Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-11

sent me TO your compa Mon. plea se?''
Stephanie for moment was silent.
IT was probable that Fedora Fayaldi
was the only woman in the world
from whom she would have suffered
this intrusion. As it was, she simu-
lated resignation.
'Harcra !" she Confided. this is
one of my dearest friends although
sometimes. as at this moment. a nui-
sance. Sir llargrave Wendever-the
Comtesse Fayaidi."
Hargrave bent over the offered
fand-offered with graceful little
droop of the fingers for his lips.
Madame la COmtesse arrived only
this evening, I am told" he said.
only this evening" she replied.
You will talk to me for a little while?
l have something to say"
Stephanie turned resretfully away.
There were other of her guests who
. had the right to expect her notice.
Soon | shall return" she said. II
leave YOU together With all confidence.
Fedora-my dearest friend, bythe-by
loves only the wild spirits of her
mountains. and YOU. dear man"
And what of me-" he asked, as
she hesitated slightly.
They say that Fedora has second
sight" Stephanie replied. she may
myself"
She left them alone. There was no
trace of smile upon the Comtesse's
face as she accepted the chair which
Hargrave placed for her. She was
very serious, very much in earnest.
''Monsieur does not believe in sec
ond sight" she ventured.
There is nothing in the world
which dishelieve." he answered, "and
very little which l believe"
1T is a speech which has the max.
ings of An epigram. but it is not phi
losophy." she observed. Perhaps
shall make YOU believe. Who knows"
In what, MADAME"
In what | tell YOU
iiargra We. matter of fact almost
to the point of materialism. was con
scious of q sudden disturbance. Her
eyes were like great pools of light
although much of their expression
had gone. Her fingers We're resting
upon his wrist.
Nov and then in life" she con-
tinued, ''one meets some one like YOU
some one whose knowledge of their
own fate Is reflected in their face.
watched You at dinner time. could
not eat. l WAS aching all the time
u reach YOU"
Il never realized that | was an
object of so much interest" he re-
marked. little startled.
1T is not that" she explained
ca Imiy. You have the hidden things
in your face which 50 few Of us under
stand. for one. Test me. You will
he surprised You do not know what
10 ask? Then listen. I arrived in
Monte Carlo this afternoon. have
never heard Of YOU before | know
nothing whatever about YOU. You
have Just esca ped from death. The
shadow Of death is around YOU all the
time"
II have just escaped" he admitted,
with slight start. from what
might have been very serious acct
dent"
1t might have been death" she
persisted. And it is not yet fin
ished. Within As hours death will
threaten YOU again"
You are rather alarming" he
observed. can YOU tell me what
1--we done To deserve these unwelcome
"entiOns?'
That Is naturally outside my
province she answered II find
that YOU have an enemy ranged
against you in the ordinary affairs
of life who tests Your courage and
your fortune. SO far YOU have es-
caped. but it is not that which inter
ests me. NJ Sir Hargrave, do
y
edCe-the knowledge of DEATH"
lie looked at her fXedly.
why do You ask that question:"
II am foolish that | ask it," she
admitted. There is no necessity.
sSl what | already know. You walk
through life by day. YOU lie in your
he'd by night. With the ghost of death
10y your side"
"Comtesse." he said uneasily, Il
r~Ia ha -h,I
perceptions.
Her eyes We're set in a dreamy
stare. She looked not at him but
through him. Her tone had become
monotonous, She was like one who
reads from a written page
There ii is in your brain and your
heart" she went on. and there is
another weakness a new thing To you
not yet come to flower Ii Is like the
wonderful and silent Joy of my for
ests 1t is like the vision of an oasis
in the SANDY wastes OF desert life
Will you reach it. | wonder? VIII
YOU pull down the pine bouGhs of my
trees and revel in their perfume?
Will you drink from those springs in
the cool places or shall YOU miss the
wonders YOU are finding 50 late in
Nfe?"
7 Hargrave moved restlessly in his
q Ir, Even his composure had gone.
Trvery nerve In his body was tense.
I< heart was throbbing.