Evening star., 1926-01-17

self a woman than to remember that
one belongs 10 a royal family Of the
past
Not only a woman. but a beauti-
ful woman he murmured.
She looked at him with smile. The
light in her violet eyes was kind in
deed.
You have gifts" she whispered
You are one of the few men in the
world who could make a speech like
that without banality. After all, l do
not wonder the child was so happy
You must not turn her head, though.
They, too, have hearts"
The child, as YOU call her. he
said, 'is "a years old.
That makes it more dangerous" "
the princess observed. Il think |
shall have to talk to You seriously
about one or two things. HarGraVe.
See, she is dancing now with Lord Ed
ward
They had resumed their places. The
Comtesse Fayaldi claimed HargraVe's s
attention.
II have been eager for your re-
1urn," she confessed. 4 must know
who she is, this girl whom you
brought to the table and who is dane
ing now with Lord Edward"
"A protegee of mine. comtesse'
Hargrave replied. she is staying at
1llN VITA Will llti III Olll't- iIC - "
having rather badly tonight, so l
brought her over here
You have made her very happy,
the Comtesse observed.
1T appears to be Sir HarSrave's S
mission in life" the princess remarked,
ito make people happy. Does one
approve, I wonder? 1t is a capacity
which has its dangerous side.
You had better talk to GOrse about
I,.r JIaYgrg.gI-a S,rIC~CeGTpI 81 nfl-
rectly he is responsible for the pres
ence of those two young people here.
There was Il pause for some eXhIb1-
ton dancing in which Mile. Zelie took
part Robert had returned to his de-
serted table, and becoming aware of
Niolet's absence he at once crossed
the room. The latter rose TO her feet
at his approach, but a a gesture from
1iargraVc she resumed her place
You have lost Your sister for the
evening. Martin" Hargrave an
nounced calmly II have invited her
To Join my party. You need not dis
turb yourself on her account. | will
see that she reaches the villa safely.
The young man felt the rebuke and
was conscious, too, of the fact that
Il was we'll deserved. He heSitated
for a single moment. as though hop
ing to be asked to sit down, but Har-
grave had already turned to address a
remark to another of his guests. A
little aWkwardly, he retreated TO his
table The comtesse watched him
thoughtfully. Presently she touched
her host upon the arm.
Did | understand you to say the
Young man was Miss Martin
brother"
That is So
Il have gifts-that you know" the
comtesse said calmly. u have told
YOU things about Yourself which no
other person could have told you. |
will tell you this, also, because it is
a thing which l have the power to
divine There is no relationship what
ever between those two young peo-
pie"
Hargrave looked across at Violet.
She had just returned from dancing
and sat between Lord Edward and
Gorse-already declared rivals-the
picture of happiness and gayety.
With your powers of divination,
comtesse,' Hargrave asked, does that
appear to you to be the face OF de
ceitful young woman?
The comteSSe shook her head.
1T is without doubt, dear host she
admitted, the face Of a young woman
who means we'll in the world. But
then you must remember that even
the best of our sex is allowed one lie
in her lifetime"
Later in the evening there was a
sudden disturbance at the farther end
of the room. Violet suddenly broke
off her eager conversation with Gorse,
rose to her feet, and leaned over Har-
graves chair with a look of trouble
in her face.
"Sir Hargrave," she whispered, II
ahpI,t Robert think
he has had too much to drink. What
are they doing down there"
IIargrave looked across the room
Robert, who had been standing Tor
the last few minutes among some
empty tables in the background near
The bar had now approached the
table where @/other man had seated
himself win Mademoiseile Zelie, and