Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-05

waited.
In few minutes he heard Hernia s light
laugh in the door of the wineshop, fol-
lowed by the beating of drum, the ringing
of bells the crashing of cymbals, the notes
of some other instrument sounding discord-
antly between whites. And as he started to
his feet, wondering what it could all be about,
blond head stuck out past the edge of the
door and peered round at the deserted caba-
ret. He had hardly succeeded in identifying
the head as Hernia S, because it wore scar
let cap embroidered with small bells which
explained the bedlam of thinking, when the
rest of her body emerged upon the scene.
Markham noted that Hermia's transforma-
ton was in other respects complete; for she
wore zouave jacket of red, white blouse,
and a blue skirt. Upon her back was
| round object which on closer inspection
turned out to be drum. the sticks of which
were fastened to her elbows, and attached
to her neck was a harmonica, so placed that
she had only to bend her head forward to
reach it with her lips In her right hand was
mandolin which she waved at him tri-
| tmphantly as she reached him with grand
crash, squeak, tinkle, and thump of all the
instruments at once.
Too amazed to speak, Markham stood
grinning at her foolishly.
| @Well," she said, throwing her head and
elbows back, show do you like nel"
"Imrnenselyi But what does it all mean?"
3Foolish man! Mean? It means that
Yvonne Deschamps has found fairy god
mother who has transformed her. She has
now become femme orchesfre, and for two
sous will discourse sweet music to the rustic
ear-mandolin and mouth organ, bells,
cymbals, and drum!"
She ignored the protest of his appraised
hand, and again made the air hideous with
sound, ending it all with laugh that made
| the bells in her cap tinkle merrily.
ooh, don't do it very well yet. It's the
| first time. But you shall see!"
@Do you mean that you're going to wear
that harness9'
II do
"But you can't walk in that
@The orchestra is detachable, mon ami,
and have engaged creature to carry it.
MEANING
@Not you-behold!"
Markham followed her symphonic gesture.
Madame Border approached, leading don
key from the stable yard diminutive DON
key of suspicious eye and protesting ears.
@Shes very gentle, sighed the fairy god
mother. at hurts the heart to sell her. But,
as Monsieur knows, the times are not what
they used to be-"
@Shes adorable" cried Hernia "Isn't
she, John Markham"
@She is muttered Markham, caressing
| the stubble at his chin, entirely so; vaga-
bond, should say, every inch of her.
1t was not until they had reached the inn
sometime later that Hernia, having Invested
herself of the orchestral adjuncts of her COS
tune, confded to Markham the stroke of
good fortune that had put her into possession
| of this providential accouterment. She had
confessed her predicament to Madame Bor-
dier, who had entered with avidity upon the
bargain. Hernia wanted a blouse, a skirt,
and hat somewhat worn.
But searching in the garnet among the
effects of departed relative, at the appear
ance of each article of apparel Madame
wept 1t was the daughter of Madame Bor-
dier's late sister-banvre .fHe!-who had
worn the costume. She was a femme orcheS-
tire of such skill that her name was known
from one end of the Eure to another.
She made money too; but HelGs! she
married an acrobat who had taken her off
to America, where she had died last year.
Those clothes-bon DienNthey recalled the
days of happiness; but if Mademoiselle
desired them, she, Madame Border, could
not stand in the way. Times were hard,
and if she would give two hundred francs