Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-26
CHAPTER III-Continued.


Il think Aunt Octavia is hard on the
Asolando," she was saying. aunt Oc
tavia is interested in the revival of ro
nance. and romance without poetry
seems to me wholly impossible. The Aso
lando makes no pretensions to be more
than an incident in a real movement
whose aim is the diffusion of poetic fire
1T is merely a shrine where the divine
lamp is never allowed to fail or falter.''
And il, Cecilia HOLSTER. you think
that sandwiches named for Browning 6
poems or macaroons dedicated to Walter
Pater can assist foolish virgins in keep
ing their lamps filled, give you the word
OF an old woman that you are in danger
of q complete loss of your mind. The
age is decadent, and I know no better
way Of restoring the race to it's ancient
vim and energy than by sending men
back to the camp and field or to sail the
high seas in new armadas. The men of
this age have become a lot Of sordid
shopkeepers. and to my moral sense the
looting of cities is far more honorable
than the creation of trusts and the manip-
ulatfon OF prices. though l cannot deny
that but for my late fathers zeal in de-
stroying his competitors in the baby
buggy business we might not now be en-
tOying the delicate fragrance of caravan
tea
continued to founder in my anxiety
to determine just how Miss HOLSTER
wished to be taken. She spoke with the
utmost seriousness and with the earnest
ness of deep conviction. If the aims of
the Asolando were absurd, what might be
said of the declarations Of this old lady
In favor of a return to the age of sword
and buckler!
1 again turned to Cecilia. thinking that
should find a twinkle in her eye that
might solve the riddle and make easier
my responses to her aunts appeals. Her
reply did not help me greatly:
Il assure you. Mr.. Ames. that the Aso-
lando Is very harmless place, and that
as matter Of fact it's aims are wholly
cOnsonant with those of Aunt Octavia. l
myself served there for a time and those
We're among the most delightful days Of
my life"
And you might still be handing about
the Rossetu eclairs in that smothery lit
tie place ii ] had not rescued you from
your bondage. I assure you. Mr. Ames,
that my niece is perfectly healthy young
woman. to whom all such rubbish is
really abhorrent.''
/ expected Miss Cecilia to rouse at this
but she ignored her aunts fling, saying
merely:
There are times when 1 miss the Aso-
lando."
mfr. Ames,'' began Miss Octavia pres
had the effect Of leading me, in my anx-
fety to appear ready with answers. to
take fattering view of my own courage
and resourcefulness, Mr.. Ames are you
equal to the feat of swimming a moat
under shattering fire from the CASTER"
have every reason to think 1 am,
Miss HOLSTER" / replied, modestly.
And II a white hand waved to YOU
from the grilled window. Of the lonely
tower. would you ride on indifferently or
pause and thunder at the gate?''
White hands have never waved to me.
save occasionally when l have gone a
riding in the 9Th avenue elevated; but it
Is my honest belief that my sword would
leave its scabbard II the hand
ever waved from the ivied tower"
She nodded her pleasure in this ayowal
For chimney doctor I was doing we'll.
In fact. as / submitted to Miss Octayta's
examination. l felt equal to charging a
brigade sfngle-handed. Something about
the woman made 1t possible and pleasant
to be absurd.
If king or an emperor of Europe
should ask you to inspect his chimneys
would you be content to perform your
service In the most expeditions and pro-
.esStonal manner and depart with nomi-
nal fee?'
Decidedly not. Miss Hollister. On the
'ther hand. l should nurse the job for all
t was worth, plumber the public treasury,
EXPLORE the dungeons. make love to the
orincesses and free the rightful heir to
he throne from his cell beneath the
BOSOM OF the lake"
NV friends at the Hare and Tortoise