Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-22
MAGAZINE SECTION for October &c, 1916

for him, but this time it had been ar
ranged for two. The empty chair opposite
him was quite as friendly as Marjory
herself might have been. 1t kept him
company and humored his thoughts. 1t
said as plainly as it is possible for chair
to speak:
Madame Covington is disappointed to
think she could not join you this evening,
but you must remember that it is not to
be expected of woman to stand these
long journeys like man. However, she
will have breakfast with you in the morn
ing. That is something to look forward
to. In the meanwhile let me serve to re-
mind you that she is upstairs-upstai
in the room you used to occupy. Perhaps
even at this moment she is looking out the
window at this same languid blue sea-
Being up there. she is within call. Should
you need her-really need her-you may
be perfectly sure that she would come to
you.
.3That time you were ill here two years
ago, you had rather bad time of it
because there was no one to visit you
except few chance acquaintance about
whom you did not care. Well, it would
not be like that now. She would sit
by your bed all night long and all day
lorg, too, if you permitted. She is that
kind. So, you see, you are really not
dining alone tonight. l, though only an
empty chair, am here to remind you of
that"
Felix, who was in charge of the sailed
Manager, lowered near Monte as if he felt
the latter to be his especial charge. He
served as Monte's right hand--the hand
of the sling. He was very much dis
turbed because madame refused her
dinner, and every now and then thought
of something new that possibly might
tempt her.
EVERY one else about the hotel was
equally friendly, racking his brains to
find a way of serving Monte by serving
madame. 1t made him fee, quite like one
of those lordly personages who used to
come here with a title and turn the place
topsy-turvy for themselves and for their
women-folk. He recalled certain count
of something who arrived with his young
wife and who in day had half of Nice in
his service. Monte felt like him, only more
so. There was certain obsequiousness
that the count demanded which vanished
the moment his back was turned; but the
interest of Felix and his fellows now was
based upon something finer than fear.
Monte felt it had to do with Marjory her
self, and also-well, in sense she was
carrying title too. She was, to these
Others, a bride. ~
But it was great relief to know that
she was not the sort of bride of which he
had seen too many in the last ten years.
1t would be pleasure to show these fell
lows bride who would give them no
cause to smile behind their hands. He
would show them bride who could still
conduct herself like rational human
being, instead of like petulant princess
or a moon-struck school girl.
Monte lighted a cigarette and went out
upon the Quai Massena for a stroll. 1t
was late in the season for the crowds
They had long since adjourned to the
mountains or to Paris. But still there
were plenty remaining. He would not
have cared greatly had there been no one
left. 1t was relief to have the shore to
himself. He had formerly been rather
sensitive about being anywhere out Of
season. In fact. this was the first time he
had ever been here later than May. But