Nogales international., 1932-03-26


| the street.
Very we'll. my dear. we can co.
| All in a moment it happened. Her
face glowed. it almost dinp.ed with
fun. as she turned upon the old man
| and said sweetly. my dear Marquis,
after al! have decided not to take
you SO far out of your way It's
such a bad night for your lumbago."
cribs kind young man." and she put
| hand on RosanoE's arm. SIS seeing
me home. Good night. my DEAR"
And Rosanof found himself being
gently hut compellingly guided to
the c.cakroom and the stairs.
Mata Eari had q house In Ncuilly
which was almost as famous as It's
owner. She had collected therein the
fruit Of a not inconsiderable knowl-
edge of the moro obscure Orient and
had arranged her possessions. it was
said. with a great deal OF taste. IN
stead of turning In that direction,
however. she babe her chauffeur
dri"e back to town and once more
RoseroG travecsed portion Of the
Champs Elysees. truly Elysian Fields.
now that the dancer was at his side.
He was filled with delight and
sense Of triumph all the more heady
in that it was SO unexpected. She
was more enchanting IN submission
to his kisses than as the aloof woman
in gold or es the disciple of Kali
Her house was in complete dark
ness end the lamp which she turned
on in an alcove accumulated rather
than punctuated the thick black. He
felt fer her in the gloom and she dis
engaged herself with laughing
protest.
Really. you are the most"
How can anyone be SO young!"
she said softly, and. taking him by
the hand, she guided him over an
expanse Of cleaning floor until they
reached low archway. Here she lit
another lamp, revealing a sort OF
BOULDER. all arches. silkea hangings
and queer circular benches for seats.
sit down here" she said and
don't move till come back
III go with you"
mol MOI" she insisted. laughing.
"You must sit here and stop fellow
ing me about. Promise
Very we'll. T. promise"
She remained a moment. STUDYING
him With o detached sort OF ten
derness.
"You are very nice boy. What
did you say your name VASE"
Alexander Rosanof."
Alexander RosanofT. I shall cali
you Alexis. You promise not to move
from this chair-Alexis?
81 promise"
Mata Hari gave him a little pat OF
approval on the cheek. and parting
the hangings within a second arch
way, she disappeared. A light showed
between the folds Of the curtains
Rosanof was in fever Of passion
and Impotence. Sometimes he tor
got that he was not supposed to stir
and rose to so to her. but always ne
returned to his seat: he was afraid
to cross her whim.
At length she called TO him and -
started up.
Don't come in!"
No, no. I'm not"
There was a silence.
Alexis :" from the bedroom.
"What?" he said eagerly.
There is an incense burner on
that table under TIE mirror, Do you
see it?"
"Oh. yes"
Have you matches?"
eyes"
Light it," SIS it lit?"
eyes"
"Give it to me-"
He almost few with it to the
hangings
But you. mustn't look" she said
| gravely. CLOSE your eyes or you'll
be blinded"
| Black silk on panelled walls. Black
wood on. the dais upon which a black
bed stood. Black velvet on the floor
Across the bed. oven silken pillows. &
narrow coverlet of white fur. On the
wall behind the bed Buddha. en-
broidered in solid colors. squatted
amidst the outlined. silvery branches
Z of a huge panel. An Indian lamp
hung over the bed.
Mata Hari, who stood before the
hangings. had released pale gold hair
to fall about her cheeks.
1t was as she had predicted. He
was dazzled for an instant like 3 man
with the sun in his eyes. for through
the black lace of her garment and
amid the ebony shadows Of the room,
the nudity of her body shone like
white-gold.
The incense rose and wavered about
her in tremulous coils.
She stretched out a naked white
arm for the burner.
: TOMORROW-Last Night Was Last
Night.