Evening star., 1922-12-24
A Son of the Sahara
A Modern Story Of the Desert
s...ss BY Louise Gerard sa
Copyright. ,s22. b, u. nae.ul.;

" nave ready Ihe neipAui manu-.
so. Pansy." he said, "having save
my body, you're now after my soul"
! oh. no. I'm not q missionary! Blu
fif YOU like people. there's no harm IL
giving them q word in season"
He brought his horse closer, ant
bent toward the girl.
so you like me?" he said In a ca
ressing tone
Il shouldn't be here il didn't" sh.
answered candidIy.
And what II I say I like you?" hi
asked, laughing softly.
Il should say it's very nice of you
considering you know nothing at al
about me-"
II can see you are beautiful. know
your heart is kind. Circumstance.
have shown me you are not nerce
Lary. What more could / wish to
know about you? Isn't the combina-
tfon enough to attract any man.
Considering you are French. you've
missed the vital point" she said de-
murely. You haven't said anything
about dot"
no man in his senses would want
dot with you"
''He wouldn't get much money out
OF my father. anyhow" she said. He's
a poor man who has to work hard for
any one in the wohle wide world"
I'D like to meet him." lie Breton
remarked
so YOU will. il you behave your
SELF. He's coming out here very
soon"
What constitutes behaving my
seif?" he asked. People have never
complained of my behavior SO far
Pansy knew he was arrogant and
overbearing. By his own telling. che
guessed he was inclined to be wild.
She suspected him Of having little or
no respect for women, although lie
had been unfailingly courteous to her
do with you. though" she said.
1t would be refreshing, to say the
least" he remarked with a slight
smile hovering on his lips. And what
would you complain of especially?'
You need a lot Of reforming in
quite a few ways"
Tell me. and I'll endeavor to mold
myself according to your ideals" he
said with laughter.
You know you're very well pleased
with yourself as you are
But I'm even better pleased with
YOU, Pansy," he answered, watching
her with glowing gaze.
This Pansy knew quite well. To get
Off the topic. she touched her horse
lightly and broke into a canter. For
It seemed to her tine symptoms
were coming to a head even more
rapidly than she had expected
When the edge of the orange grove
men came forward to take their
horses-dark men. with hawk-like
faces. lean and sun-scorched. who
bowed low before her escort with the
utmost servility.
They look like Arabs" Pansy said.
"They are Arabs: some Of my serv-
ants from Africa. generally have
a with
IT seemed to Pansy the whole half
dozen were in the grove, ready TO
wait on her.
No sooner was she settled among
the cushions than one of the servants
placed a little box before her. about
~ trifie made of beaten gold, inlaid
with nat emeralds and rubie..
rs it Pandora's box?" she asked.
picking it up and examining 1t with
curiosity.
"It and the contents are for you"
Le Breton replied.
She turned the tiny golden key. In
a most Of green moss. smiling up at
her with velvety eyes.
TIL have the contents" she said.
The box you can keep for another
time"
with slim white fingers she picked
out the pansies and tucked them into
her coat
Still only few flowers. Pansy?' he
said, annoyed. yet pleased that her
was disinterested. Sug-
sest something else that You would
accept"
breakfast" she said promptly.
I'm dying of hunger
her benefit. served in gold and jewel
incrusted dishes: an array OF the most
expensive luxuries. If LIE Breton's s
idea had been to impress her with
his wealth and magniflcence. he failed.
It seemed to pass her by unnoticed:
for Pansy was much more interested
in his Arab servants. the grove. the
distant view of the sea, than any OF
the regal extravaganza Immediately
before her.
when the meal was over she sat.
wistful and dreamy-look listening
to the sigh of the sea.
For some moments LIE Breton
watched her Just then her mood
appeared very out of keeping with
her boyish attire.
I'd like to see you dressed in
really feminine" he re-
marked presently.
What's your idea Of something
really feminine" she INQUIRED.
would come from your shoulders to
your knees, loose and clinging. soft
and white. with strap Of pearls to
hold it on
TT sounds draughty." she COM
land it might show my hor-
rid scars"
TT would suit you admirably
and, ! suppose. it would suit you
a admirably. too. to be lying about on
cushions with me so attired waiting
on you" she said quickly. Bringing
YOU sherbet and hubble bubble. or
whatever you call those big pipe
things that men smoke in eastern
pictures and on cigar-box lids And
shouldn't dare call my soul my own.
should tremble at your look. That
one garment would place at ter
rible disadvantage"
1T might not be a severe task mas
ter. might only ask you to do one
Thing"
"And what would thai be-
I'm English. I could say it in two
" words; spell it in six letters"
Pansy darted a quick look at him.
and little mocking smile came and
hovered on her mouth.
She was too accustomed to men and
their ways not to guess what the
two words that could be spelt in six
letters were.
She sat quiet for a moment or two.
an impish look on her face. Then she
ratified off a riddle in English:-
my first is in apple. but not in pie.
My second lis in do but not in die.
My third IL in veal but not in ham.
Ny fourth is in sheep. but not in lamb.
My hfth 10 in morning. but not In night.
My sixth is in darkness. but not in light,
My whole is just word or Two.
which is known 10 me as well rs to you