Evening star., 1925-12-08
j JOAN MA
"The Gracious Gift of God''
BY II. L. GATES

1IoiIl HlHl 6uC we were LalklnS OIL
this architect fellow. Tell me about
him. please. Seems to enjoy work.
ing at something"
"You'll have to satisfy my own
curiosity first Joanna declared.
Perhaps you'll send for the esteemed
journal. I'd like to know what is be.
ing said of him. He was a very
struggling student when I saw him
An attendant quickly produced a
copy Of LEcho which bore that morn
tng's date. Michael pointed to a para
graph In the column Of the new ar
rivals at the various resorts along the
fashionable coast. Both Kenilworth
and Yvonne watched her furtively,
when, with a murmured 'Pardon"
she fastened her eyes on the short
item.
Among the bookings on the Blue
Express at Calais yesterday, was the
distinguished young American archi.
tect, John Wilmore, who comes from
visit to London for an indefinite
stay. He has made reservations at
the Las Painters. Mr.. Wilmore's re-
cent achievement of fame has been
extremely interesting. 1t is under.
stood that a year or so ago he was
unknown. American capitalists sud
denly appreciated the. great merits OF
his daring conception Of a war me
mortal in which are included some star.
Ting conventional features which have
caused international discussion among
artists and scholars generally. 1t is be-
lieved his work will be a valuable con.
tribution not only to America but
to society and the world in general"
The paragraph explained the
knowledge Of the others that John
was coming; that he had arrived, for
the Blue Express came in with the
morning. But it did not explain why
he had not notified her. Something
about it all quivered at her lips,
briefly.
Extraordinary" Kenilworth re-
marked when she put the paper
dream can suddenly stumble upon
recognition and success. We all re-
member Mr.. Wilmore in New York.
II / remember. Miss Manners took
occasion to be provoked with him"
Then II was more than an ac-
quaintance," Prince Michael de-
clared. "One is never provoked with
an acquaintance. We won't intrude
upon that aspect, mademoiselle," he
added to Joanna. LAS you will prob
ably present him, I'd like to know
I'm afraid I can't tell you much
more than people generally know"
she replied. ut came about after l
left America with Yvonne. I ran
away, you know, because no one
knew there had any confidence in
me"
Prince Michael detected a serious
ness as Of some repressed plant and
thought it needed observance. He
l.,
his over it, oblivious to the others at
the table. Joanna brought her hand
away quietly. She went on:
Before then we had been quite
good friends. ! remember he had
some plan for a Notwithstanding
he wanted some day to build. I was
never interested much. because it
wasn't anything I could understand
or wanted to. remember. though, he
objected to It's being called a war
memorial. 1t was to be something
commemorating soldiers themselves.
All kinds OF soldiers, think--not only
our own but OF other countries as
we'll. Somehow he's made it known
about. l suppose. Now, when you
have mind to talk to him about 1t
you will know almost as much as
do"
Morbid idea, though" the prince
observed. II can't imagine anything
I'd run away from quicker than a
reminder Of that sort. Sentimental,
though. suppose they'll always be
doing things OF tho kind"
The striking feature Of his concep.
tion." Yvonne remarked. seems to be
his Offering Of a woman. a young
woman. as the feature inspiration OF
all soldiers and putting her, instead
OF the customary fighting figure, on
his highest pedestal. Others have
given tribute to the fighter himself.
He proposes monumental structure
which shall draw attention to what
soldiers fight for" OF Joanna she
asked: Isn't that the idea""
Yes" Joanna agreed. That wasn't t
his original plan. but he seems to
have adopted it. It's what has caught
on. I've read that he contends that
it is always girl that soldiers fight
for. They've always left a girl OF
| some kind at home. one like me, per.
| haps. or the one they're married to
or-at least q mother. And mothers
| and wives were girls in their day
John has explained that he doesn't
think girls change like fashions do
To soldiers who leave them to go to
hght for them they have always been
| quite the same reliable and worth
while. It's a quaint sort Of an idea.
but I suppose it must be a good one.
Yvonne had shot sudden glance
at Joanna, and kept her eyes on her.
| intently, until she finished.
II / remember correctly" she OBJ.
served. "he did not always have the
opinion that women don't change"
Joanna nodded at her. Yes, I've
been wondering IL he's altered his