The herald., 1917-05-24
DONNA NATHALIE
BY lola FORESTER.


/ belligerently. Down on her knees, she
was diligently wedding out the sweet
! pea rows. Her bands were soiIcd and
unsccmly looking, her face was
flushed and free klcd. and altogether
she looked absolutely unpresentable,
as her mother would have said.
1T isn't everyone who has such 4
7 lovely mother. can't you appreciate
that" asked Santangclo. amusedly.
He leaned over the fence from his
side of the garden, a large flexible
Panama shading his dark. strongly.
lined face. How old are you, Babctte
fourteen"
No, I'm sixteen, going on seven
teen. And I'll ever have the ghost of
chance. Sanity. She takes every last
fellow away from me that comes TO
this house"
You mean your youthful COmpan-
ions admire your mother more than
your own self" SantangelO's eyes were
Drumming with enjoyment Of her in
dignation. You know the remedy for
that-marry her off"
Then a gray and silver car slipped
into the Curving drive around the
house and Babette jumped up.
There she is now. And Doctor
Romley with her. He's an explorer,
Sanity, with medals all over him and
scads of money
He watched the slim figure in the
linen skirt and MILDLY speed away h
the car. His eyes gloweI, watching
her alight, the lady mother. as Babette
loved to call her. She was hardly Old
er than thirty-four, slender and beau
tiful as an artist mind counts beauty
Santangolo had nainted her portrait
twice and yet he felt unsatisfed He
had never caught the Infinite. tender
charm of her after all. 1t eluded him
even as she herself always had in the
years of her long widowhcod
And now her child Pabette was
growing into womanhood And the
time was drawing near the limit that
he had imposed upon himself when he
would ask her mother again for her
love.
The shadows were beginning to fall
along the far horizon line Of the sea
when he heard Nathalie call him at
the little opening between the two
gardens.
Are you very busy"
Never. never too busy" he called |
back cheerily.
you know | am almost tired to, !
night" Nathalie said.
He glanced at her quickly.
Once long ago she had told him half |
in jest, half in earnest. that if she |
ever accepted him it would be when |
she was very tired Why? Because
he rested her and gave her a sense
Of peace and well-being.
Let us walk down through the gar.
den to the beach" he said taking her
lightly by her wrist. And he knew
that she wanted to break
some news TO him.
DO you like Doctor ROmlev?"
Very much" he said heartily. He
Is a splendid chap"
He IS twentysix," she hesitated.
but he has really accomplished So
much one never thinks of his age. He
Is a leader now in all lines Of scien.
tifc research"
Undoubtedly" agreed Santangelo
And he is we'll liked and prosperous
and very good looking. What else.
Donna Nathalie?"
i wonder If he will make a good
husband, Santangelo," she said softly.
lie drew in deep full breath CT the
Keen air and smiled at her.
And I was Just considering how !
'ould warn you IN the tenderest man.
Ter that | should ask you but once
more. and, 10, comes the conqueror
md bears you right out from my sight,
III, my Nathalie
You mean the doctor seeks me,
IN, Santangelo, how funny; yes, how
roll. That | should even think of
UGH boy-oh. my dear" She held ,
ut her hands to him laughingly. "He d
las asked me for Babette. and can't
- ~" A,hO 10 81 gOuIlS. =
Santangelo looked down at her. hold.
ng both her hands in his. his dark a
yes full Of whimsical reproach.
And | have been betrayed" he '
ried. Il have asked you again. or r
t least, have once more showed Won /
ow patient l am and how dare al \
'ays to hope"
Always" she repeated, smiling. a
DO you remember when | first met \
gu In Rome years ago, and you want o
10 paint my portrait? Those days +
n the coast at the quaint little old f
lila? And afterward, four years aft
that, when you came here. and Il
ainted me again. and you liked the \
'cation, you said, and the island air /
D you built your studio only next i'
DOR"
"Babette begged me to help her p
18th her gardening" +,
And l begged you to help with d
flowers, the rearing n
Babette-was there anything did a
OF trouble you about?' n
Then perhaps you may even miss y
e. All" as she tried to sneak. "a ~
an, even man like myself. cannot Al
and it always TO gaze at the star .,
may not reach. | shall sail this