The Washington times., 1919-04-15

read some, write some, understand
pretty we'll, and speak a little.
What a pleasure, mon ami!
Piano and vocal music, too, oc-
cupy me; love both, and / am told
encouraging things. But best and
most delightful Of all I am learn
ing to draw and compose and paint
from life in the Academic Julian!
Think OF il! 1t is difficult, il is alb
sorbing, it requires energy, persist
ence, self-deniaI: but IL is fascinat-
ing. satisfying, glorious.
Also, il is very trying, mon ami;
and 1 descend into depths OF de-
spair and 1 presently soar up out Of
those depressing depths into intoxi-
eating attitudes OF aspiration and
self-confidence.
You yourself know how it is, Of
course. At the criticism today 1
was lifted to the seventh heaven.
"Pas mall" he said; "continuez,
mademoiseIle." Which is wonder
full for him. Also my weekly
sketch was chosen from among all
the others, and l was given number
one. That means my choice OF
voyez vous? So do you wonder
LudL L CdAHG AOAAD WIN SN6e--A~f
walking on air. and that as soon as
dejeuner was finished flew in here
to write to you about it?
Suzanne is our maid--the maid OF
Princess Naia, of course-who walks
to and from school with me. 1
didn't wish her to follow me about
at first, but the princess insisted,
and I'm resigned to it now.
The Princess Mistchenka is' such
q darling! 1 owe her more than I
owe anybody except mother and
father. She simply took me as I
was, a young. stupid, ignorant,
awkward country girl with no ex-
perience. no savoir-faire, no clothes,
and even no knowledge Of how to
wear them: and she is trying to
make out of me fairly intelligent
and preseutable human being who
will not offend her by gaucheries
when with her, and who will not
disgrace her when in the circle of
her friends.
Finds Everyone Polite.
OF course. I will make a faux
pas now and then, mon ami: there
are dreadful pitfalls in the French
language into which have fallen
more than once. And at times ]
have almost died of modification.
But everybody is so amiable and
patient, so polite, so gay about my
mistakes. I am beginning to love
the French. And ] am learning so
much. I had no idea what a ca
pacity I had for learning things.
But then, with Princess Naia, and
with my kind and patient teachers
nnnnrFV,rfFfa-
very stupid girl must learn some
thing. And 1 am not really very
stupid. I've discovered that. On
the contrary, 1 really seem to learn
quite rapidly; and all that annoys
me is that there is so much to
learn and the days are not long
enough. so anxious am l, so ambi-
tious, so determined to get out of
this wonderful opportunity every
thing 1 possibly can extract.
! have lived in these few months
more years than my own age adds
up, ! am growing old and wise
very fast. Please hasten to write
TO me before I have grown so old
that you would not recognize me if
you met me. Your friend,
RUHANNAH.
The letter fattered him. He was
rather glad he had once kissed the
girl who could write such a letter.
He happened to be engaged. at
that time. in drawing several Illus
trations for paper called the
Midweek Magazine. There was A
heroine, Of course, in the story he
was illustrating. And from mem
ory, and in spite OF the model pos
ing for him. he made the face like
the face of Ruhannah 'Carew.
But the days passed, and he did not
reply to her letter. Theme there
came still another letter from her:
Why don't you write me just one
line? Have you really forgotten
me? You'd like me if YOU knew
me now, / think. ] am really grown
up. And I am so happy,
The princess is simply adorable.
Always we are busy, Princess Naia
and I; and now, since l have laid
aside mourning, we go to concerts;
we go to plays; we have been six
times 10 the opera. and as many
more to the Theater Francais: we
have been to the Louvre and the
Luxembourg many times; TO ST.
Cloud, Versailles. Fontainebleau.
Always, when my studies are over.
we do something interesting; and /
am beginning to know Paris, and
to care for il with real affection:
20 feel secure and happy apd at