Evening star., 1919-10-12
TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM
MCPHERSON.

McPHEASON.
"ALL. elegant, charming in her
morning costume, with con-
fident step-the step of.
woman who knows that she Is
well dressed-Helene turned into the
Place de fEtoile.
For second she halted in doubt,
at the corner of the Avenue Fried
land. Should she, going into Paris,
take the metro or the tramway? The
metro would be faster. But scarcely
was she enguilfed in the hIdeous stair
way when mob of outcoming trav-
elers surrounded her and pinned her
fast against the rail. The tassel of
her sunshade got tangled up with the
umbrella of crusty old lady Her
hat was disarranged. A stout gentle
man. who apologized very courteously.
stepped on her foot. But nothing up
set her good humor She smiled mildly
at men and things. her spirit calm.
her heart at peace II the agoniz!ng
though of the men who fought did
not torment her, she would be perfect
ly happy.
Installed presently in compart-
ment, of the train. she reflected.
Il shall bring home a pate. The
famous pate which l discovered the
other day. 1t will be served with
vegetable salad. That is, If the cook
understands me. A vegetable salad.
To make sure, shall telephone her
from a postal station
She reflected some more.
Am l going to be able to match
that Powered muslin? Sapristi. VIII
forget again the bottle of toilet
water, the haircloth glove and the lip
rouge" .z-...
Ten things OF equal Importance pre-
occupy her mind, and this suddenly
outw eighed all the others:
My nose is shiny"
She drew out Of little leather bag
a tiny powdered handkerchief and
small mirror. framed in clear ottoman.
The shine removed. the mirror and the
handkerchief returned to the bag, she
sat with her eyes fxed again intense
ly thoughtful.
..Who would have said. six years
apo. that one day the hours would
run for me as smoothly as they do
now: that no tiff the next minute
would cloud my heart and brain and
set my nerves a-tingling; that could
be sure that he, whom l await every
evening, would offer me u warmth OF
tenderness devoid Of jealousies and ir-
ritations? Whatever may be his bur-
dens as a man of science, facing a
thousand demands (and q brusque
word or an impatient gesture would
be excusable on his parD. his voice.
when l appear, becomes as ingratiat-
ing as his looks His face clears, and
to soothe his annoyances 1t suffices
that / pass my hands softly over his
worried brow. My presence restores
his faith and courage. 1t matters lit
tie what words use. even il they are
commonplace or awkward. What do
words count when he can read my
thoughts?
what difference there was with
the other one! That awful impossi-
blity of understanding each other
from which we suffered, How did l
escape going mad under that regime
of continual evaporation. Of per-
petual constraint? How could have
endured so long a man 50 externally
excited; whose execrable character
would have enraged saint; who in
two hours could find ten pueriie ex-
cuses for engaging in recriminations'
Heat oppressed him. cold irritated
biy, tho pro,nanaders who wake ed
ahead of him annoyed him. In an
auto it was another song. The roads
were impracticable; the chauffeur
didn't know how to drive; the tires
were surely going to burst; the dust
blinded him.
"Noise made him nervous; silence
made him sad. And with all this u