Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

white wool, with uncut yellow hair that GER
tain1y had been combed by no hand but the
winds His hand lying on the tablecloth
was thick and fat and freckled, with briStling
pads of hair between the knuckles. Henry S
hands, like his feet and ears, were beautifully
finished, with that unmistakable look of race.
And his carriage, how erect and easy, his
glance how alert!
Certainly, and to my sorrow, there was
scant resemblance between the two young
men. Yet it could not be denied there was
in both a kind of resemblance to the mini
ature,-as though the painter, wishing to
earn his money, had copied rather an ideal
face that existed in his own mind than the
living model before him. And this ideal
type, as might easily happen, was Henry
Stuart.
So much for the resemblance. But-oh,
the difference-the difference! And those
abominable CLAIMS that | was forced to choke
down, with their salt wash like tears To
this day l cannot eat them without tasting
again the bitterness of that moment.
"Vicly, bad boy! What do you mean by
coming to the table in a sweater? And why
don't you have your hair cut?'
"We're in the country growled Victor,
helping himself to more clans gormand-
izer! How many he ate! GAS for my hair,
i
Then bite off lock for me, darling boy,
and one for Lili!"
A lock of hair for me indeedi No, that
wasn't in the bargain. l would marry Vic
tor and be faithful to him, since that is the
habit of our race; but what image | carried
in nv heart-and what hair in my locket
that was my business. And | remembered
the head that had so lately bent toward
mine, with the hair-oh, so neatly cut and
brushed and the little line that showed so
blue-white against the tan of the neck! But
it was all delusion, that ride through the
fog, wild and happy, like falling through
space on star. And here before me, stufflng
clans, was the reality.
As protest against the marriage that was
being forced upon him $50 his mother had
hurried1y explained to me before dinner,
Victor had announced his intention of APP
bearing like a barbarian before his new
fancee and before the stylish world here at
Bar Harbor. Accordingly he came to the
table in the same funny fisherman costume
that he had worn sailing in the morning, and
sat there in white, woolly heap, like great
polar bear, while the elegant embroidered
footmen served him silently.
So the CLAIMS were taken away and soup
was served "Now is the moment, Lii, I"
said l to myself, @if you claim to be phi
losopher, to vindlcate your right to the
name" The sweet moments of the after
noon, the dear and tender dream-I would
lock it down in the depths of my heart as
Papa had done with his dream so long ago.
After all, if Victor disguised me, was that
not what everybody Except little white
geese like Portia and Ermentrude) expected
in husband? But-ah, Saint Elizabeth, my
sacred patron, be with me and give me
strength for the day when my husband shall
kiss me for the first time! Afterward perhaps
shall grow used to it; but the first time
A'A son with eyes that shone as had seen
them shine when she spoke of him on the
steamer, broke out in sudden expression of
her enthusiasm. ooh, Victor" she cried,
@what boy you are! l like your kind, Vic
tori wish there were more like your
Then, turning to me, "Well, ILL.," she said,
@you haven't told me what you think of my
bo-oy."
With jerk I pulled back my whirling
thoughts to the reality across the table,
But for moment as Victor's eyes met
mine. they lit with the beam of sudden
expression,-arrogance resentment, admira-
ton, call it what you will. And in that fleet
ipo ;pct nt # ceer1ed RI mo that n co,,1 cfood