Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

rapid fire of talk he was hardly Of
temperament to appreciate.
Did he appear dissatisfied Yes, but
only one person in the opera house knew
why. Miss Strange had shown no COM
prehension of or sympathy with his err
rand Though she chatted amiably
enough between duets and trios. she
gave him no opportunity to express his
wishes though she knew them well
enough. owing to the signal he had
given her.
hardly suited his views. and. being a
man of resolution. he took advantage
of an absorbing minute on the stage to
lean forward and whisper in her ear:
ITS my daughter for whom I request
your services: as fine girl as any In
this house. Give me nearing. You
certainly can manage 1T"
She was a small. slight woman whose
naturally quaint appearance was ac-
,centuated by the extreme simplicity OF
her attire. In the tier upon tier of
boxes rising before his eyes. no other
personality could vie with hers In
of her ever-changing expression. She
was ytvacity incarnate and. to the
ordinary observer, light as thistledown
in fiber and in feeling. But not to all.
To those who watched her long. there
came moments-say when the music
rose to heights of greatness-when the
mouth given over to laughter took
on curves of the rarest sensibility, and
a woman's lofty soul shone through
her odd. bewildering features.
Driscoll had noted this. and conse-
quently awaited her reply in secret
hope.
1t came in the form Of question and
only after an instant's display of dis
pleasure or possibly Of pure nervous
irritability.
What has she done?
Nothing. But SANDER is in the air,
and any day it may ripen into public
accusation"
Accusation of what" Her tone was
"Of-of theft" he mnrmured. ION a
great scale" he emphasized. as the
music rose to crash.
"Jewels2"
"Inestimable ones. They are always
returned by somebody. People say. by
me-"
"Ah" The little ladys hands grew
steady-they had been futtering all
over her lap. II will see you tomorrow
morning at my fathers house." she
presently dissolved. and turned her full
attention to the stage.
Some three days after this, Mr.. Dris-
coll opened his house on the Hudson to
notable guests. He had not desired the
publicity of such an event, nor the OPP
portunity il gave for an increase of
the scandal secretly In circulation
against his daughter. But the ambassa-
dor and his wife were foreign and any
would be sure to lie misunderstood; SO
th= scheme was carried forward,
though with less eclat than possibly
was expected.
Among the lesser guests, who were
mostly young and well acquainted with
the house and its hospitality. there
was one unique figure-that of the
lively Miss Strange, who. If personally
unknowsto NisB Dr.scoll. was SO gifted
with the qualities which tell on oc-
casion of this kind that the stately
young hostess hailed her presence with
very obvious gratitude.
The manner of their first meeting was
singular. and of great interest to one of
them at least Miss Strange had come
In an automobile and had been shown
her room but there was nobody to ac-
company her downstairs afterward, and,
finding herself alone in the great hall,
she naturally moved toward the library.
the door of which stood ajar. She had
pushed this door half open before she
noticed that the room was already oc-
cupied As a consequence, she was made
the unexpected observer OF a beautiful
picture of youth and love.
A young man and young woman
were standing together IN the glow of
q blasting wood hre, No word was to be
heard. but in their faces. eloquent with