The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-27
fConttnsed from Front Pose.J

Ioet crOSSoO, ner plump Knees apart.
She was a neshy woman, with the
short, straight features Of . beauty.
and an sgeing. yellowish skin. much
creased at the neck.
Her sulky eyes were those Of q
wanton. They were darkened with
kohl In such manner that. 1t
seemed as though q soot-smudge
surrounded each, and her chin was
tattooed-a beauty-mark.
my mother. 1t is morning" said
the girl, Astarte. who stood now
with hands locked behind her up
tilted head.
The chamber had lightened, and
a little silver statuette Of the COM
posite Diana of Ephesus glimmered
DULY in q niche. ~ ts
"Oh, morning is it? MY head
aches. l feel old-as old % though
: I'd borne and sucked you myself
In very truth. / hate this town-it
sickens me like q sepulchre. IL
smells worse than Sidon, AID tho
men are like hired mourners at' q
funeral-all of them! When, Bel
Namri said to me, In five days We
60 up to jerusalem, my stomach
turned as though had eaten sour
curds."
She shut her mouth with q snap.
Her eyes criticised the girl-an ex.
pert, appraising scrutiny.
Come here to me, child"
Astarte moved to her. looking
down at her sidelong.
Child did l call you? You're no
more a child than l am these days.
"A piece of perfection! A pearl! A
sweet almond to be cracked be-
tween a mans teeth"
She pulled the girl down beside
her.
Astarte, crouching on her heels.
appeared to endure passively, with
dropping shoulders.
"You1l fetch a price, my beauty!
And we've kept you carefully. No
man has laid SO much as the tip of
his, finger on you since you reached
eight years Of age. You're as igno-
rant of the streets Of q city as a
babe, and myself have trained you
In everything. Stand up now and
posture for met is good to prac-
tise when the muscles are soft from
sleep"
Still passive, the girl rose. The
seated woman reached up and pat
ted her-much as one pats q favor
lite, elegantly shaped animal.
"There! Posture for me, there's
a darling. You fill the eyes like
goddess of gold and ivory"
Astarte sighed, Strengthened her
back and moved languidly into the
centre of the chamber.
The sun was above the house
tops now. Metallic objects caught
fire and colors were revivified. The
multiple breasts Of the Ephesian
Diana glistened like clustered sill
yer tears. The patterned red and
black of the round snake-basket
was as arresting as spoken word,
and light filtered through the large
red carnelian that rested on the
bosom of the elder woman.
Astarte's arms were at her sides.
her down-turned palms very stiffly
at right angles to them. A sort of .
shudder went over her, and then
the wonderful play Of the muscles
began. Every inch of the girls
body seemed to vibrate with life.
1t was marvellous, alluring-a won
der and an excitation.
"Now-the stomach dance. AS
showed you yesterday"
The voice held something of the
sharp staccato of the beast trainer.
The even breathing of the girl,
standing relaxed, was audible in the
quiet of the chamber. It seemed a
place apart-as far removed from
the workaday wholesomeness of
life as a potted iris set in the cor.
ner of fallen woman's darkened
room is distant from a similar iris
Towering by a pool where the vii.
lage women wash their garments,
chattering shrilly as they kneel in
the mud. .-.
"Oh, my mother-I am tired. It
is an ugly dance"
"What-what? Am I deaf? Be
quick! Dance for me-and keep
your mouth shut or I'll teach you to