Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21

T was at one OF
| ]: | !
~ Henrietta Twomb-
III ~TlS ley's receptions
AnIRN that Jessica and
N III Va were privileged
mM III for the first time
to gaze upon the
S ' E1 u intellectual coun'
YIN LIN NJ tenance of Mrs
Vim SlH nv warburton and to
&1216I listen to the words
0H OF wisdom that
fell suavely from
her lips That we experienced more
pleasure in the indulgence of the second
privilege than in that of the first was
due to the existence In US both of an al
most abnormal love Of beauty and to the
presence in Mrs. warburton's face Of sew
era1 features that at first sight painfully
repealed US. Her eyes, to begin with. pro-
truded to a degree which gave her an ex-
preston of chronic surprise; that they
were softly brown, and at times OF a
really extraordinary brilliancy were put
meager aids to reason for checking our
recoil.- We objected ALSO to her mouth,
which had a trick, highly unpleasant TO
Jessica, Of smiling on one side only. thus
suggesting half-mouthed .-heartiness
more than half depressing. In time, ]
admit. the incongruity Of this phenome-
non fascinated me. but Jessica's prejudice
against Mrs. Warburton's smile remained
violent and unreasoning. She Stunned
the contemplation Of IT to a degree bor-
dering on rudeness. and passed the early
part Of the evening lurking behind por-
there's and potted palms that they might
blot 1t from her view. Thus, though fire.
~vfvS
pie of Mrs warburton's contralto voice.
Jessica missed many of the choicest gems
of thought with which that eminent per-
son favored u.s.
Pursuing my individual researches, how
ever, / Vas enabled not only to hear
these, but to discover that the lady.
though still further Handicapped by an
insignificant and characterless nose, had
as compensations an admirable complex
ion, beautiful teeth, superb carriage
and a really surprising amount of mag
netism to which both men and women
promptly and happily succumbed. So
great was this last, indeed. that she was
soon surrounded by her fellow-guests,
who. after reluctantly yielding themselves
to our beamng hostess for the introduce
ton remained chatting easily with the
lioness of the evening for few moments,
and then, with expressions OF artiess sur
prise and relief. attached themselves per-
manently to her circle Accustomed as
to similar assemblages where the
guest of honor stands in a corner. sup
ported by the hostess and one or two in
trepid friends, while the remaining guests
remain aloof. feverishly seeking within
themselves sentiments worthy the ears
of a celebrity, l was naturally much I'M
pressed by the phenomenon before me.
! approached. Joined the circle and
listened
Mrs Warburton was holding forth, as
was expected of her, and in response
to TIP rather too obvious leads of the
hostess; but doing it so artistically. SO
subtly. with such charm of individual
appeal to this or that one of her listen
ers, that they proved the accuracy of
her shots like targets which ring when
the bulls EYE Is struck. One or two
even had the temerity to disagree with,
her, and this apparently delighted her
SO much that her brown eyes seemed
to pop out of her head with excitement
and interest as she laughingly met the
issues they raised. / saw Jessica's
blond head shining among the draper
les of window not far away. ana
under cover of the focused interest l
Impcratively motioned her to approach.
She carile with reluctant feet, and eyes,
as it were, turned inward.
you're missing everything, ex-
planned to her I'm q representa- aside.
''Shes holding them all. George Everett
has left his gum shoes in the hall and
settled at her feet for the evening. and
edge. has played solitaire in a corner at
each of the last five receptions he has
attended. is glued to her side. She ap-
pears to be fascinating them.
Jessica's delicate brows arched higher.
Fascinating them-with that smile?"
she murmured. disdainfully.
with it-or Notwithstanding It," I re-
torted. IT don't pretend to have analysed
kf- .lxy nnyH-
dition I'm mentioning-not a theory.
Look at her now"
Jessica looked, and looked intently. AL
most in the instant Mrs. Warburton
Miss Belden agrees with me on this
point at least. she exclaimed. gayly.
nodding toward my friend. "She said the
same thing before thought of It. IN her
second book. 1t interested me then, but
did not quite convince me. Afterward
discovered its TRUTH"
-.
Neither Jessica nor / had the faintest
idea what especial point she meant, alb
sorbed as we had been in our own ex-
change Of condolences, but Jessica swayed
forward, as I subsequently explained to
her. like fascinated bird under the eye
of the calculating serpent.
-Unquestionably we are right" she
us?''
She was still the outside Of the cir
Gle as she spoke. Mrs. Warburton made
two quick steps forward from the center,
and with q touch. surprisingly cordial, in
Innate yet dignified, drew her within
Prof. Olivier dares.' she explained
'and you shall help me down him.
must make the most of our agreement
this time. for I know very well that you
will never agree with me again. You are
90 conservative, and I-they tell mean
80 extreme!'
There was q chorus Of courteous protest,
in which the voice Of Prof. Alphonse Oil
vier rose loud and clear. He had in my
hearing. but a fortnight ago. denounced
Mrs. Warburtons latest magazine article
rs the vaporings Of an hysterical woma6
lacking literary style. logic and fact,
md of actually immoral tendency, but he
eeemed TO have reversed this severe
judgment now as he stood beaming upon
her with his near-sighted gray eyes,
"A prolonged sigh at my left ear drew
my attention from this pleasing picture
of masculine subsection. Turning, /
recognized Grifhng, a clever young artist,