The Arvada enterprise., 1923-11-29

SO vaguely made 1t seemed to her.
ana to wear II at all she had to divest
hefself altogether of the upper part
OF her coarse underwear. Then IL
seemed to her startlingly inadequate,
even as an undergarment. However,
the robe did go over 1t, aud she drew
that close and bclted II in. II wac
provided with long sleeves and fell
10 her ankles. She thrilled mt the de.
llghtful clinging Softness of silk stock
ings and for the first time admired
her long, round ankles and shapely
rect. The Chinese slippers amused
her but they were beautiful. all EN-.
broidered with flowers and dragons,
She felt she must look very queer,
indeed, and went to the mirror. What
she saw there surprised her because
1t was so strange. so different. Pierre
had not dealt In compliments. His
woman was his woman and he loved
her body. To praise this body, sur.
rendered In love to him. would have
been impossible to the reverence and
reserve of his passion.
Now Joan brushed and coilcd her
hair. Then. starting toward the door
Mt Wen Hos announcement of Din.
ner lady," she was quite suddenly
overwhelmed by shyness. From head
to foot for the first time in all her
life she was acutely conscious Of her.
self.
On that evening Prosper began to
talk. 1t was Joan's amazing beauty
ms she stumbled wretchedly into the
circle Of his freight. her neck drawn
up to its full length, her head crowned
high with soft, black masses, her lids
dropped under the weight OF shyness,
vivid fright In her dIstended pupils,
scarlet in her cheeks-Joan's beauty
OF long, strong lines draped to advnn-
tage for the first time in soft and
clinging fabrics-that touched the
spring Of Prosper's delighted egotism.
He told anecdotes. strange adven-
lures; he drew his own inverted NOR
ais; he sketched his fantastic opin-
ions; he was in truth fascinating, a
speaking face, 1.-THE. brilliant pres
ence. voice Of edged persuasion.
She drew herself up straight In the
big red-lacquered chair. slipped her
coffee in dainty imitation Of him. gave
him the full. deep tribute Of her gaze,
asked for no explanations and let the
astounding statements he made. the
amazing pictures he drew. cut their
way indelibly into her most sensitive
and preserving memory.
Afterward, at night, for the first
time, she did not weep for Pierre. the
old lost Pierre who had 80 changed
into torturer, but, wakeful. her brain
was on fire, she pondered over and
over the things she had just heard
feeling after their meaning, laying
aside for future enlightenment what
was utterly incomprehensIble arguing
with herself rs to the truth OF half
comprehended speeches-nn Ignorant
child wrestling with modern philOs-
ophy, tricked out in motley by q
ready wit.
He gave her pretty things" whole
quantities OF them, fine linen to be
made up into underwear, soft white
and colOred silks and crepes, which
Joan, remembering the few lessons In
dressmaking she had had from Maud
Upper. and with some advice from
Prosper, made up not too awkwardly,
accepting the mystery Of them rs ono
Of Prosper's magIc-makIngs. And. in
the meantime. her education went on.
Prosper read aloud to her. tutOred her.
scolded her SO fercely sometimes that
Joan would mount scarlet cheeks and
open angry eyes. One day she fairly
of the room. stamping her feet and
shedding tears. But back she came
presently for more. thirsting for knowl.
edge. eager to meet her trainer on
more equal grounds. to he able TO an
swer him to some purpose. TO contra
dict him. to stngger ever so slightly
the self-assurance Of his superiority.
And Prosper enjoyed the trimming
Of his captive leopardess, though he
sometimes all but melted over the
pathos Of her and had much ado to
keep his hands from her unconscious
young beauty.
II wns January night when Jonn,
her rough head almost In the ashes,
had read isabella and the Pot OF
Basil by the light Of ilnmcs. II was
in March. gray, still afternoon, when,
looking through Prosper's bookcase.
she came upon the tnlc again.
Prosper was outdoors cutting n tun-
mel, freshly blocked with snow, and
Joan. having finished the Life OF
Ccllinl.' writer she loath"d, put
whose gorgeous fabrications her mas
ter had forced her TO rcnd. now hnr.
rlcd to the bookshclves In senrch OF
something more TO her taste. She had
the gay mir Of holiday-secker. re-
turned "CcllInl" with n smart push.
and. kneelIng. ran her finger along the
volumes. pausing on binding OF
bright biuc.nnd.gold. II was the color
that had pleased her and the fat,