The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-02

thought Courtlandt. who longed to put
his strong fingers around that luxur.
ious throat which had, but second
gone. passed him SO closely.
I'VE shall never war with Russia,
said some one; her dukes love Paris
too we'll"
Light, cynical laughter followed this
cynical observation. Another time
Courtlandt might have smiled. He
pushed his way into the passage lead
Ing to the dressing-rooms, and follow
ed Its windings until he met human
barrier. To his inquiry the answer
was abrupt and perfectly clear In its
meaning: La Signorina da Toscana
had given most emphatic orders not
to disclose her address to any one.
Monsieur might. II he pleased, make
further Inquiries OF the directors.
the answer there would be the same.
Presently he found himself gazing
down the avenue once more. There
were thousand places to 60 to. a
thousand pleasant things to do; yet
he doddered, full Of ill-temper, dis
satisfaction. and self-contempt. He
was weak, damnably weak; and for
years he had admired himself, de-
tachedly, az q man OF pride. He start.
ed forward. neither sensing his direc-
ton nor the perfected favor OF his
Habana.
Opera singers were truly race
apart. They lived In the world but
were not q part Of It; and when they
died, left only . memory which faded
In one generation and became totally
forgotten in another. What jealousies,
what petty chickering's, what extrava-
gsnces! With fancy and desire un-
checked, what ingenious tricks they
used to keep themselves In the pub
Tic mind,-tricks begot of hckleness
and fcklensss begetting. And yet, 1t
was curious phase: their influence
was generally found when history un-
tangled for posterity some Qordian
knot. In old times they had sung
the Marseillaise and danced the car.
magnole and indirectly piled tho gull
lotine. And today they smashed prime
ministers, petty kings, and bankers.
and created fashions for the ruin OF
husbands and fathers OF modest
means. Devil take them! And Court
landt hung his cigar into the street
He halted. The Madeleine was not
exactly the goal for a man who had.
half an hour beSCre. contemplated a
rout at Maxim's. His glance describ-
ed half-cirole. There was Durands:
but Durand's on opera nights enter
tanned many Americans, and he did
not care to meet any of his compa-
triOts tonight. So he turned down the
Rue Royale. on the opposite side, and
went into the Taverne Royale. where
the patrons were not over particular
In regard to the laws of fashion, and
where certain ladies with light his
tories sought further adventures to
add to their heptame rons. Now, Court
land thought neither of the one nor
of the other. He desired isolation,
safety from intrusion; and here, did
he so signify, he could find 1t. Won
en- gaxed up at him and smiled, with
interest as much as with invitation.
He was brown from long exposure to
the wind and the sun, that golden
brown which Is the gift Of the sun
glitter ON rocking seas. A traveller Is
generally indicated by this artistry OF
the sun, and once noted instantly ere
ates a speculative interest. Even his
light brown hair had faded at the tenn
pies, and straw-colored was the slen.
der mustache. the ends OF which had
cavalier twist. He ignored the lips
which smiled and the eyes which In
vitsd, and nothing more was neces-
sary. One IL not importuned at the
Taverne Royale. He sat down at a
vacant table and ordered pint OF
champagne. drinking hastily rather
than thirstily.
Would Monsieur like anything to
eat?
No, the wine was SUFFICIENT.
Courtlandt poured out second
glass slowly. The wine dubbed up
to the brim and overlooked. He had
been looking at the glass with unsee-
ing eyes. He set the bottle down I'M
patiently. Fool! To have gone to
Burma. simply to stand In the golden
temple once more In vain, to recall
that other time: the starving kitten
held tenderly In q woman's arms, his
own scurry among the booths to fnd
the milk so peremptorily ordered, and
the smile OF thanks that had been his