The Washington herald., 1921-04-10
"THE MONSTER"

with an then intellectual faculties con-
centrated on the movement of the feet to
avoid . false step. both suddenly real
lied the need of remaining united for
ever. Of forming an indissoluble union
to dance on till the end of time.
And 30 they fell in love and were mar
ried. One morning tout Paris got up two
hours earlier than usual to go to the
wedding. an imposing ceremony the
splendor of which was enhanced by the
attendance Of the principal bankers and
industrial magnates of Paris. friends Of
the bridegroom. and . large number ,of
political leaders. old colleagues Of the
brides grandfather.
two young people would be . perfect
idyL Before his wedding Maurice had
behaved Ike true lover. taking leave.
without hope Of return. from tile foiiies
and caprtees Of his youth Several wom-
en-. high priestesses Of the noblest arts.
the comedy. the opera, and the dance.
lost al hope of ever having again the
millionaire Delfour among their admirers
and patrons No more foilies! No more
actresses, singers. or chorus girls! From
now on Deifour was going to devote him
self entirely to his little wife and to the
study of serious things And although
odette continued to dirt as she had hirtsd
before her marriage. It was from force Of
habit-s harmless little game. an out
growth Of her light and happy dispo-
sition. which, without provoking bold
advances. gave her husband the exhila-
ration of an ever present danger.
They had established their present
happiness and their illusions in the Del
four mansion. = sumptuous house built
near Monceau park by the nrst million
aire Of the family. among others no less
luxurious. erected by his business asso-
ciates. Its rear facade faced the park.
The elder Nine. Delfour retired to the
top floor. She had known poverty in
her youth, when her husband was . sim
pie employe. and from her past of priva-
tions and anxieties she retained . spirit
of economy which made her live with
great frugality amidst the spiendors Of
this opulent house. She preferred to live
in the top noor Of the palace because 1t
was there that they stored the antiquat-
ed pieces OF furniture which represented
her hrst Iuxuries those bought when she
and her husband began to get rich. She
turned over the rest Of the house to her
son and daughter-in-law that the latter
might satisfy without hindrance her ul-
tra-modern tastes for decoration.
All the extravasances, all the absurdi-
ties Of q hybrid style. Q mixture Of Byz-
antine and Persian art. invented by Mu-
mich artists invaded this place. which
was beginning to be venerable with its
red and gold rooms and its massive fur
niture OF the time of Napoleon Ill
The elder Mime. Delfour, always In
black. with her gray hair and the serious
and thoughtful manner of a woman who
knows the demands of life in all its
diverse periods. accepted without protest
all the innovations and whims Of the
new mistress. Odette organized luxu-
rious Oriental parties which disturbed
the former peaceful and cloistcrlike pal
ace. Its windows perforated with rect
angles Of bright light the gloominess
of Monceau' park from sunset to sunrise,
casting over its solitary avenues torrents
of light and sounds of revelry. On other
occasions the younger Nine. Delfour
would give thes-dansants, and the auto
mobiles of her guests filled all the sur
rounding streets. disturbing the peace Of
the neighborhood.
The style of dress of the bride dis
turbed also the customs and ideas OF
the old lady. whenever she came down
from the top floor where she had volun-
tarfly retired. she would hnd her daugh-
ter-in-law wearing q tunic as narrow as
a scabbard and made Of some transparent
material. trimmed with enormous en-
broidered flowers. Odette did not seem
to realize the indecency of these dresses,
which barely covered her thin body. But
as Maurice adored his little wife, the
good old lady made efforts to justify
all the whims of her daughter-in-law and
to overlook her sudden fits Of bad temper
and the coldness with which she fire..
quentIy treated her. The poor child.
good old Nine. Delfour would exclaim
grew up without a mother. She had the
training Of q boy"
Then the war came. One Of its nrs'
effects was to distend the eyes Of thu
younger Mime. Delfour with an expression
of immense surprise.
rs this calamity possible?" she com
planned. why should we have war
now that people are enjoying themselves
more than ever?
While Odette seemed to shrink, sur
prised and frightened by the reality o
war, her mother-in-law grew visibly
shedding her former reserve and humi
lity. She began to examine persons an
things with . serious eagerness, as
she had not seen them for Q long tim
and was making an effort to recogniz
them again. What she now saw was no
entirely new to her. She had exchange
the first whispers Of love with her de
parted in 1870. during the siege Of Pari
Later, as a bride, she had lived throug
the horrors of the commune. She kne'
war. knew but too well its meaning