The Washington times., 1922-01-15

died and she was plunged into the
life she had heard Of and read of
and never seen.
"MAY I introduce you to my
cousin-Miss Vane? Mr..
Rose-Mr. Adrian Rose" She
knew her cousin well enough to
know that the Christian name
added so ostentatiously was a
certificate of fame. But "From
a Pergola" had not reached Mil
let Court and the "Adrian" only
left her consciously ignorant.
my cousin" added Lady Blair.
"has been brought UP entirely in
the country in the most divine
old house that now belongs to
her She has come to London to
explore the world" ...
He looked at her. She was
smiling a little. and it struck him
that she knew more than Lady
Blair would ever know.
"You seem. if / may say So"
he said. "to be STARTING your adj
venture very calmly. But you are
quite right. the people who have
train fever spend much too much
time in stations" .
He always tried to remember
afterwards exactly what he had
thourht of her that day. But his
first impression had got inextric-
ably entangled with other later
ones and he could never get 1t
free.
He knew when he was with her
that she was tall and slim and
white. with pale coral lips and a
cloudy background of hair. The
whole of her seemed penciled in
a delicate. faint. unfussv outline.
But when he left her he could
never conjure her I'D in detail. for
her eyes. which should have pro-
vided a clue. a vivid mark in his
memory. lamentably failed to do
either.
1t was difficult to say why they
were unlike other ewes in their
deep. unbroken gray on a blue
white prbund. but. somehow. they
seemed not to reveal but to con-
ceal her soul. like some heavy
curtain drawn across her individ-
ualitv. Sometimes he felt that
he had caught glimpse Of some
thing-that the curtain had been
drawn aside for a second-but
always it fell back into place
before he could make sure.
And then one day an enthusiasts
tic young lady exclaimed. you
express yourself so beautifully.
Mr.. Rose! Why don't you write
a book?" A book? The magic
word wrought havoc in his mind.
Why not, indeed? Those sensi-
tive. fastidious apercues would
make q charming little volume.
Not a very big scale, Of course.
but perfect in its way, with dis
tinct flavor Of its own. Gathering
his impressions together, he took
his pen in hand. while he saw WIS.,
ions Of reviews beginning. "A
place will be found on the shelves
Of every book lover for ."
From Pergola" appeared.
On the paper wrapper the pub
Usher gave a kindly hint to review
ers. These sketches have the
perfection Of exquisite bric-a brac.
There is nothing Anglo-Saxon in
Mr.. Roses sensitive talent. rather
he reminds us of our friends across
the channel Later quotations
CA pleasant little volume"-The
Times Literary Supplement; "A
masterpiece In miniature"-Not-
tingham's Gazette) were inserted.
and II some Of them came from
Books in Brief, who could tell
that? A long praising notice ap-
peared in an intellectual weekly;
a great leader Of fashion pro-
nounced ION Greetings" unap-
proachable in It's genre. From
a Pergola" became a topic Of con.
versation and went into three edi-
tons.
Does any one really think 1t
good?" an independent woman
whispered to the editor Of the
Athenaeum. 1T seems to me like
one of those shops in which one
sees ten in each street with, some
lingerie, a blouse. jumper and a
hat in the window"
Mr.. Adrian Rose was conscious
Of the hummfng buzz Of whispers
that followed an announcement Of
his name. Not to have heard of
him simply showed that you were