Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-09

nightmare OF q honeymoon at Brighton.
On three occasions during her five-and-
| twenty years of existence she had spent
| q golden week in London. That was all
she knew of the wide world. It was not
very much. Reading had given her a
secondhand acquaintance with the doings
pictures as she had seen had filled her
head with dreams of strange and wonder
full places. But otherwise she was ig-
norant, beautifully, childishly ignorant
| and undismayed.
| What was she going to do? Sensitive
and responsive to beauty. filled with artis-
tic impulses, she could neither paint. act
sing nor write pretty little stories for the
| magazines. She had no special gift to
develop. To earn her living in a hum
drum way she had no need. She had no
high Ibsenite notions of working out her
own individuality. She had no consuming
passion for reforming any section of the
universe. She had no mission-that she
knew Otto accomplish. Unlike so many
Of her sex who yearn to be as men and
go out into the world. she had no inner
mandate to do anything, no ambition to
be anything. She was simply a great,
rich flower, struggling through the shade
to the sunlight, plenty of sunlight, as
her.
The Literary Man from London hap
pened to be returning to town by the
train that carried Fora on the first stage
! sent to travel up in the same carriage.
He asked her to what branch of human
activity she intended to devote herself.
She answered that she was going to lie,
anyhow, among the leaves. He rebuked
her
1--WE ought" said he. ''to justify our ex-
istence."
She drew herself up and flashed an in
dignant glance at him.
Il beg your pardon" he apOlogized.
"YOn do Justify VOl1rS'
'How?"
You decorate the world. I was wrong
That is the true function of a beautiful
woman, and you fulfill it."
ly, and looking at him steady-eyed. "a
preventive against sea-sfckness: 1 have
a waterproof to shelter me from rain;
but what can I do to shield myself
against silly compliments"
adopt the costume Of the ladies OF the
orient" said the Literary Man from Lon
don, unabashed.
She laughed. although she detested him.
He bent forward with humorous earnest
ness. He had written some novels. and
now edited a weekly Of precious tenden-
cies and cynical flavor.
Il am a battered old man of thirty
five," said he, land I know what I am
talking about. II you think you are go
rope without men paying you compii-
ments and falling in love with you and
making themselves generally delightful,
you're travelling under grievous hall
lucination." ..
What you say" retorted Fora, CON
firms me in my opinion that men are an
abominable nuisance. Why can't they let
poor woman go about in peace?'
The train happened to be waiting at
Chaplain Junction. A spruce young man,
passing by on the platform. made a per-
ceptible pause by the window. his eyes
full on her. She turned her head impa-
tiently. Rattenden laughed.
Dear lady" said he. Il must impart
to you the elements of wisdom. Miss
Keziah Skaffles. with brain cordage for
hair. and monoliths for teeth. and box
OF dominoes for body, can fool about
unmolested among the tribes of Grim
Tartary. She doesn't worry the Tartars.
But. permit me to say it. as you are for
the moment my disciple. q beautiful wom
an like yourself, radiating feminine mag
netism. worries man exceedingly. You
don't let him go3about in peace. SO why
should he let your
II think" said Fora, as the train moved
on. that Miss Keziah Skaffies is very
much to be envied, and that this is
very horrid conversation
She was offended In her provincial-bred
gard herself with repulsion. She took up
the fashion paper she had bought at the
station-was she not intending to run de-
licious riot among the dressmakers and
miiliners Of London?- land, regarding
blankly. the ungodly wasted ladies In the
illustrations, determined to wear q wig
and paint her face yellow, and black out
one Of her front teeth, so that she should
not worry the. Tartars.
I'm only warning you against possible
dangers" said Rattenden, stifiy. He did
not like his conversation to be called
horrid.
ITO the race Of men?"
mo, to yourself"
he b,.If~v -
that. Why does every man think himself
irresistible?''
Because he generally is-if he wants
to be-" said the Literary Man from Lon
don.
Fora caught her breath well. OF
Yes. know what you're going to say.
Millions OF women have said 1t and eaten
their words Why should you--beautiful
as you are-be an exception to the law
OF life? You're going out to suck the
honey Of the world, and mems hearts will
be your flowers. Instinct will drive you.
You won't be able to get away from it.
You think you're going to be thrilled into
expensive restaurants and the set pieces
Of fashionable scenery. You're not. Your
store Of honey will consist Of emotional
experiences of q primitive order. II not.
know nothing at all about women"
do you know anything about them!
she asked. sweetly.
More than would be becoming of me
to TELL" he replied. Anyhow he add
ed, that doesn't matter. I've made my
prophecy. You'll tell me afterward, II
have the pleasure Of seeing you again,
whether 1t has come true"
ut won't come true,' said Fora.
I'VE shall see,' said the wise man.
She dashed. that afternoon, into her
sisters tiny fiat in Chelsea. Emily. taken
by surprise. hastily stuffed to the bottom
of her work basket a mans silk tie which
she was knitting, and then greeted Fora
affectionately.
She was shorter. simmer, paier than
her sister-of a certain babyish prettiness.
She had Mrs Oldrieves weak mouth ano
gentle ways
"Why, Fora, who would have thought
Of seeing you? What are you doing in
town."
Getting hats and frocks-a trousseau
Of freedom. I've left Nunsmere. I'm on
my own
Her eyes sparkled. her cheeks were
flushed. She caught Emily to her bosom
"Oh, darling! I'm SO happy-a bird let
out Of a cage"
AN awful big bird" laughed Emily.
Eyes, let out of an awful small cage.
time In my life. I'm going to get out of
cily-Egypt-anywhere."
'An by yourself?"
'Therell be Turner
Turner
"Ah, you don't know her. My new
maid. But isn't 1t glorious? Why shouldn't
you come with me. darling? Do. Come"
"And throw uD nv pnRAgernenfT I