Evening star., 1926-04-25

~ real Christian name has gone
"A from my mind. He was ar
4 a employe of mine at one time
and every one called hin
Baron, just as every one calls him
Baron now. He looked like a baron
a graceful, lean. likable young person
with a foreign flavor. He spoke oi
himself at 'modernist." He dressed
as much as his means would allow in
the style which he himself would cal
"faultless." He had ability. too. Al
Is he was earning good sal
moment one set eyes upon him there
was the impression that he was the
scion of a rich house.
Appleby'S father had been a country
doCtOr-the kind that has dandruff or
the coat collar, but Baron went to the
other extreme. His hair was brushed
back from his forehead in almost pain
ful neatness. He had nice. fine spare
features which somehow appeared to
fit in with a slender but strong body
His appearance convinced young
women that here was a wonderful
dancer. But he was a Wretched
dancer. And he Scorned most young
women.
They" said he. speaking of the
average modern young woman. rep
resent futility. l can understand a man
of sound, safe women-the real home
makers. Or l can imagine a great ro-
lnance-Something with cosmopoli-
tan, worldwide flavor, adventure and
great settings. But from what l call
Just girls deliver me! And that kind
is all L can find. Possibly that's my
luck"
He was obsessed, like others, about
his luck. If he left an umbrella on a
train it was luck. bad luck, and not
merely bad luck; he called it my bad
luck" as if he had a monopoly. If he
was radiantly healthy he attributed
this to his good care of himself; if he
made fair progress as an assistant eX-
ecutive he laid tribute at the feet of
his own industry and brains; but if he
went to Cleveland to make a research
and failed to find any paiamas in his
bag after he was on the train he spoke
of my rotten luck"
AT cards" he said, II am the un-
luckiest man alive, just as 1 am at
golf. / never get a hand and never
get a good lie-even in the fairway. l
can't find any comfort except in the
hope that all this means that some day
I will be lucky in love. 1t may come
TO me suddenly"
The Countess Abelardi di Vespa did
in fact come to Baron Appleby with
comparative suddenness.
He was going to Washington. He
says that the train had just left Tren-
ton. He had been lolling back in the
green drawing room car seat. He had
yawned and taken out his handsome
gold Watch--a watch of distinction. All
Of Baron's appointments are modern.
y-distinguished. Then, he says.
he felt eyes upon him."
y X
THE eyes were large. brown and
limpid. They belonged to a gor-
geous person. The eyes were smiling
smiling inscrutably, like Mona Lisa.
The smile moved down from the big
brown eyes, family crinkled a long
characterful nose and lit upon the full
lips. These lips had been tinted in
that peculiar cerise which is more
often seen abroad. 1t made Baron
think of Ciros of Deauville, of Monte
Carlo. And then there was that in
explicable something about her clothes,
that subtle Continental smartnesS.
Baron knew that he should jump up
and go to this friendly, expressive
stranger, but, hesitating. he was lost.
The moment to act spontaneously
passes, and then to act appears like
an awkward advance made after eau
tiouS delberation.
Young Appleby did not turn around
again for 10 minutes.
Other passengers were leaving for
luncheon in the dining car. They
lurched by. The car was almost empty.
He believed he had heard a little sob.
So great was his sympathy that a
gulp rose in his own throat as he
turned around.
can | do-do- Shall I-?" STAN
mered Baron.
"Ah no." she replied. You moost
forgeeve me. 1t is the foolishnes-s-s.
"If L could do anything"
"Ah, my dear stranger-you are
sooch a kind heart of people. But we
shall sav nothing more. Life is vera
vera happy. 1t is nothing to fear-ah.
unless one is so alone in theese great
wonderful your land"
You have not been long in
American
She smiled Three weeks. I am a
Russian" She rolled the r so that it
was like the trill of bird among ap
pie blossoms. "A Russian. All we
poor Russans-emigres. Ah-ha.
Nevair mind. am married to an
Italian
Married. exclaimed Appleby.
Feet also ISIS no more" She
shrugged her shoulders. "He iss
drowned cen the Bosporus-almost i'm
mediate, So,''
She did not seem to care. He was
glad that the wound had been SO
quickly healed.
Are you having - er - luncheon?'
asked Baron.
''I feel like to talk weeth you" she
said with her foreign directness and
simplicity "If we have or have not
something to eat eet iss all same to
me- Watt
She held up finger as if to bid all
the world to stop its affairs while she
searched through her scarlet leather
purse.
"Har' she said at last. Il have zem
now My carte. Zis. E.et iss myself!'
He took the card. He looked. There
was the engraved coronet-"Countess
Olga Abelardi di Vesta."
"Oh. yes" he exclaimed as If he had
heard the name a thousand times be-
fore. "My-er-my name is Appleby.
l am from New Yok."
Feet iss Il place where everybody
iss so reech."
I'm not rich" said he. MY family
left me almost nothing. l am only
we'll
CITE