Evening star., 1928-12-16

!
| was doing She told him Mrs. Ogden
had class of little girls whose mothers
wanted them to learn French, and that
she, Yvonne, was to teach it every after
noon for charity. He was quite willing,
Suspecting nothing of her real intent.
! So it was that each afternoon at 2, Mrs.
| Ogden's limousine drew up before the
Ross house, Yvonne entered it and was
| whiSked away to her tutors. Promptly
at 5 she was back, returning from the
new world to the old.
The first thing, of course, was for
! Yvonne to learn to speak and read
/ English. She pursued the lessons with
! a sort of passion. Later when she had
mastered the first lessons. she carried
books home with her. hiding them il
the folds of her full skirt and putting
| them under the mattress of her bed
until such time in the evening as she
| might be able to go to her room to
study. She did not neglect her music,
| but she decided on only one lesson a
having Richards comfort must not
suffer.
Fortunately Yvonne was young and
| strong Her peasant constitution stood
her in good stead. Often she was up
4,
| chores done, baking and broiling for
| Richards breakfast. After that came
! the daily trip to market in her little
car. Then an hour of practicing before
| time to prepare the lunch tray which
| she carried daily to Richard in his work
room. Lunch over, another hour at the
piano, and then the exciting Journey to
| new studies.
Mrs. Ogden wisely left Yvonne to her
| teacher young English girl, for the
| first few weeks. After that she spent
some time each week, making Yvonne
| talk English with her and giving her
| lessons in department Yvonne had all
| the natural instincts of good breeding.
| She was almost overeager to learn, and
at this time took all her efforts with
great seriousness. There were times
| when she caught her breath sharply IN
fear of Richards discovering her ou-
| plicity.
But will cast myself on his good
ness" she thought. Il will tell him
only did it to make myself worthy OF
| his love. And he will forgive me-"
She had no desire beyond fitting her
self to compete with Anne Lovelace,
when the time came Nor did she doubt
| the time would come. Mrs. Ogden
| skillfully fostered the idea, and Yvonne's
| jealously grew into quite a definite
thing.
One day a note came to Richard In
feminine handwriting. Yvonne read
| the name in the upper corner, Anne
I,ovelace. She burned the letter and
| said nothing to Richard, nor did she
1 feel any sense of guilt when he asked
her several days later if she had seen
a note addressed to him in the mail.
1t was in the evening after dinner.
Richard had been called to the tele-
| phone. Coming back into the nVlng
room. he said: "Mamemoiselle Love-
lace was telephoning to ask us TO come
| there for dinner. Said she had written
asking us and wondered Why we hadn't
answered"
"The note was only addressed to you"
Yyonne thought to herself. Aloud she
said: "But saw no note, Ricnaro. !
! always put the morning mall on your
lunch tray and in the evening IL waits
for YOU at your place at the table. ;,
aWen it doesn't matter" Richard
said vawning. 1--WE wouldn't have gone
anyway. Maybe Anne forgot to nave II
Yvonne's heart leaped first for jov:
| he did not wish then to see THIS anne
Ioyelace. Then it dropped. he coulo
| not 90 and take her because ne was
ashamed of her. The little lncloenC
dissolved the last lingering dounI III
| Yvonne's mind about the rlgntneSS Vi
her course of conduct. 49,. :.
In due time Richard would tire OF
| living always alone. He would want
to 90 out in society. And she woulo
he ready to go with him. She often
dreamed of the day when she could tell
him. when they could begin 10 ne nappy
| together as other married men were
happy with their wives.
4t the end of three months Yvonne
had finished her first and second read
! ers She had a fairly large store oi
Enplish words which she could pro,
no,Ince correctly. She had progressed
| far enough with her music SO tnat sne
could sit and play for Richard IN INC
evenings, simple things which ne saio
he liked. His enjoyment OF ner muslS 1S
gave her confidence, too, that he Wouio
,,ot he too hard with her over her
having learned other things.
The strain of the work she was DONG
hepan TO show in her face. Mrs. Ogoen
swooped down on her and demanoeo
that she take a few days rest from hei
lessons and see some shows.
"The Denishawn dancers are giving a
recital this afternoon" she SAID 10
Yvonne one day. 'I have tickets. Let
us 90 It lust happens that you maven =.
seen any fine dancing. think you Will
love it.. ,,os
Yvonne consented, and presently was was
seated beside Mrs Ogden in large nan
with stage heavily curtalneo IN pua
nile velvet facing them. Yvonne Watcheo
fascinated while the orchestra tuned
IN She listened to the preliminary
music with pleasure. AS the curtains
narted she had no idea that crucial
moment in her life was approaching
She anticipated merely another pleas
ant afternoons entertainment.
The stage was dim. Lights grew
stronger and Yvonne saw figures, lightly
clad, living on the stage in poses OF
negligent grace. The music grew louder.
the lights brighter, the figures SWayeo
to their feet The dance began.
All her life Yvonne was to remem-
ber that first number. She hardly
breathe6. She clasped her hands to-
gether in her lap until the knuckles
hurt. She dared not move for fear OF
missing one single lovely moment OF the
dance When it had ended she did not
ioin in the applause. She was stirred
to the depths of her being.
When Mrs. Ogden asked her If she
liked it. she gave brief nod OF her
head and did not speak. The program
went on. Excitement took the place OF
wonder in Yvonne's mind. 1t was as
though she had taken strong drink for
the first time. At the end of the pro-
gram she leaned toward Mrs. Ogden
her eyes cleaning.
Tell me-is there place where they
teach one to dance-dance like those
people we just saw?"
Mrs Ogden nodded, gathering her
wraps together. "Of course, dear, plenty
of them, would you like some lessons?'
Then she turned and saw Yvonne's
face. All color had left it. Only the
eyes, dilated and burning, showed hel
excitement.
st must learn" she cried. "It is what
have wanted all my life. 1t is al
, beauty cannot wait-I must dance.
| Mrs Ogden WAS startled There was