Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06


at whose house the fete was
/ to be held. had given Simone
the most precise instructions.
He will come as Carthaginian
general" she said. The general had
a name. but l. don't remember it. He
is a tall young man. dark complex
toned. with a somewhat sleepy air.
but wide-awake enough, all the same.
He has twelve millions. my dear lit
tie friend. He is an orphan. and
would make an ideal husband. But.
you see. everything depends on YOU
He wants to be loved for himself
alone---this young bachelor does. He
is sentimental and literary. He has
been handicapped in his love offairs
because of his money. He would like
to marry. but is afraid to. IL he
thinks that you know he is a catch
there will be nothing doing. So YOU
must meet him at my ball. by acc
dent, as it were. Give him a chance
to talk to you. Charm him. That
! will not be difficult, for you are in
telligent and you are pretty But
avoid dangerous subjects. Not word
which would lead him to suspect you
/ know anything about his position
or his money. If he Is introduced to
! you try to make it appear that you
| didn't hear his name. He must be-
| lieve that he has made a conquest
without your guessing who he is.
You understand me. don't you? l
! have told you all this a little crudely.
! But you know I love you. 1t is an
! occasion which you mustn't let Slip.
! Thank you. thank you. dear
, friend"
Simone's mother was a widow very
! worldly. ambitious and energetic. She
| had been campaigning for two years
| 10 marry her daughter. who was
good-looking enough. but lacked "a do.
She kissed Nine. de Thermasse's
| sleek, fat hands and dubbed over
with gratitude.
! You are a providence--for us. as
always. Simone will show herself
worthy OF your confidence. She will
won't you?"
simone knitted her brows and re-
J fected.
Il hope SO. I will do my best"
above all. dear child. dom. forge:
I that het will be Carthaginian gen
eral. He will wear robe. think.
, Do you know what a Carthaginian
generals costume is like
She ought to-" the mother replied.
otherwise it was time and money
| wasted keeping her at school until
| she was sixteen"
X X * X
! A MID the throng at Nine. de Their
masses costume ball Simonc was
now looking for her Carthaginian.
He is here; l have seen him." the
Her mother had slipped away into
the cardroom and she was free to
operate in peace. Eluding invitations
to dance. she pushed through the
crowd. always alert and attentive.
Her heart beat fast She was very
anxious to succeed.
Her costume-Autumn Dew-offered
| a striking contrast to her own daZ-
Zling youthfulness She was tina:
evening much more beautiful than her
costume. with her thick hair (as red
dish brown as her eyes) strewn with
crimSoned leaves and scintilla ting
dewdrops. with her dead-white skin,
like pearly dawn. and the supple
grace. Of her figure accumulated by
the changing and vanishing tone Of
the silk gown she wore. A little tired
from having prospected everywhere.
she had stopped near the door Of a
big gallery in which there was dane
ing. Suddenly timid voice asked her
for a turn.
She faced about and felt her heart
throb violently. The man who spoke
to her was tall, with pale face and
black hair, the latter encircled by
due HSdQUdHu. wore d panied
robe. short cloak and high shoes
with purple laceS.
Its he" she aid to herself, won
dering at the good fortune which had
thrown in her way the one person she
had been looking for She took me
chanically the arm offered to her
The thought that she had to make
herself attractive embarrassed her
at first. She was SO habituated to
! the other idea-that she must defend
L, svNs, I.
pleased too well. She didn't know
what to say. But her lack of ease
must have appealed as an added
| charm to her companion Moreover
the ice was soon broken. They found
s si1hf af TO ia laugh ugh over: It was the
waltzed furiously in the arms of
an infatuated schoolboy grotesquely
dressed as a druid. A stout priest
dripping with perspiration. but very
crown and wasitaiking about the Bal
kan situation with a Louis NJ wear
ing spectacles. also diverted them.
From that point on they became
good comrades and danced with less
restraint. They discovered that they
were marvelously in accord. having
the same tastes and the same repug
nances. after the manner of young
people who strike up friendships.
Having talked about others. they be-
avoided personalities. She kept her
mind on her great objective. But,
little by little. she attained a degree
of self-confidence which she had never
felt before.
In low and guarded voice the Car
thaginian was paying her discreetly
turned compliments. He showed in
telligence and wit, and, in addition.
sincerity and vivacity which seemed
to be struggling through an habitual
reserve. Already a certain intimacy
of feeling had been established be-
tween them.
gney took supper together. tete-a-
tete, at little side table. After SUD-
pe-, fleeing the cotillon and the re-
ception rooms. still we'll filled in spite
of the early departures. they wan
,, dered into the winter garden,
They sat down there in the shadow
of some big, MOSTLY fragrant plants
Her head whirling little with the
intoxication of her success. Simone
allowed herself TO ha lulled by the
tender phrases which he whispered.
She felt perfectly happy. Never had
any man who had murmured words
of love to her moved her. as she was
moved by this one, who pleased her
more than any other. and whom she
already loved. And It was such an
extraordinary piece of luck!
X X i. X
LIE took her hand. He mirrored
l his eyes in her big brown ones,
with glints Of gold. and suddenly he
asked her If she would marry him.
Tho Young girls cum of happiness