Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-12
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE Carnival OF LOVE
BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT

Guy Dc =, Mappa.s..nt: 1s5o.ls9s: French
| ctreoitea With the highest creation OF this
Of Smonr HE II. tor. are little msr
Necklace" and THE Piece Of string')
The Princess Leonie was one of
those beautiful and brilliant enigmas
who have the irresistible attractions of
the Sphinx. She was young, charm.
ing and singularly lovely, and under.
stood how to enhance her charms
with becoming gowns. She was also
Intellectual, taking great interest in
art and literature. All this was evident
to- every one and there was nothing
strange about it, but the world would
have liked to know the history of that
woman and to look into the depths of
her soul, and thought 1t very strange
that 1t could not do so.
No one could read that face, which
was always beautiful, always cheerful
and always the same. No one could
read those large. dark, unfathomable
eyes, which hid their secrets under
the unvarying brilliance of majestic
calm. like a mountain lake with it's
black.looking wters on account Of the
great depth.
Most people looked upon her as a
fiirt without heart and even without
blood. They said she had never fallen
in love because she was not capable of
love and that she f1irted outrageously
merely to attract admiration. Others
asserted she had romances of which
no one knew, because she cleverly con-
cealed them.
This was the woman that Count Otto
knew and fell in love with. Even be-
fore he had been introduced to the
Princess she had exchanged ardent and
encouraging glances with him, and
when he was taken TO call on her by a
friend of hers she welcomed him with
winning smile. But after he had
paid court to her for a month he had
not made any progress-he was still
only an acquaintance.
Night after night the lovesick young
officer walked along the garden paths
of her villa in the hope that he might
see her. Then one night he seemed
to be in luck. In the silvery light of
the moon he saw a tall, girlish figure
with large braids of hair round her
head coming along the path. He stood
still. for he thought he recognized the
Princess, but as she came nearer he
saw that it was very pretty girl
though not the Princess. He learned
that this was the Princess maid and
tried to have her take letter for her
mistress-but she coyly refused.
The next morning, while accompany.
ing the Princess in company with sew.
eral other people. the Count saw his
chance. The princess dropped her
handkerchief. In returning 1t to her
the Count inserted his letter in it
and saw handkerchief and letter go
unexamined into the handbag of
the Princess. Indeed, in few hours
he received note, apparently In dis.
guised handwriting, inviting him to
meet her that same night in the
pavilion Of her villa.
The happiness of the officer knew no
bounds--he kissed the letter in his
ecstasy of joy. When he saw the
Princess In the park that afternoon he
tried to thank her with his glances,
but she seemed not to understand.
That night he was waiting an hour
before the appointed time outside the
wall at the end of the garden.
When the clock of the steeple struck
eleven he climbed the wall. He went
on tiptoe to the small whitewashed
pavilion, or summer house, where the
Princess was to meet him. He found
the door ajar, went in and felt two
soft arms thrown around his neck.
The pavilion was in total darkness
he could see nothing.
Yes, Count, 1t is /.
"You are cruel to me in public"
IT know. It il necessary for me to
conceal my love for you because Of my
social position"
When she left him she insisted that
be remain there until she had returned
to the house. He did so, but could not
resist looking out through the door
after her--watching her tall, slender
figure as she walked along the path.
She wore gown which he recognized.
having often seen 1t before. As she
disappeared into the villa she glanced
back. and he noticed she was wearing
q thick veil.
In public the Princess still main.
tanned that same polite and friendly
but cool and sometimes ironical de-
lneAugr toward him. The world u