Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-30

Fancy wasting morning like this in
doors! l have been finding my way
around
You are not disenchanted YETI" he
asked, looking down at her with Il
smile.
Il never shall be-" she answered
simply. II suppose things could hap
| can hardly believe it, though"
A breath of soft wind, delicate and
languorous. shook the tassels of the
striped umbrellas. From the cafe
walters were hurryins backward and
forward with trays of cocktails,
oranSeades. and delectable drinks.
Violet looked at them little wistfully.
Hargrave was still standing by her
side. but he had not even asked her
10 sit down. A wonderful car. with
a footman on the box. drew up out
side, and woman. dark and pale
with big. curiosuly blue, almost violet
eyes, and a superb carriage. stepped
out. followed Immediately by a maid
leading two little dogs.
That is the most beautiful woman
l have seen here yet" Violet confided
under her breath. DO you know
who she is?''
He hesitated for A moment.
The Princess Putralka. a Russian
woman" he told her. she is coming
10 have her morning aperitif with
me-"
Something about his tone affected
her like a gesture of dismissal. She
accepted il cayIy enough. but with d
serious sensation of disappointment.
Il must go and find Robert" she
said. as she turned away with little
farewell nod
HarGrave had already moved for
ward to welcome his guest. AS he
raised her hand TO his lips she glanced
al Violet. at first indfferently enough.
then with an expression of unwilling
admiration. Violet could almost hear
her question, asked in rapid French.
as she hurried off.
Tell me at once who she is. dear
friend. l am already jealous. She is
the most beautiful young English girl
! have ever seen. a protegee of
YOURS? Yes?"
she might be called So l suppose. g
Hargrave asseHted. as he held her
chair, "a protegee of Circumstan -
The princess leaned forward to look
after Niolet's disappearing figure.
Perhaps for a moment she envied its
slim girlishness, It's possibilities. which
she was clever enough TO understand.
She herself was In her thirty-eighth
year.
Dressed by an artist" she muir
INJURED, "she would be irresistible. But
in you, dear Hargrave. | have much
confidence. You are of that age in life
when a man relies rather upon his
taste than his enthusiasm. You pre-
fer eXotics to the flowers of youth. Is
II not so?"
Princess" Hargrave replied, you
are diviner of men"
r.
You think. then. that to understa nd
leads nowhere"
Il think" she rejoined that men
resent being understood. If one
stumbles upon knowledge ii is best to
keep it within, With you. dear Har-
grave, I at least shall never make that
fatal mistake. for l confess to you. as
| confessed to myself this morning
do not understand you"
Il am f1attered at the suggestion. :"
! Harcrave declared as he summoned
4 waiter. but | am indeed simple
person
He gave an order and held match
for the princess cigarette.
w hat you are inside, who can
tell?' she went on. looking at him al
most tenderly through the first faint
cloud of smoke. From all accounts.
one would esteem you sometimes the
most accomplished of phila ndererS.'
rs that quite fair" he complained.
good naturally.
But what do | find?" she asked
Our first season here we spent much
time together. l had-shall l seem
vain if l remind you of it?-many ad-
! mirers. BY degrees they fell away.
One by one l discarded them 4 word
here, broken engagement there, and,
like men of the world. as they all were.
they made their bows, but YOU, dear
friend, l kept. Can you guess why?
All. do not try. ! will tell YOU | kept
| you because you We're the one who in
| terested me most. 1t was in YOU. |
thought. that / might find the compan.
| ion for whom l longed."
! \ waiter interrupted them for a mo-