Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

pair we made with a smile of encouraging
delight. She was all sparkle tonight,-dia
monds, teeth, and eyes radiating together the
immensely of her satisfaction at finding her
self among such company, seated at such a
table, toward which with all the fierce in
tensity of her ambition she had struggled for
twenty years. Her triumph, founded on my
despair! It seemed to me that my very
stomach boiled in rebellion. could not eat.
No, must have it out with Victor, then and
there without waiting another minute. If
had needed extra courage, it would have
been given me by Henry's eyes, which every
now and then, with a strange, burning look,
met mine across the flowers.
THERE was sudden burst of laughter as
Miss Carroll, at the other end of the
table, began giving limitations of London
Coster girl. So, under cover of this diver
sion, turned to my iance.
"Victor," said, there's something we've
never talked over together. Don't you
think it's about time, before it's too 1ate?"
"What?" he asked, with surprised stare
of his round blue eyes. "f you mean the
upset the other day, it wasn't my fault. 1t
was the boats. She's crank. A regular tub.
I've written to order new one"
ooh, l don't mean the boat" cried; then,
lowering my voice, "Victor," said, "don't
you realize we're to be married in few days1
Tell me frankly, what do you think of it,
this marriage?"
Victor picked up his champagne glass and
took nervous sip or two before he turned
to me. His face was flushed, his eyes sur
veyed me doggedly. am good little boy,
don't think: just mind when my mama
tells me to" he answered with a kind of bit
ter grin, "and besides you re rather a locker
yourself, as l suppose you know, LiE?" And
again his glance travelled over me with that
look hate.
But forced myself to lean toward him
with an air of the most affectionate concern.
@Thank you, dear Victor, for the compli-
ment. But, you see, have been given to
understand that, even though you may feel
little bit kindly toward me, yet there's
someone else that you really want to marry
that you really love, and who loves you-'
who? Fay2" He spoke quickly almost
loudly.
"Hush!" I murmured in alarm "Your
mother is listening to what we say, and this,
you understand, must be quite between our
selves Tell me, she's pretty, this Mademoi- |
selle Fay?"
"She's corker!" he replied with a sudden
spark of enthusiasm, as when he spoke of his !
pups or of things to eat, "Shes the lively
kind, you see-not your style at all, Lii.
Blond. Gauzy. Fuzzy. Gee! 1 don't know
how to describe her; but she's an all right |
one all right, anyhow"
"She loves you very much?" murmured
into his ear.
Ours was in fact the most proper little in
terlude between young pair in so interest
ing situation, and the heads on each side |
of us were turned alphabetically away.
Across the flowers l was conscious of Henry |
eyes, grave and imploring.
"She loves you, Victor, very much?"
Into his face came that master of the |
harem look that find so odious- though |
less so for Fay, will own, than for myself. |
@How sentimental you are, you French!
Yes, poor little girl there's not much doubt |
about it. She'd leave her happy home for
muh, all right, all right, if she got the
chance!"
@Poor little thing!" my voice fairly dripped |
with tears. "And she's not going to get the
chance, after all?"
He turned suspicious face on me. "What
are you driving at, Lili?"
Nothing, | answered with candid sweet |
ness: "only wanted you to understand how
deeply feel for you in this sacrifice you're
called on to make, and if there's anything |
can do
what can you do he returned sullenly, |
Except back out? And if you fancy that