Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-12

the party of the night before,
Malakoff explained his absence by
| telling them that while in London he
| lived almost the life Of recluse ex.
| cept for a little occasional intercourse
with one ,or two English musicians.
Before the production of new
work" he confided, as they made their
| way to the dining room, II. as a rule,
shut myself up for a fortnight. / am
| afraid of losing the inner sense of
what I must help my musicians to in.
| terpret. 1t is extraordinary how many
| difficulties n work of ones own com.
| position presents IL suddenly confront.
ed with it when ones mind has been
travelling in other directions"
| 81 know a modest authoress." the
Princess remarked. as she waved them
| to their places at the table, "who often
| forgets her own plots
| "Your art, dear Princess" Malakoff
! observed. nevertheless lives nearer to
YOU than mine. ! mean that you can
| send your mind more easily into the
Olaces where your ideas are born.
Sometimes my music escapes me, and
] think that 1t must travel into in.
, finity, for there are phrases which
have come to me sometimes in the
night have vanished with the dawn
| and never reappeared. You are in.
terested in music, Miss Brown"
| Il am ashamed to say" Miss Brown
confessed, that ! am utterly and en-.
| tirely ignorant of it."
| 1T is a state which has its advan.
tases," he declared. talking all the
time, but making also astonishing in
roads upon the first course of his
luncheon. THE bane of the musical
world is the person with technical
knowledge and no appreciation-nOne
of the finer sense of appreciation, !
mean. 1t Is torture to talk with such
| a person. They speak with the words
of understanding and with a closed
soul. My dear Princess, what cavi
| are
The Princess made a sign, and his
| plate was refilled.
| In the regrettable absence OF
vodka" he said. with a reproachful
| glance at his hostess, Il clamor for a
glass of kummel."
The liqueur was duly presented, and
he drained the contents of large
| glass. From then onward the chief
! interest which Miss Brown had in the
| luncheon was in watching her neigh
| boris gastronomic exploits. He was
frankly, almost childishly, aware OF
/ them.
| And now" he announced, turning
to Miss Brown abruptly. when the cot
| fee had been served and the servants
| had left the room, Il will come to the
object of this little meeting. I dc
not accept invitations to lunch, as the
Princess knows very well. came here
to meet you"
Me-" Miss Brown repeated. with q
| sinking heart.
4 m taE
to disclose himself. II ! had reached
here before the death of my friend
Dessiter. he would, know. have made
me his literary executor. We had the
| same tastes; we detested the same in
| stitutions. He had confidence in my
| judgment. He realized that sometimes
he was too impetuous: that he would
put things down on paper which must
never find their way into print. HI
disclosed an abuse. let us say. People
sometimes doubted his facts becaus.
of his adjectives.'
a very good line" the Princes:
murmured. May ! use it,
Malakoff ignored her. lie was en-
crossed in what he was saying. HI:
eyes were fixed upon Miss Brown: III.
little wrinkles in his face seemed {.
have become deeper. He was nervous
1
derful white hands, with their long
bony fingers.
Young lady" he said II gather
that my friend Dessiter died so unex
pectedly that he had not time TO sent
for me or any of his friends. Yol
| yourself know how suddenly things
| were over"
His eyes seemed TO be boring thei.
way into the back Of Miss Brown:
! head. Miss Brown was listening at
tentively. With a puzzled frown upor
her forehead.
Well" he concluded. this is wha'
] wish 10 ask you. You have b,
| chance in your possession Dessiter',
last messages to the worid-the result
| of his last exploit and explorations
| What are your instructions from him
/ What are you to do with them?"
May I. before answer. ask yot
something" Miss Brown begged.
He waved his hand in assent, an,
| she continued.
How did you know that had thes'
| notes in my possession"
From Dessiter's servant, Mergen
was the prompt reply. Merger is o
no consequence. Already. / believe h,
| has taken another position. What
am suggesting TO you. Miss Brown
il that you tell me what instructions
you have with regard to your notes.
II am sorry" Miss Brown replied
In tone az coloriess as her person
| ality when she wished IL TO seem so
but j cannot answer your question
AS n matter OF fact, i have not We
| received my final instructions"
Not tell me-" Maiakoff exclaimed
with ii fash az the eyes. But II Il