Evening star., 1921-03-20
COLETTE'S WISH
By Jean Berthroy

matter. what words could she have
found with which to express HERSELF
Nothing had happened in her life.
nothing. There was only this thirst.
this great thirst, which tormented
her.
Before the gate which led to the
Avenue Hermance the gardener
daugh was talking to a passerby.
They laughed and must have ex-
changed those commonplace phrases
to which only the pleasure of the
meeting gives an interest. Colette
could see the narrow face OF the gar
dener's daughter and the round face
of the boy opposite her. Both seemed
visible force Then she ceased to look
and drawn together by the same in
visible force. Then she ceased to look
at them. She looked down. instead.
at her own heart. and was affrighted
at the emptiness there-an emptiness
like that Of a well without bottom,
THAT Rieht was rarely beautiful
luminous and pure. 1t was a
night out of antiquity. like those
which used to rule in the happier
days of the world. At least, Colette
thought SO. Looking at the stars. she
remembered the wish she would have
made years ago. but never had hap
pened to put in words.
The sky was inlaid with parcels OF
gold. There were SO many that they
mounted one above another and
seemed to cover the earth with a sec
ond canopy of azure. as brilliantly
studded as the first. Now and then A
light spark. like a fiery insect, de-
tached itself and fed into the depths
of the night Colette. all in a trem
BILE. hadn't time to utter her wish
Nevertheless. it wasIon her lips. She
had no hesitation as to the happiness
she would choose. She knew what
she was going to ask Of Fate. She
watched tor the miraculous messen-
ger. She cast anxious looks to the
part of the heavens where the con-
stellations clustered thickest. Final
ly. when she was about to give up
hope, she saw the trail Of wander
ing meteor flashing across the milky
way She had time to say thrice the
words which were on her lips: ITO
love- to love, to love-
She fell asleep content The mysie-
rious spirits of the Land of Dreams
swarmed about her. A blond angel.
with youthful face, took her by the
hand to lead her into an enchanted
garden.
for
tiful and more sheltered than any
other she had ever been in 1t was an
earthly paradise, where unnamed
flowers grew and fruits whose SAVIOR
reached the tongue. even though one
didn't pluck them. In the middle was
a fountain whence flowed water SO
pure that the light passing through it
took on the colors OF the rainbow.
The beautiful youth. who continued to
lead Colette by the hand. walked with
her through paths bordered with myr-
ties. She wore a robe OF etamine.
which seemed made OF the tissue OF
flowers. He was clothed in raimeni
Of gold. 1t was the first time she
ognized him. He came to her from
the depths of tie ages and he Sas
pensive and free of soul, like Love.
He must have been about fifteen also.
but undoubtedly ne possessed the Se-
cret Of eternal felicity.
Il am thirsty" she said. 'iOh, how
thirsty ] am" 8
She bent down TO drink the limpid
water which flowed from the foun-
tain. She felt the waters freshness
pass into her burning throat. He
looked at her with smile, waiting
for her to finish. Then he took her
by the shoulders and pressed her
gently against his heart. He SAID :"
her:
Il am thirsty, too" -st.
And without her trying to check
him. he drank the waters freshness
from her lips. s.p-
When Colette awakened next morn
ing she ran to the window 1t was
The roses were dripping wet
and the birds were mute. But all the
joy of. Nature had taken refuge with
in her md she was sure now that her
wish would be fuldl,ea