, and talked gastronomy while
his thoughts were with Fora. He re-
membered the confession of Septimus DIX
In Paris Septimus had been caught IN
the irresistible atmosphere. He loved
her, but he was one Of the little men and
she had passed him by with her mag
~. I'll
talk languished. Presently Rattenden
sad:
"One OF the feminine phenomena that
has puzzled me most Of late has been
the marriage OF her sister to septimus
Sypher laid down his knife and fork.
How extraordinary That YOU should
mention it. He was in my mind as you
SPOKE"
Il was thinking of the sister," said Rat
tenden. "She has Mrs. Middlemist's tenn
permanent without her force OF character
the Sex without the splendor ! heard
very curious thing about her only yes
terday."
1T was one Of those things that Are
not told
Tell me- said Sypher, earnestly. Il
have reasons for asking. / am convinced
there are circumstances of which neither
Mrs. DiXS mother nor sister know any
thing. I'm loyal man. You may trust
me-.
VERY well,' said Rattenden. Have
you ever heard OF a man called Mordaunt
Prince? Ies-a we'll known actor-about
the biggest blackguard that dis zraces the
stage. He was leading man at the the
alter where she last played. They were
1oing The Widow of Ware They were
about great deal together. 1t was
common gossip at the time
Gossip is VIGOROUSLY uncharltable,
said Sypher.
IF charity covers a multitude OF sins.
Observation-Disclosures has the advantage OF
uncover. ng them. The pudor brita nnicus.
however. is responsible for uncovering the
one l am going to tell you Of. About
TWO or three months before the marriage
Emmy Oldrieve ard Mordaunt Prince
were staying together at an hotel In Tun-
bridge Wells. There was no mistake
motor with them a week before the DIX
marriage was announced Mo daunt Prince
married a Mrs. Morrs-old Sol Morris.
the money-lender's widow"
Sypher stared at him.
ITS one Of the least amazing OF hu
man phenomena said RatteRden. cynic-
ally. I'm only puzzled at Calypso being
SO soon able to console herself for the
departure Of Ulysses and taking up WITH
such a dreamy-headRd shadow OF a man
as our friend Dix. The end Of the Nor
daunt Prince story is that he soon grew
too much for the widow, who has pen
stoned him off, and now he Is drinking
himself to death In Naples
| sible?" cried Sypher. absently pushing
| aside the dish the waiter handed him.
Rattenden carefully helped himself g.
| partridge and orange salad.
able fact. You see." he added. com
placently. nothing can happen without
its coming sooner or later to me. Ny tn
forlnant was staying at the hotel all the
time. You will allow me to vouch abeo-
.ute.y for her reracity."
Sypher did not speak for some mo-
ments. The large dining room with its
portraits Of self-conscious statesmen
faded away and became a little street In
Paris. one side in shade ana the other
baking In the sun; and at q little iron
table sat a brown and indiscreet zouavo
and Septimus Dix, pale, indecisive, with
g. wistful appeal In his washed-out blue
eyes. Suddenly he regained conscious
his loss of self-pOssession than for that
Of eating, he recalled the waiter and put
some partridge on his plate. Then he
looked across the table at his guest and
said, very sternly:
Il look to you to prevent this story 60
I've already made it my duty to d
so.' said Rattenden.
Sypher helped his guest to wine.
II hope you like this Roederer." said
he. Its the only exquisite wine In the
club, and unfortunately there are not
more than few bottles left. I had seven
dozen of the same cuvee in my cellar a
Priory Park-if anything, in better con-
dition. l had to sell il with the rest OF
the things when / gave UP the house. II
went to my heart Champagne is the
only wine I understand. There Vas
time when it stood as q symbol to me OF
the unsttainable. Now that I ca drink
it when will, / know that all the laws
of philosophy forbid its having any at
traction for me. Thank heaven I'm not
dySpeptic enough In soul to be a phi!oso-
pller and I'm grateful for my aspirations.
I cultivated my taste for champagne out
Of sheer gratitude
"Any wise man." said Rattenden. ''csu
realize his dreams. II takes something,
much higher than wisdom to enjoy TIE
realization"
What Is that
1.-The heart Of child" said Rattcnden.
He smiled In his inscrutable way behind
his thick lenses and slipped his cham
payne. Truly a delicious wine" said he
Sypher said goodbye to his guest Oh
the steps Of the club, and walked home
to his new chambers in st. James deer
In thought. For the first time since his
acquaintance with Rattenden he was
glad to part with him. He had q great
need Of solitude. 1t came to him almost
as shock to realize that things were
happening in the world round about him
quite as heroic, in the eyes OF the high
gods, as the battle between SypherS Cure
and Jebusa Jones Cuticle Remedy. The
curtain OF life had been lifted and T.
fash of its inner mysteries had been re-