Evening star., 1928-03-26
WORLD.FAMOUS STORIES
DORTMENE THE BEAUTIFUL
BY CATULLE MENDRs.

(Catule Mcndes 1a41 1909. vas French
! poet story writer and dramatist Probably
| his best known work is "BFlscis.'J
Dorimene was beautiful and all the
young sWains made love TO her in vain.
Yet she always appeared to be victim
of the darts of love and allowed every
one to WOO her, though she never gave
any one any real cause to believe that
he had succeeded in winning her aifec-
tions. She beckoned men to approach
and then repelled them with an armor
of cold indifference.
For 10 months LOrsay had adOred
DOrimene and had paid unsuccessful
court TO her hard heart. He was often
tempted to call her the worst kind Of a
cOquette. She had perVersity that
was positively astounding He did not
pretend to understand her Her maid,
having hair almost but not quite as
blond as her own, supplied locks of hair
to give to the suitors of DOrimene-
without damaging the coifure Of Dori-
meme in the least
Whoever Waltzes with Dorimene for
the first time always receives pleasant
shock Under the table. afterward. her
patent leather boot will convey mes
rougher boot. But that is all. She
wants to be desired and adored, but she
yields to no mans protestatiOns Of love.
To win such a woman what might a
man do? Lorsay had taxed all his
ingenuity, all his knowledge Of the game
of love. He wanted her. indeed, more
than he had ever wanted anything in
his life Yet he could not win her
Always he faced disappointment and
failure
Indeed. it was as impossible 10 resist
her as II was to win her. No man could
treat her with indifference. Yet she
spurned all advances all proffers Of
marriage. all promises Of love.
LOrsay knew how to be the young
man in love. He gaZed at the stars. and
wore forget t-me-not In his buttonhoIe.
When he spoke Dorimene gazed at the
inside of his hat. He sighed deeply.
He followed her on her walks. even to
church. He would put his hand on his
heart as he addressed her. Finally. it
seemed to him, she must recognize him.
encourage him, yield to him. He showed
his deep respect by stepping aside even
for her shadow when she passed him in
the sunlight
Things reached point where Lorsay
even wanted Dorimene to be angry with
MIN. lie wanted 10 arouse at least some
kind Of emotion In her, If she became
angry with him 1t would show. certain
ly, that he was noticed and that he
was more than an ant crawling under
her feet. But even this Dorimene the
beautiful would not condescend to grant
She was always indifferent, always
adorable. always unattainable
1t was a long and doubtful method.
LOrSay was quite willing 10 admit. But
1t was the only course open TO him,
apparently. He simply would not
could not-give up He must win
Dorimene somehow, and have her for
his own. II he could only win from
her some sign of recognition of his ex-
istence, the rest. he thought would be
easier. But would he ever get even that
much from this cool and indifferent
beauty?
Yet perhaps 1t was not so doubtful,
on reflection. Dorimene had already
shown some small signs of surprise at
his continued devotion. He likened IL
to how a drip-drip of water from a
faucet will at last get on the nerves Of
even the more stoical person. His at
tenti3ns were so constant that at last
they did begin to have some effect on