Evening star., 1926-03-28

A
n with sable slid from its hanger
N as she was pulling aside other
\ garments and she pounced on
it as the very thing. 1t slipped
over her head by one fur-edged open
ing. and she Snatched from a drawer
a girdle of Persian silver and hooked
it into place.
She was now ready and had started
TO the door when she checked in dis
may Her hair. She had not ttdied
her hair. and it took Donovan full
20 minutes to brush and comb II, then
20 minutes more for its arrangement.
She hurried back to her mirror. TAX
ing UP hand glass, she surveyed her
head from all points. The great
lengths were still coiled around and
around it, as she had worn them the
evening before, but they looked raw
eled and unkempt.
She laid down the hand glass, and,
pulling open another drawer, searched
among her headdresSeS for one that
would not be out of place in the after
noon and vet cover her diSheveled
hair. y network cap of small gold
beads and seed pearls came TO hand.
Hilary had given it to her only the
other day. "A gift from the Arabian
Nights" he had called it.
She pulled it nervously into place.
over each ear were round gold orna.
mentS like little plaques with fringes
of the seed pearls. She nearly broke
one of these in her haste and agita-
ton. When the cap was in place she
looked at herself again in the hand
glass. Yes, it wasn't bad. The little
pearl fringes over her ears and fore
head softened her face and made 1t
look less pinched.
She flew to the door and, opening
it slightly, stood listening. No one
was about. Donovan evidently thought
that she was still asleep. She closed
the door without noise and stole out
toward the staircase.
AS she went she heard some one
cough in her sitting room, which was
next her bedroom. 1t was Donovan,
on the watch for her awakening. She
tiptoed now, selfishly glad of her
nurses deafness, which had prevented
her from hearing the water running
for the bath.
Still on tiptoe, she went down the
stairs and to the library door. Here
she listened again. Yes, he was there
She could distinguish the rustic of
papers and the sliding scrape of a
heavy volume drawn forward for ref
erence. She opened the door with
quick movement and entered closing
1t behind her and standing still near it.
Hilary looked up, annoyed as the
latch clicked. then jumped to his feet,
his expression changing. When he
saw that tall black figure and the
little white, triangular face that
topped it he felt quite unnerved ny
compassion.
Then he summoned a cheerful voice
and air.
why, Celia, this is a good sur.
prise! But ought you to be up after
such chill and your fainting fit of
last night?"
He and Donovan had agreed to tell
her that she had tainted.
Celia stood near the door as if spell
bound. He went to her and took her
hand in both his.
You are so pale and your hand is
like ice" he said. My dear, I'm sure
you oughtn't TO be, up"
She had fastened her gaze on their
linked hands. In a very low voice
she said:
You will tell me the truth. Was
. F.. drunk last night?"
My dear girl" protested Hilary,
laughing. What word to use and
in connection with glass or two of
very light champagne! You fanted.
as I've told you. Poor Donovan and
were scared out of our wits"
Il never tainted before in my life,"
said Celia, still with her eyes on the
hand that still held hers. And . d.
I never drank champagne before,
either"
Come sit by the fire." said Hilary,
drawing her with him. II won't talk
of anything with you till you're quite
warm again"
He settled her in a low chair and
drew up another beside It,
Now, my little Moenad," he said.
smiling, I'VE can discuss the details
of your supposed frenzy. if you in
sist'
There it was again, That kindly
mockery. Little Moenad" He
didn't take her seriously. He couldn't.
He never would.
Something blurred her eyes. 1t