Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-22

dered supper. See. mademoiselle APP
proaches. Estermen. More glasses. waiter.
Open more wine. There is champagne
here for everybody Mademoiselle does
us great honor. Permit me-
The little dancing girl obeyed his invi-
tation. She sat by Estermen's side. but
she cast a longing glance at Falkenberg.
Their glasses were filled. Estermen drank
quickly, all the time looking about him
with the furtive air Of a whipped dog.
Tonight" Falkenberg cried, as he lift
ed his glass, Il have but one command
be joyful. Why not? Tonight l have
Marguerite by my side. and you-you can
choose from the world of Marguerites.
There is nothing in life like this-the hour
OF midnight. the music Of the moment.
the wine of the hour. the woman we love.
Drink, Estermen, once more. Fix your
thoughts upon the present. Mademoiseile
looks around her. She finds You dull.
She will seek for another admirer All.
mademoiselle.' he added. leaning across
the table. III the sweetest girl in Paris
were not here already by my side, do you
think that would permit you to be for
an instant the companion of a dumb ad-
mirer?"
Mademoiselle laughed back into his
eyes.
IF monsieur's friend were but as gal
liant as monsieur himself
He is depressed" Falkenberg declared,
but 1t passes. Behold. Another glass
II.
1t bubbling In your veins. Look at him
now"
Falkenberg leaned back in his place and
pressed his companions arm. Indeed,
the wine was working its magic. The ter
ror was passing from Estermen's face.
Already he was becoming more natural.
Leave them alone" Falkenberg said,
softly. He will have no relapse. The
wine is in his blood All, Marguerite,
never did You seem SO sweet to me as to-
night. when my face is set for the cold
north. Have you joy in remembering.
little one! Have you sentiment enough
for that?"
Il have sentiment enough" she whis-
pered, ito suffer every time you leave me.
Tonight | am afraid to let you 60 Oh,
dear-my dear-take me with you. I have
begged you before, but tonight beg you
In different manner. / am afraid to be
left alone. l care not where or whatever
the end of your journey may be. Take
me with you, dear one. 1t is because /
love that / ask this
He looked at her for a moment and
there were wonderful things in his eyes.
"Ah, little girl" he murmured, "you
teach one so much! One passes through
life too often with ones eyes closed, one
finds the great things in strange places,
the rarest flowers even by the roadside
Drink YOUR wine. press my fingers-ljke
that. See, it is the chef d'orchestre who
approaches. You shall sing-sing to me.
little one"
He motioned to the musician. who with
a smile of delight held up his hand to
the orchestra. Mademoiselle hummed a
few bars. The man who listened nodded
his head. Then he raised his violin. he
passed his bow across the strings With
the touch of his fingers he drew from
them a little melody. Mademoiselle as
scented. Her head was back against the
wall her eyes half closed. Then she be-
gan to sing; sang so that in few mo-
ments the passionate words which stream
ed from her lips held the room breath
less. 1t was no ordinary music. 1t was
the love prayer OF a woman. starting in
sadness. passing on to passion, ending In
wild entreaty. AS she finished she turned
her head toward her companion.
You shall not go alone!' she cried.
and her words might we'll have been the
text Of her song.
Falkenberg shook his head
Something gayer," he begged: some
thing more like the wine which foams in
our glasses"
She obeyed him after only a moment 8
hesitation. yet In the first few bars her
choked. She leaned suddenly forward In
her place. her face was hidden between
her hands. They all gazed at her curl
ously.
Nerves" one declared.
"Hysterics.' another echoed.
1T is the life they lead. these women =
an American explained to q little party
ways. Life with them quivers all the
time. They pass from one emotion to
another-they seldom know which. Look,
1t is over with her."
1t was over. indeed. She raised her
head and sang. sang ravishingly. charm