Evening star., 1924-01-16
The Lighter of Flames
By William S. Hart
Story Filled With Romance and Adventure
Y. Cruven Co.

lights, her bosom white as the waxen
o Duus or the native magnolia She
RPIdsSeu PdnSeu among among the throng laughing.
sighed dolorousiy in her e wake sssiahiS Is
was the fashion to take seriousiv "
the pains of love. and more than
one s,n gay blade fancied himself the
npacioSs rppeieSs ,ia, siaye of this sweet and
ot fhls happily unhappy train were
I'm LoVelace and Brithan Randolph,
Sharies wrote sonnets to PeneIope's
nosom friend, the pretty, petite and
Imperious Euphenie La Porte-as
French sjher name--the most heart' ,
Iess nlrt In jamestown, and, it was
rumored, in all Virginia Itself.
Harry Corton was bound hard and
LAST LAST IN real bonds of honest affec-
othy's only sister.
Both of these maids were there,
IN silk and lace. in patch and pow
der, their black and golden curls
hanging on their fair shoulders; and
the governor himself must pinch each
pretty cheek and tell them some
sweet compliment.
They trod the stately measures of
the dance. and Cupid flew among
them all, busy as bee in clover.
hung to the rafters and draping its
sweet length like n curtain To hide
chairs and a rustic scat. Penelope and
Euphenie, about midway the festiv-
ity, cooled their flushed young checks
a delicious mt-nent a-fsnning.
La! Penelope" whispered EupU.-
ME. would ] could snare the beaux
like you. There is Tim a-mooninr;
like sick calf, and Brithan bites
his nails and scowls when you dance
with the young stranger from over
seas. Has he spoken yet Of lover
who? Brithan?' asked Penelope,
her laughter breaking in her whis-
per. He does little else"'
No! No." impatiently, II mean the
stranger-the big blond Hessian from
Goodness. no" said Penelope.
;Euphenie, do you measure all ac-
quaintances in terms of love? II is
a slow process, and one built on faith
and admiration and-and trust"
For a moment the speakers hazel
eyes We're dreamy.
Marry swore the little French
maid hastily. II meant not TO stir
up sermon, dearest. Let us go
back. My feet are itching for a
measure with the stranger. 1 avow."
AS the two girls parted the hang
ing lace of jasmine they came face
to face with two young gentlemen OF
vital presence. One of these was the
he was in earnest converse with his
companion, which broke off abruptly
as he made his bow to beauty.
He kissed both fair hands impair
TALLY. though Penelope's came first
by reason of her rank and birthday
celebration, and made a pretty speech
to each.
Both pairs of sweet eyes went ad-
miringly to the big-boned and clean
cut face of the other man. however,
with untiattering swiftness, and each
graceful curtesy dropped a trifie
deeper.
"Mr. Washington" said Penelope.
smiling, II had despaired of your
presence, since 1t was current in the
town that you were off on some mys-
terious business among the planta-
tions, and I feared you did not re-
ceive my bid"
'It was delivered as late as yes
tereve, mistress. and was many
long miles away, but what could keep
a man-and a young one-from your
birthday rout? Neither miles nor
mud nor sleepless hours In the sad
die. / came. as you see. Am / to
have an early dance as reward?"
1.-TWO of them. sir. and l can find
you shall tell me of the pulse Of the
plantations. and what are these ugly
whispers of disloyalty."
The strong face of Mr.. Washington
turned grave at that and he passed
a hand over his broad brow and back
along his simply dressed hair.
Nay" he said gently. "let us talk
only of sweet things this night. dear
lady 1t is too bright and gay an
hour to burden with idle speech"
And Offering his arm with a
splendid grace, of which he was past
master. he led Penelope out among
the throng.
1t was not long until Euphenie
from overseas threaded the maze, like
the needle to the pole. in the wake
of Lord Lester, and bowed before
her, as all must do sooner or later.
Lord Lester. who looked with calm
eyes on all feminine beauty since ne
had taken to frequentinE a certain
Inn OH the jamestown pike. gave him
to her by name as Herr Hetne Won
Kneibling. and the girl looked up
with her black eyes. innocent under
their long iashes as a newborn
blade-with the same fatal result in
every instance.
She gave him her hand, an in
finite esimal, futtering thing that lay
like q rose-leaf in his huge one. and
lightest creature on her pretty feet
that graced the floor that night.
Later she lightly and artfully di-
rected him to where Penelope again
spoke with Mr.. Washington, and pre-
sented him to the latter; though she
sented Mr. Washington to him-of so
subtle an art Of conquest was this
small EupheNlie.
At his name upon her lips the man
of the colonies drew himself a trff1e
more erect. it seemed, and the bow
he made the stranger was a battling
thing, so punctilious was it. SO stiff
with ceremony, yet so surely was 1t
tinsed with vague displeasure.
The two girls exchanged q glance
and the newcomers drifted away.
leaving Penelope and her companion
in momentary silence.
fMr. Washington" said Penelope
timidly, what was it? / saw but
row "a shadow on your face"
The man smiled and looked away
from her a moment. but there was a
''1f it was there, Mistress" he said
gently, Il beg a thousand pardons-
and we will chase it away with an
other measure. Come
George said Mr. Jefferson an
hour later. 'twhat think you Of this
emtssary from the HeSstan king-our
masquerading George the Third?
like not his looks. He is so bland,
SO cock-sure, so altogether on the
II think. Tom said Mr.. Washing
ton. that the dark cloud gathers and
that we gather beneath it to rip out
it's silver lining"
With which guarded speech the two
friends clasped hands and turned to
drink a final glass at Mistress Pencil
ope's birthday rout. to bow before the
to go out together under the keen
spring stars.
CONTINUED in Tomorrow's Star.)