The Washington times., 1922-12-03

udTk Dcouty BO"SS Wv e'N 'os
vanish; If she were tranquil, her
charm clung to her as to a still
flower.
She could convey innocence with
look, a gesture--but she was
not innocent, and her dark, glori-
Gus eyes were deep with strange
knowledge; she could express
kindness with a tiny smiling move
ment of her red lips, little clos
ing of her cye-lids-though there
might be no Kindness, no echo of
kindness in her heart; she could
fatter swcetly with little raising
of her dark moon-curving brows,
even while she annullcd her fiat
terry with the wave of slender
hand; she could call man to her,
and yet utter no word, invite pas
sion with folded hands and down.
cast eyes, rebukc it with arms
held out alluringly.
She was trained in beauty, apt
at the crafts of loveliness, and
wise in the arts of charm.
These delights and sweet
Mosques were to her, easy and
swift and natural as flight to
swallow.
And her deadly arts were as
much a part of her as her physical
perfections were part of her, for
she was too young to have ac-
quired them. :.
And her dress was as unusual
as her beauty. Indeed she was
not dressed in the Western sense,
though she must have put on the
garment she wore with a certain
care, for its effect was as strik-
ing as that of the most novel and
wonderfully made gown.
1t seemed to Marchurst, who,
unlike many modern men, knew
little of these mysteries, and cared
less, that Sais's dress was no more
than sheet OF gold and white
silk, fringcd on its lower side with
a bright metallic, kingfisher blue
fringe; that she had done no more
than to wind this soft silken sheet
carelessly about her; and secure
it with a flaming sash about her
waist, and a jewelled pin at her
breast. That, at least, was the
effect of it, and the yellow oriental
slippers she wore on her bare feet
did nothing to modify the effect,
or minimize its subtle simplicity.
Even her dark hair, bound with
strip of some lace-like silvery
material seemed careless, but it
was not the carelessness of dis
order.
So she stood, smiling at them.
"Why, Sais-were you sleeping?
Have we disturbed you?" asked
HOodless. Marchurst nodded un-
consciously. His friend had put
into words exactly the impression
he had gathered from the appear
ance of the girl.
She looked as il she had been
lying lightly asleep, unclothed. in
some dim inner room, and, Toused
by their voices had glided quickly
from her couch, thrown on her
silken sheet, icOiled and bound the
sash about her, banded her hair,
and, her eyes yet dark with sleep,
had come half f-breathlessly to re-
ceive them.
That was the first impression of
Sais which Dick Marchurst ever
received and never forgot, though
a time was to come when he could
look back and remember that, of
a thousand poses, this was ever one
Of her favorites.
She turned, calling in low
musical voice to one behind her.
Marchurst knew enough French to
understand that she.was ordering
the young ncgrcss who had adj
mittcd them to the house to bring
coffee. Then she came forward
to them.
mo, thank you-I was not rest
ing. was looking in my mirror
to see the years in my eyes," she
said with a low laugh, and curled
up on a big divan facing them.
"It is in her eyes that woman
must look for the years that come
so silently to alight upon her spirit
not, as a man looks, at the silver
threads in her hair, the little
wrinkles upon her face. Sol
tell you the mysteries-make
known all my secrets to you"
She was speaking in French
now, having glanced inquiringly
at Marchurst to see if he under
stood.
She offered him a slender hand.
81 like it that you understand
MO y,hau I cr;L Eronch " che said