Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-05
CHAPTER XVI.
pleasures and Palaces"

The Duchess of Dawn was dining a
number of notabilities at the Savoy on
her way to d command performance at
the Gaiety, a fact of which the fashion
able world was we'll aware because the
young duchess is great lady in London.
as we'll as elsewhere. and all her doings
are chronicled in advance. The fashion
able world had promptly decided to dine
there, too. and telephoned in breathless
haste for tables. 1t filled the restaurant
at an unusually early hour, and dsap-
pointed overflow displayed itself in the
foyer.
The Duchess of Dawn is one of the
most beautiful women in England. The
eyes of the fashionable world We're TO-
cused on her and her guests, among
whom We're minor European prince and
a famous field marshal who had not been
on show in London for long, until there
appeared from the crowded foyer upon
the arm Of an old-young man of distin-
guished appearance a tall, slender girl.
at whom as she passed every one turned
to gaze with undisguised admiration or
envy. according to sex and temperament.
She was gowned to distraction and by
an artist in womens wear Her beauti-
ful bare arms and shoulders and bosom
were free of SuperfiuOuS ornament Her
pure. proud, sensitive features were faint
ceivable, she was wearing evening dress
for the first time and found it trying
but her curved. crimson lips We're slightly
parted in a most bewitching smile. and
from under their dropping lashes her ra-
diant eyes looked demure. amused i'm
personal defiance at the frankly curious
faces upturned toward her. The shaded
lights made most enchanting lights and
shadows among her hair, red gold and
heaped about her head in heavy coils AS
she moved modestly through the throng-
ed room toward "A corner where. about Il
beautifully decorated table four notion
less walters We're standing guard over
four empty chairs
She sat down there, her back TO the
bulk of the company. and her escort
took the seat opposite. A portly, pros
perous-loOking elderly man. with some
thing little suspicious about one Of his
eyes. and squat. queerly shaped old fell
low in semi-clerical garb and wearing
smoked glasses completed the party. The
walters began to hover about them. and
the fashionable world went OH with its
dinner.
Who was that lovely grip the
Duchess of Dawn demanded of her Wis
avis. the veteran soldier, and he. reputed
among women to have no heart at all
called himself with an evident start from
the reverie into which he had fallen. He
almost blushed, indeed. under the duch-
ess' blandly discerning smile.
II don't know, I'm sure. Duchess he
returned. smiling also in spite Of himself.
and beckoned to a servant behind him.
whom he dispatched on some errand.
She's registered as Miss Harris, your
lordship," the man announced, in an I'M
dertone, when he returned.
Miss Harris. echoed the prince. who
was also a soldier He had overheard.
And he, in turn. caught the duchess
eyes he lay back laughing. a little rue
fully. But the man opposite him. the
master of armies. was not amused.
"Td like to know who and what those
three fellows with Miss Harris may be"
said he.
At their table I'm the corner they SEEM
ed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The three men were toasting Sallie and
each other with equal good will. And
even Sallie had dismissed from her mind
the last of her lingering doubts as to the
reality and endurance of her part in that
most amazing new life, had put the past
with all its horrors resolutely behind her,
was too much interested in the enter
tanning present to trouble about the fu-
ture at the moment.
Capt. Dove had seemingly forgotten. for
the time being, at any rate. his grievance
against Slyne and was in his most lamb
like mood, while Slyne did not even de-
muir against the quantities of expensive
wine the. old man consumed during din
ner. Mr.. Jobling, too. was displaying
symptoms of convivial hilarity when they
at length left the restaurant But most
of the other tables We're empty by then.
Mr. JobIing and Capt. Dove, arm in
arm, affectionately maintained each other
as far as their sitting room, while Slyne
accompanied Sallie to her own door. He
had been making himself most agreeable
to her, and had pointed out a number of
the notorieties and one or two of the
celebrities present, although it had some
what startled her to be told that she
would very soon be on familiar terms
with them all.
Aren't you glad now that you agreed
to the bargain we made on the Olive
Branch-and in Monte Carlo?' he asked,
by the way. He was smiling gayly.
She smiled back at him, and, I'm not
sorry-so far. Jasper" she answered,
looking deep into his eyes.
turned away to escape that embarrassing
scrutiny
Well be starting in half hour or
So he informed her from safe dis
lance and Tn be all ready" she called
cheerfully after him.
A little before IL he came in again, and
they all set out for the station to catch
their train.
1t was a cold. clear. frosty night. and
the Strand was at its busiest as Sallie
looked out at it from the taxi into which
Slyne and AmbriZette had followed her
Capt Dove and their legal adviser still
on the most amicable terms. although
Can't Dove. as a rule. could not stand
any one afflicted with hiccough, crawled
close behind them through the turmoil.
until. at the Gaiety corner. policeman
DELAYED il to let the cross traffic through.
A crowd had gathered there TO gaze at
the royalties who would presently be COM
ing out of the theater. Slyne drew Sallie
back from the open window at sight OF
two men, one of whom seemed all shirt
front, looking down at the congested