Evening star., 1925-10-27
Continued from Yesterdays starr

Continued from Yesterdays starr
Yes" laughed Waterman, we're
Oh our way, but we don't know where
We're going"
The debutante giggIed Presumably
she did other things at times, but she
did nothing else this evening. She
EiGGled to such Good effect that Water
man. who sat upon her left, acquired
the idea thar he was 4 humoriSt and
devoted him self to her exclusively. To
The debuta.te it appeared to be
hilarious evening. She appeared to
Icgard butterfly" as Il comedy. She
was particularly amused by the epi-
Sude of the heroine's suicide.
What's is the matter with that
child?" inquired Doris OF John Raw
ley. us she hystericaI?"
NO" said Rawley, she's cynical.
shes a fapper and she's flapping."
Good heaven" said Doris. was I
like that n her age"
Couldn't say" said Iawley. Il
never heard YOU flap.
Now Butterfly" was one of Doris
favorite operas, but for the first time
in her hte she did noj enjoy it. She
could not fix her mind upon it. She
was thinking, as she had often thought
of late of jim STANLEY. Suddenly it
occurred to her that she absolutely.
positively. and wholly disbeheVed
every single word Of the story that
Nina Morgan had told her. She sat
I'D a little StraiShter in her chair, as
the realization swept over her. 1t was
rs, II she had risen suddenly, instan-
taneously recovered from a long and
serious illness. 1t was amazing. There
vas no sense in it-yet there it was.
There was no explaining it. There
was no more reason now, at this in
stant, in the Metropolitan Opera
House. with the death CRY OF the un-
fortunate Butterfly ringing in her
ours. for disbelieving Nina Morgan 5
story. than there had been IL months
ago when she first heard it-yet dis
believe 1t she did, utterly.
She spent the rest of the evening as
i'll a daze. Puccini's tragic melodies
s1lrged over her head in vain. Before
The final curtain she pleaded Il head
ache. arose, and departed. She left
Waterman with her guests, waving
aside his inSistence upon accompany.
ing her home. She wanted to be
alone.
Yet She had not finished uniress-
ing when he arrived. Waterman ap-
feared to he in an affecuonate mood.
Infection with him WAS q sporadic
hing. 1t came in waves. Apparenl-
lv there was a stormy sea tonight,
hur Doris checked him with i word
I'm tired" she said. and my heau
aches | want to sleep.
Having cEuected to go on from the
opera TO a dance. she had told her maid
not to sit up for her. She would get
herself to bed without assistance. but
HE faithful FIctty had heard that sort
uf thing before and knew that plans
we're sometimes changed. At all
events she had heard Doris come IN.
had hastily dressed, and now came
tapping at her chamber door only 10
lie dismissed.
Go to bed at once" said Doris.
You ought TO have been asleep long
ago.
We'll" was the complaining Heply.
Il heard you come in, Miss Dorls. ana
I thought-
Don't think-zo away and sleep.
I'm nearIy ready for bed this minute"
Very well. Miss Doris" returned
the maid, and her voice was tuii OF
grievance Even her recedins foot
steps had a rebellious sound.
AS Doris unclasped the diamond
necklace and laid it upon her dress
ing table She cast a disapproVlnS eye
upon it. There was something mttleV-
client about the glowing jewels. she
had never liked diamonds To her
stony glare upon the beholder. Their
very blazing brillance made her un-
easy. Il was as if some coslnlc eye
gifted with all the penetration OF the
N.ray, were piercing cruelty through
hel vcrv soul. And while Doris had no
r~f1iIty secrets, there was something
about this sense Of utter penetration
that annoyed her deeply. It was as II
her sense of reserve had been violated
bv these inanimate stones. lhuS She
hrooded for moment as she gazed
lpon the necklace. HIM, she muir
ulurcd, what fool | am. They're
roaily very beautiful.
She fell asleep thinking ct Nina.
Morgan That girl--why had that girl
told her that terrible lie: y lie 1t
surely was-ehe knew il. How? Never
,rind-it was a lic--it must have been.
She knew it. Thus Sh" punSU"d the
,.ircie Of h2r thought, arriving always
III tine sam conclusion until peace
came TO her mind, and her bosom be
can to rise and fall almost imper-
ceptibly, steadily. gently, with the ease
and grace Of youth and health.
Through the drawn curtains of the
chamber came the faintest gleam from
a distant street lamp. One of its
vagrant rays fell dfmly upon the
jewels that lay upon the dressing
table. There they slept in the not
quite total darkness, family cleaning,
like pool Of molten silver at the bot.
tom Of a Well, under the starlight.