The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-11-17

dinner has been announced"
Mr.. Dinwiddie made a pretext
OF slipping his cocktail as the
three raised their glasses stimuli
taneously to their hostess. She
had declined to join them, with
a little grimace. Perhaps in time
I may become American enough
to like your strange connections,
but so far I think cocktails have
q really horrid taste. Shall we
go in?"
The Judge offered his arm with
the formal gallant air he could
assume at win and the other meIt
followed at a discreet distance;
her shimmering gown had long
tail. Mr.. Dinwiddie's eyes seemed
to bore into that graceful sway:
ing back. but he was not the
man to discuss his hostess until
he had left her house, and Claver-
Ing could only wonder what con-
illusions were forming in that
avid cynical old brain.
The Dining Room.
The dining-room. long and
narrow, was at the back Of the
hall and extended along the en-
tire width Of the large house.
Like the hall, It was paneled and
dark, an imposing room hung
with family portraits. A small
table at the end looked like
fairy oasis. 1t glittered ana
cleaned and the flowers were
mauve. matching the tall wand
like candles.
II do hope. Madame zattiany,"
said Mr.. Osborne. as he took a
seat at her left, that you
won't succumb to the ure-
vailing mania for white, and
paint out this beautiful old
walnut. Too many Of our houses
look entirely too sanitary. one
feels az II he were about to be
shown up to ward. to be re-
ceived by q hospital nurse with
q warning not to speak too loud"
There was. no chill formality In
his mien as he bent over his
young and beautiful hostess.
"Ah, you forget this is Count
ess Zattiany's house," she said,
smiling. But will admit that IL
1t were mine should make few
changes. White was quite e Ia
mode In London long before the
war, but, myself, I never liked It."
Judge Trent sat opposite his
hostess at the round table. She
had placed Mr.. Dinwiddie and Mr..
Osborne on either side OF her,
smiling at Clavering. IT am sorry
do not know any young ladies'"
she said graciously. although there
was a twinkle in her eye. You
look rather lonesome"
Why should he?" growled Din
widdie. ale is young and you are
young. The rest OF us are the
ones to feel out OF IT.
mot a BIT Of it! Not bit Of
it," exclaimed Judge Trent. ''You
forget that Madame Zattiany has
lived in Europe since infancy.
She's talked to elderly statesmen
all her hfe'
We'll. we're not statesmen, the
lord knows Dinwiddie could
always be relied on to make the,
obvious retort, thought Clavering,
although 1t must be admitted that
he was seldom with none at all.
But you must have seen more
young men than old during the
war, Madame Zattiany. I under
stand that Mary turned her palace
in Buda Pesth into a hospital and
that you were her chief assistant"
THAT is quite true, and I had
by no means confined myself be-
fore that to elderly statesmen; but
I had almost forgotten what a
young man on his feet looked like
before the war finished. Or
society, for that matter. My one
temptation to enter society here
would be the hope of forming a
relief organization-drive, do you
call it?-for the starving children
OF Austria. Russian children are
not the only pitiable objects in
Europe. and after all, the children
Of civilized countries are Of more
value to the future Of the world"
Another drive" Judge Trent
groaned. New York fees to cover
at the word. Enter society by all
means, but to give your youth its
rights. You have been deprived
OF them too long"
Il shall never feel as young as
that again. Nor will any girl who
was merely sixteen at the begin
ming Of the war ever be the same
as your care-free young ladies
here. 1 sit in the restaurants and
watch them with amazement-
often with anger. What right
have they E. however as
for myself, shall not re-enter the
world for any but the object have
Just mentioned. Luncheons! Din
ners! Balls! I was surfeited be-
fore the MAR Ava r Ao,,~ Azn.a%-