Evening star., 1925-05-25
The Dancer of Paris
BY MICHAEL ARLEN.
BY MICHAEL ARLEN.
Copyright. 1925. by the Ridyway Co.

Anson described the very dark hole.
And in due time, when he had
traced the flash that had lit il back
to Consuelo Cox he, a notably fear
less young man in war and peace,
straiGhtway put the facts OF the
matter before her in some such way
as this:
by Cad. Consuelo, you're a good
girl. upon my word. That's exactly
what you are, child, and don't mind
saying II to your face
You'd better not say it behind my
back, Noel Anson. else youH ruin my
reputation"
But young Arson muttered dog;
Sedly on. in a manly way:
BY Cad you're a good girl. Con
sueio"'
"Oh, shucks"' cried the golden
American. But when Noel Anson
looked into her eyes, which were as
violet as the sea in a Southern sun
set, he saw with wonder that the
depths of her eyes were marvellous
with the childish things that are
called tears.
And she laughed at him with tight,
mocking lips, in way she had:
And why. Noel Arson. and why
shouldn't 1 be good IL l feel that
way? Surely, boy, being goods an
indoor sport like another and haven't
l contracted with the higher authori.
ties for to try them all, sans plague
ct sans peur?"
Then marry me. ,ConSuelo," cried
the boy, with flushed face, eager eyes.
Say, Noel AnSon, is this a weekly
habit of yours, proposing matrimonial
entanglements to poor homeless Amer
lean girls who are so blinded by the
elegant cut of your clothes that they
might accept you?"
"Consuelo, my God. look here"
The two don't go together, boy.
Now, don't go exciting yourself. I'm
not going to accept you"
Il wish you would" sulklly NUT
tered young Anson. he who never
made bet and won and never lost
without Iauch--eXcept now, when he
was not laughing at all.
And suddenly he took her wrist
they We're driving in the Bois, in Con
suelos car-and he looked at her des-
perately with eyes that tried not to
plead overmuch, for it is not manly
To seem to plead overmuch.
"Consuelo Cox, will you marry me-"
81 will not, Noel Anson. And if
that isn't the seventh time you've
asked me that same question. and
versatility whatsoever, And in broad
daylight. too. Run, Noel boy, run.
Else / might so for to accept you.
and how much would your old dad
back home like that. and he with
crutch in one hand and a packet of
Grape Nuts in the other and coronet
on his head, just where the hard and
soft tennis courts join, all ready TO
die and leave his son an adequate
barony?'
And she laughed at him with tight,
mocking lips. in a way she had which
made some men say that they would
rather be miserable with Consuelo Cox
than happy with any one else: but
then, to be sure, some men will say
anything.
You're in love with some ghastly
rtlan-by Cad. that's what ii is NUT
tered Noel Anson.
Say, can l have my wrist back
when you're through with same?"
asked Consuelo, very politely.
"Grudges me even her wrist he
muttered, but held on grimly enough.
You are in love with some one else.
aren't you. Consuelo?"
And there was silence awhile in the
swift car. a silence of violet eyes that
stared bemused. into the passing sun
lit grasses OF the Bois. silence of
grim, blue, boyish hungry eyes.
Go on. tell chap. Consuelo, I'd
like to congratulate him. BY Cad, L
would"
And the violet eyes, so large and
thoughtful. spilled themselves over his
brooding face.
You're a good boy, Noel Anson.
No, 1 am not in love-not with any
one-not with any one! Hear me,
boy? 1 am not in love. Those are my
exact words, Noel Anson. l have been
once. But not again, not on your
life-no, sir,'' And she could make
sudden laugh flood her eyes like sun
light in a crypt. for the confusion of
men, and young men in particular.
But, even so. young Arson later swore