Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
Illustrated by Hugh HmtC;:.

The visits of the little Antoinette, named for
his mothe", were the only periods In the "a
hours when the DUO knew few moments OF
eXGu site happiness hrs. NJ ntroSe had ex-
planned earnestly to frauloin that she feared the
depressing effect Cf tie poor gentleman's con-
citizen upon the childs sensitive mind. 1t would
be well. she felt, to make the visits very brief.
And what your plans for today, my dear
Raoui?" she new inquired
My plans fer today. madame" said the
young man, managing to speak levelly still.
"ae more less like those of yesterday-and
tomorrow
She smiled deprecatingly mo guests? It.
seems rather a pity, with your rare social gift,
TO isolate yourself so completely"
There was faint Gallo lifting Of one I'M
shoulder. Il rather to have lost
my taste for guests. The fellows from the
embassy drop in sometimes and smoke ciga-
lette. They very good, but that
they do not find it-amusiEg"
Fancy" Mrs. Montrose shook her head
Now l. dear boy. always find you amusing"
Il am sure of that, madame" he replied,
meeting her sharp gaze.
Mrs Montrose had been great beauty in
her youth. Raoul. looking at his mother-in-
law, ccntraSted her as he often did. with his
own mother. The two ladies had, he believed
about the same yea S. but the little old duchesse
had gone gayly down the road to meet old
ladyhood, with the result that it had linked
arms with her and footed 1t merrily back again.
His mother was pink and white and gray and
she wore shabby old silk dresses and a little
high. round stomach without shame, while
Mrs. McntroSe gave an effect of henna and ivory
and magenta, and her rigidly armored body
never curved nor Ssgged but her face looked
tired for all its tinting and pummeling and
bracing.
THE Duchesse de la Tour had Sid those ages
ago srchly and tendery: you must bring
home q b ide TO the old che eau my dear
Raoul. Aud she must be good and beautiful
and rich! These three things in the order
which have named And she will restore for
us the dear old home and we will love her
deeply and be very proud Of her and presently
there will be grandchildren at my knee and
glad noises in the old place again!"
Dorothy MontroSe had lacked the second
qualification, but he had been sure of the other
two She was aSsuredly rich. that was obVi-
Gus; and. OF course, she good. He had
been really very quaint about it. He would
marry the rich and good American girl and
bring her home to the chateau, and he and his
mother would love her warmly and gratefully
and presently there would be repairs on the
old house, and Improvements the farm, and
children at the knee Of the old ducheSse.
But the facts had been disturbingy differ
ent. His wife was good only in the rubber
stamp meaning of the word; she had lean and
tempered, suspicious rude, jealous; and found
life in rural France unendurably dull. She
made fun of the old house and the old servants
and her husband met it with sunny good nature
but when she began to make fun of the
duchesse, he consented suddenly to return to
America.
And now the old duchesse tended her flowers
and wept little into pots of mignonette and
waited for the American mail, and her son
made slow and difficult trips from bed to chair:
and Dorothy Duchess de Ia Tour, ate up her
thrills-it was tap-dancing at the moment-and
managed never to be at home; and the little
Antoinette trudged out for walks with her
frauein.
Mrs. Montrose, her gmlet gaze upon her SON
in laws face, saw by its swift lighting that his
child was at the door. The little Antonette
was an arrestingly lovely creature. and she
adored her father. The grandmother, watch
ing reflected that it was a long time since she
had happened to observe them together and
she had forgotten, If indeed she had ever fully
realized what the little daughter meant to the
imprisoned due. Sitting silent during the childs
CALL she watched them closely and saw that
Raoul, while the child was in the ROOM took on
and radated such a quality Of JOY that he
looked suddenly well and strong and vital again.
She saw now how she could punish him with
severity beyond her most vehement imaginngs.
1t was therefore . cruel shock to her when