The Pulaskian., 1916-01-28
DIVERTING LEONE
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By ELLIS BROWNE.

Marjory tried her best not to listen, but the conversation fioated across the table to her ears with almost fiendish clearness. Mrs. Fanshaws voice was bit high pitched, and just now she was radiant with excitement, contra dieting Tommy flatly about Willard.
 My dear child, I was there. He was simply mad over her. He can say what he pleases now, but I know and so does everybody else who saw them to- gether."
 Tommy tried to divert her, catching sight covertly of Majory's face, the expression in her clear blue eyes, the hurt, close lines around her lips.
 "Oh, I don't know, Mrs Fanshaw. Will was just cub. I don't think he ever really cared for her"
 Well, he certainly did, and if you could have seen her face last night at the box party Airline gave, when she heard he was in town, oh, my dear, my deari Women are far more faith full than men. Hasn't she the most beautiful red hair you ever saw in all your life?"
 T cant bear red hair" said Tommy blithely. Marjory knew she meant Leonie Raleigh. She had met her at tea that week and had noticed what an unusual type she was. And Will, her Will, had been in love with her only three years ago. She fingered her engagement ring absently. He was really very nice, a gentle-voiced, well-mannered, middle-aged French man. And suddenly something he was saying caught her attention:
 You know, so few artists have ever been able to catch Titian's tone. Red hair has always exerted an extraordi- nary effect on artists, yet it is rare. My friend the marquis is quite wild over young Californian he met at tea yesterday"
 Miss Raleigh" suggested Mar jory. Of course, it was Leonie The men had fiocked around her like bees at the tea. She had made complete picture in the fading sunset light of the studio.
 Yes. He cannot get the inspiration for his work until he has the divine thrill for his subject-you see? And he has sought for model for his Francesca. She must be this same F1orentine type that Titan loved to paint, ah, the Florentine women with their dark eyes and red hair and faces like whitest pearls"
 The next day Tommy took Marjory in to dinner, as Will was west for a few days, and he noticed her look of content.
 You know. expect you to purr, any moment. What have you been up to?"
 Tommy. Marjory answered, "has the marquis any money?"
 Mot much. But he's really fine sort of chap, and his title is o. K. An cient regime, you know. Some of his people lost their heads in the same basket with Louis, I believe. Why?"
 Nothing" Marjory changed the subject The count kept her post ed Both he and the marquis belonged to the little group of marooned conti- nentals in New York, too old to go to war marking time in the new world. And it appeared that the red-haired California girl was splendid success. She had enough money in her own right to make the attentions of the marquis acceptable. Even before Wills return, everyone was mating the two and talking of their romantic meeting. Marjory smiled and said nothing, not until the night when Will came back. She was at the opera with her mother, and two boxes away on the same tier were Leonie and the marquis.
 You know her, don't you, dear?" she asked, very imperonally Tommy eyed her from the back of the box alertly "Leonie Raleigh from Santa Barbara"
 Willard sat up, his eyes suddenly keen with interest.
 Where is she?"
 Right over there in the Seward box Isn't she lovely, Will? Such wonderful red h. ir?"
 "Ah, they will be engaged in less than two weeks, I could wager" the count said happily, next her mother. He is most devoted to her. He is per fectly mad over her. And she is quite willing to be the fair marquis, ah, yes, quite willing
 You know" said Will surprisingly, 'she always seemed an awfully ordi- nary girl to me, If it hadn't been for her hair she'd never attracted any at tention."
 You knew her out West, didn't you, dear?"
 "Oh, in a way. Glad she's going to marry a marquis. Leonie's the kind of girl that requires plenty of back ground"
 Then, feminine to her pretty finger tips, Marjory could not resist just the one question:
 Were you ever really engaged to