Evening star., 1921-03-13

! Broadway. which is done in pale gold
! and pink; il is like a small, rare
| jewel box, softly tufted in satin and
| lighted with opal globes: through its
gracefully hung doors you can see
into the glistening lobby beyond. but
the only sounds that penetrate are
strains of far-away music and the
soft swish of women's gowns.
Within this golden retreat. Minnie
dropped into the soft embrace of a
brocade divan and gave herself up to
its luxury; closing her eyes ever SO
slightly. she could imagine herself
yourneying through Lady Aubrey's
gardens. in a gold and crystal sedan
chair. with a graceful ennul IN ner
pose and Gala lilies in her hair. There
were always Gala lilies in Lady Au-
brey's hair, and graceful ennui IN
her pose. The hush of velvet rugs and
faint music luIled Minnie's dreaming
senses. her tense held on the tan
purse-one dollar and thirty cents
relaxed and she nestled deeper IN
the pink Drocade.
A man in frock coat and shiny
patent leather shoes dropped wearlly
on the farthest end of the dlvan- ms
hair was gray at the temples, ana
his eyes were surfeited with too much
living; he was the typical ciubman
and dilettante OF the seventn-day
world.
Minnie regarded him with the little
intake of breath which proximity TO
! those of his sphere invariably caused
! her. From the supercorrect cut OF
! coat to the shining finger nails he
I bespoke Inverness coats ana CAPS.
Minnie did not exactly know what
constituted an Inverness coat. but no
! drawing room novel was complete
without one. She could also picture
I this tired eyed man in the dark ma
| hogany quiet of his den, or strolling
| the white-and- brass deck of VI yacht.
, Her haIf-closed eyes, to all intent
| and purpose, were regarding an oil
! painting which hung high beyond
| his head. but none of his details was
| lost upon her: she knew that his cane
| had a gun-metal knob and that his
! shirt studs were gold
! She had rehearsed her hour for so
J long that she was not even surprised
! when he leaned toward her and spoke.
| That is a very warm and rich bit
! of work You admire his school,
! He referred to the oil painting, and
! his tones were deep and serious.
ITS just beautiful replied Min
! ME. who had not even observed the
/ portrait. and who was vague as to
{ his meaning.
! Her temples were fhrobbing violent
! ly. she felt that she was contaminat-
! ing this seventh-day creature in even
! replying, and that he would resent
her if he knew. just as she resented
Mr.. Snuggs in the white goods.
| II see Won riding in the park quite
often. Only few mornings ago
/ was bold enough to csnter after you
admiring your mount"
Thank YOU" she replied. taking
the plume and fitting her small head
bit. "The women in my family have
always ridden we'll"
| 'If you bespeak the race. I doubt il
not"
HE spoke the words with. a patri.
clan grace that thrilled her: she
groped for suitable reply. but none
came. There was pause: she OBJ
, served that he wore crested rims
on his right hand. She felt il in.
cumbent upon her to justify her un.
well-restrained impatience into tn.
lobby beyond.
He was on his feet Immediately.
You are waiting for some one. Can
II be of any assistance"
Thank you. no. My maid will be
here presently: she is unnecessarily
long"
She sank back and let her eyes
rest on Il misty landscape ITdH1eu IN
silver.
He followed her gaze.
Il have the twin COrot to that rare
bit in my private collection. l am
very fond of it,
oh she mrmured. How love
ly"'
There Is something compelling il
the strength of that stretch of mere
meadowland.'
YES" she agreed cautiously. 90
! love the country
He adjusted pair Of pince-nez
and regarded her as If seeing hei
for the first time.
You are an exotic. and yet you
crave the natural?
She closed her eyes, and the deli
cate line of her profile met the pink
brocade.
Yes" she recited. this artif1cia
life the routine Of ball and function
the formaiity OF livery and society
make me long to fly back to ma
ture."
4 The man moved toward her will
a new interest.
strange" he half unused. "tha
when left my club an hour age
that same call within me prompted
me to tell my man, on the spur Of
the moment. that we are of for tho
l west tomorrow. l. too, am weary q