Evening star., 1932-12-21
INSTALLMENT X.

L 4 QOWn1all, naQ drawn up w
the curb in front of FouquetS,
in accordance with his promise. Un-
abashed by the smiles his ridiculous old
car excited. he was eager only to dis
tinguish Alacia among the cocktail
hour throng at the little tables on the
sidewalk of the Champs Elysees. Ala
cia, seated just behind a large bearded
gentleman, caught sight of Armand be-
fore he saw her, and, dropping g.
franc note beside her untouched cof-
fee cup, ran across the sidewalk.
"Hello!" she said, climbing IN be-
side him. you're early"
"You ere even earlier" he teased her.
"Thats good sign
Merely my business training" she
replied. denlurely. Where are we
goirg?"
where would you like to go?"
Some place where we are the only
people she said at once.
The museums are closed!" he re-
marked. How sbout driving a bit?"
"Splendid," she sighed as she set
tied closer to him. With the reckless
ness of which only a French driver Is
capable. Armand turned his car
around in the very midst of the turbu-
lent thoroughfare and headed cut
toward Longchamps. During the drive
very little was said by either of the
young people. but their silent happi-
ness was eloquent in itself. Overhead
the great black trees of the Bois soon
shut out the inquiSitive stars. and traf-
f1c became infrequent. At LongchampS
Armand turned into the broad parking
space before the dark facade OF the
race track gates. The place was as
quiet and deserted as if there had
never been a race crowd there only
three hours earlier. and Armand, choos-
ing the most shadowy corner. parked
the car and drew Alacia toward him.
There was a long silence. Another
pair of lovers strolled past, arms en-
twined, dark heads together, equally OBJ
livious of any other presence. The quiet
of the BoiS was vibrant one, Tor all
through the wooded district scattered
couples we're making love under the
very eyes. sometimes, of sympathetic
emily found no peace OF Importance
disturbed by such indulgence. The
Bois de Boulogne was, as always, the
dim back parlor of Paris. Alacia, won-
anlike, was the first to reach stage
where words became necessary. She
pulled herself out Of her lovers en-
brace and Immediately took his face
between her hands.
"Handsome!" she said. This is
what I've been waiting for all my life.
What are we going to do about it?"
THE usual cure. I supposed" he said,
laughing softly. That is to say mat
1imony."
Thank heavens. I shan't need my
shotgun" she breathed. II was afraid.
yesterday, that you had some idea OF
II you are indelicately referring to
my poverty" he replied, II still have
that objection. But it may be, at a
pinch, removable Woman, there Is SO
much information about me OF which
you are in shocking ignorance, that I
hardly know how to begin clearing 1t
up!"
prince!" There was a moment OF
silence as he sat without immediate
response.
Somebody told you that, eh?" he
said presently. well. young lady, I
hope you have no ambition to be Queen
of France"
"I should adore it," she declared
Immediately Don't be silly! What
girl on earth but could fancy herself
wearing a crown and putting it over
all the other women? However, Sac
added, as matter OF fa:t really only
want what you want. And M. Plron
dr,w a breath of relief.
so it was good old Piron! he ex-
claimed. My dearest, if you really un-
derstand my attitude, that is too Won
derful! My heart sank just now, when
YOU called me as you did. Call me by
my name only, will you? The other Is
taboo!"
VERY well, Armand" she said
my petit nom is zizi!" he told her
solemnly. my mother calls me that.
"Ill call you that In odd moments
she declared hastily. 'zizi! 1t sounds
ITS a diminutive for Maurice, my
second name" he explained laughing.
II am American enough to understand
how silly it sounds to you"
ATmand; & she + sad a@csn sag@Iy; 90 sTand neH
mother!'
He lit a cigarette for her and one
for himself and settled back in the
car, his head against her shoulder.
blowing rings up into the still air. and
it was several minutes before he began
to talk. When at last he did 1t was
in a tone of settling down to the dis
patch of an inevitable business.
TIL make it as short as can" he
promised. But you must know all, be-
cause 1t affects us great deal. Well
my grandmother was a Miss Nevill. I
believe the family had originally been
called De Nouville. but my grand
mothers people had lived in America
ever since her Huguenot ancestors were
driven out of France and she was as
American as you are, my sweet! Alors!
This grandmother of mine had sister,
Lucy, who never married
Bad break!" murmured Alacia SYM
pathetically.
mo such thing!" he protested. IF
she had married we wouldn't have
much chance, because, nice as you are,
I would refuse you firmly If did not
have some hopes of getting her money!"
Us she still alive?" Alacia wanted to
know, because in these days OF COM
petent beauty parlors an old girl never
knows her luck!"
Don't be hippant!" he reproved her
with mock severity THE old lady has
been dead 10 years. But she left a will.
Now wait, this ancient history takes
some explaining: My reVered Aunt Lucy
was an ardent patriot and thought
America the most important and de-
lightful country in the world Natur-
ally, she also believed this royalist busi-
ness to be a pack of dangerous non
sense, and perhaps she was right. At
any rate she left me something over q
million dollars, but only on condition
that by the time 7 am 80 I shall have
proved myself capable Of making a
business success or some other success
such as any ordinary boy might make
hi ou,v, a4orf Eh hioyt 70 r