Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-24

'4r. .-lfL- az r..5 ,..FInu.l- ,rft.
lay down along the dark ter
races .a.' .ls....
Il heavenly gems. Below, the
twilight waters OF the pay
made a mysterious :foor o. mdu, t md
silver sheen, decked by the thin dark
lines Of graceful masts. Music driiled
up, fine, tiligree Strings o. it, thinking
against each other.
On d Swallowed balcony two women
looked down upon the scene with
vastly different emotions. To one il
was old, verltable part of her lie, a
previous part, redolent OF romance,
embalmed with memories. 10 the
other it was fairyland complete, since
she viewed IL with the eyes or youth
starved youth at that.
Her hands We're ClaSped beneath her
chin and her large dark eyes roNed
from one RIM of .hv world 20 the Other.
drinking il beauty. She was young,
and very lovely with the quick boom
ing grace of LATIN blood. There was
an eagerneSS about her that sat
strangely with the poised ilauteur o.
her earring, an odd jumtling o. I'M
preSsionS. Her raiment was rich TO
.he point of eXtravagan though sub
dued by excellent taste. Her little
dark head was dressed with care for
every shining wave: there were jewels
on her fingers and in her ears. She
was exquisite.
Her companion was scarcely less SO,
though In a different way. She was
no longer young, as one reckons youth,
for the oval of her pale face had lost
something of it's once incompatible
contour. In the dark hair dressed me-
ticulously back from her brow there
showed trace of silver. Where the
beauty of the Italian night set throb-
bling in the girl tide of nameless
emotions SO that little pulse beat in
her throat, this woman was Gained
by 1t, a trifle saddened. That she had
lived, one knew by every line OF her
face, by the quiet grace of her hands
folded in her lap, by the stiffness that
hung upon her like a garment of in
vincible pride.
'Oh, Sohnyar' breathed the girl
rapturously. the Heaven of which
Sister Veronica is always telling can
be no more wonderful than this. And
we have walked amid it-been free TO
walk! We shall walk again tonight
] am still stupid with joy-and graft
tude." She turned impulsively and
laid her fingers for a moment on the
folded hands. Without you it could
never have been-and l should have
passed from the dead dizziness of my
life to the horror that awaits me with
never taste of what life can mean
with never glimpse of the wonder of
freedom! l may suffer the more by
contrast, butt shall never cease to
be thankful for it,
For moment the glowing beauty
of the shadowy face was eclipsed, as
If a hand had passed across it; the
exquisite head dropped to the bal
cony'S rail. The woman claSped the
warm young fingers. Her eyes burned
upon the bowed head with infinite pity.
infinite love
Lift up" she said gently. dear
heart, we have tonight-and perhaps
several nights. There will he a moon
later-and the sound of water on a
boats white forefoot-"
The heavy silken curtains at the
back OF the balcony stirred. parted.
''Mesdames," said an elderly maid.
the gentlemen have come"
Thank YOU Morvan," said the
woman, rising.
The girl sprang up, alert upon the
instant, her eager face flushed and
whispered, Il feel as if should die ii
Te delay moment
A LITTLE later they walked to-
gether down the broad shallow
stairs which gave to the lower part of
the house. Though the warmth of the
night was sweet and heavy. both
women were SO muff1ed by wraps that
there was little by which they could
be distinguished.
Two men came forward from among
tho palms and flowers of the foyer