Evening star., 1923-10-21

dazzled eyes that it would take less
than a breath to blow her over that
barrier of light straight into his arms
straight into his heart-into his
tired and lonely heart. He leaned for
ward. and the vision of gold and
silver flung down to him the airy
music of her mirth.
"Oh, 1 couldn't any more dance with
you. looking like that than I could
grow feathers" cried the vision.
Whatever in the whole worlds the
matter?"
The audience hushed it's applause.
Thanks" the Black Duke replied.
Nothing in the whole worlds the
matter-now."
Whatever were you thinkin' to
make you scowl the big black ogre
himself them"
Il was wondering how on earth I
was going to get to you quickly
enough to tell you what 1 was think
ing before 1 burst with it,"
The transfixed audience waited for
her to pin him to the wall with her
reply. But Biddy only came a step
nearer, staring down at him with the
strangest look of wonder and delight
and enchanted mischief.
"Oh, whatever must you think of
me, not knowing you at all?" she
cried to him over the muted Tilt of
her waltz. Twas the lights in my
eyes, maybe-or maybe the lights in
yours. It's the foolish creature 1 am
any way you put it. Would you be
waiting for ten minutes?"
\
Severn"
It'll kill me-" said his grace,
Where will you be-"
There's wee door over beyond
the red curtain" said Biddy You
go through that, and you're in an
alley as black as a pit, and you take
three steps-no, with the legs you
have you can do 1t in two with no
trouble at all-and there'll be another
door with a fine big light over 1t. and
I'll be under the light. Don't die"
NO." said his grace. Il won't"
Play it faster than that" Biddy
cried to her stupefied musicians. "Ah
it's the poor, slow, thumb fingered
Play it fast as my Aunt Dasheen's
dance holes in your drums for you.
All, darlin's, come on now-spin 1t
faster than that for the poor dyin'
gentleman and the girl that's goin' to
save him."
WITH a flash and a dip and a
w swirl she was off, and the Black
Duke was off, too. Gaddy Banford
put a feeble cIamor as his guest
swept by him.
rob, but my dear fellow-no, but
say-she's simply chatting you, you
Hand over my stick. will you?" in
quired the duke affably. And don't
come trotting along after mes either.
She's not expecting you, you know
rather not" He swung buoyantly off
toward the red curtain, bestowing a
benign nod on the diverted audience.
He brushed aside the red curtain,
and passed with one great stride
through the door into the black alley.
The door swung to behind him. He
drew a deep breath, and turned his
head; and there she stood beneath the
light, with a black scarf over her
golden head and a black cloak over
her silver dress. She had one hand
to her heart and was breathing
quickly in little light gasps.
Were you waiting long? she
asked. II never stopped at all to
change a stitch. 1 was afraid for my
soul you'd be gone. Was it long you
waited?"
"Forty-two years." said his grace.
'Forty-two years and three days"
He watched the rose flood up to her
lashes at that, but the joyous eyes
never swerved from his.
"Ah, WE'LL" she murmured, II
waited seventeen my own self, and I
not half the size of you. Have you
missed me, then, truly?" she whis-
pered.
I've missed you since the day I
drew breath" he told her, and his
voice shook. 'Biddy, is it true?
Things don't happen like this, do
they? No one out of dream ever
had such hair-no one out OF fairy
tale such eyes! Biddy. would you
laugh like that IL it were a dream? %
II would that" she remarked with
decision. TITS a fine dream and a
grand fairy tale and the truest truth
you ever heard in your life. I knew
twas you even when you were
scowlin'. but those lights were in my
eyes, so couldn't be sure till you
smiled"
"Biddy, how did you know2"
She pushed the scarf back from
those golden bubbles with a gay ges-
ture of impatience.
We'll, why wouldn't know?