The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-17

flash OF pomoEranate flowers
against the flnttering white Of her
skirlA. sylvia Lea disappeared be
yond ii hedge OF living palms and
artificial pomcgranate trees.
what makes you 80 cross with
mof' she asked na Ned Merritt, fol-
lowing seated himself beside her ON
a low stone bench.
I'm sick or being leotured about
my extravaganza. he Rrowlcd,
You've done nothing else since you
came from Boston
Ever since sylvia had spent two
interminhble years In Boston he
had hated the place and the people,
especially one William Winthrop.
but recently como 20 New orleans
and tonight a guest AZ this ball
II was tho ball Of Comus with
which tho gay New Orleans social
season comes 20 It's brilliant close,
and the French Opera House was
aflamo with tho beauty OF woman'a
gown and maaker's costume. redo.
lent with tho perfume OF fading
flower. throbblng with music and
ripping with laughing voice. But
Merritt was In no gala humor. lie
was not a member OF tho organiEa,
ton and he had had 20 wait until
tho maskerb' dances were over.
watching Sylvia from the balcony
as the maAkera called her out 10
dance and deeked her with gay
fnyora.
This time next year III be tying
bells on you IN the first dance.
he said when he finally captured
her as a Pied Piper was tossing the
Kay garland OF bells and pomcgran.
ate blossoms symbol OF parade.
tnbleaux Hnnd ball. across her
shoulders. Sylvia had answered
about eTtravagRnce, Ito had
brought their dance 20 an abrupt
stop and she had sought shelter be,
yond tho green hedge.
How Ia helI's a fellow 20 pay
his social debts II no doesn't belong
20 carnival organization" no now
demanded.
you belong 20 two. don't your
And comus h 80 expensive"
Since when have you taken 10
lecturipg men about tho way they
spend their money!"
Angry color fiarcd In the girls
white checks.
Il don't lecture men. Nobody but
you-beeauss c.eare 80 much" a.
white hand fell on Ned'a black
sleeve. ono end OF the gay garland
caught between the slim fingers
Ho stared AZ tho glowing flowers
You were under a pomeEranate
tree when I first saw YOU" he
said
In oran'mcrc'a garden" Sylvia
nodded Then. In a wistful voice:
'she used TO toll the ioyeiiosi stories
about FAIRIES who lived in trees. The
pomegrRnats seeds wero their jewels
--moonatones and pearls and ~.
bles."
She raised her eyes TO tho r,issot
fruit fashioned Of silk. that chung
to tho artificial branches OF tho arti.
ficial pomsEranato trees.
Merritt studied tho exquisite pro
file and the limo the dark hair
made ngRins; brow and temple. How
beautiful sho was. Perhaps. the
thought flashed thru his mind. sho
had inherited from her French an.
ccstors along with those delicate
features n delicate sense OF tho pro.
pricty OF living within ones In.
come. Perhaps sho was right. and
Boston was not SO much 20 blame
As matter Of fact he had a
French ancestor or two OF his own
no there was no reason why he
couldn't be thrifty-if no chose.
Sylvia" his words camo sudden.
~. when are you going 10 marry
me7'
Il don't know tina, shall over
marry you"
rs it WIN winthrop" he dc.
mnnded.
Perhaps / Ike him, Ned. and
his ways
What Is their way, that is 80
superior to ourB7"
Sylvia laughed. "'Twould take
months 20 tell. To begin with.
we've ncrcs OF garden. or most
acres. that we never use. The Win.