Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-12-04

peruKes or the French court. The
little tables were covered with
rose colored baize and had borders
of dark, rich wood. The gilt
chairs were patterned in hearts
and diamonds, clubs and spades.
The whole thing had been done, it
seemed, for one of the ball-goWn
grandmothers. It was a monu-
ment to her frivolity as well as to
her fine sense Of beauty.
I wondered if the grandmother
had ever faced heartache as this
lovely young granddaughter was
facing it. Knowing Lionel as l
did, and with all my deep affection
for him, could not see him giving
happiness to loving woman.
I went back to the drawing
room and for the first time had
Mimi to myself. She seemed a
boyish figure in her riding clothes
among all the delicate feminine
frills, but no one matched her
beauty. "She is mine," my heart
sang, and it was heavenly music.
We could talk only of ourselves.
There were so many things she
had not told me. was eager to
know what had happened while she
was still in Maine. How she and
Andy had made up after left.
"He acted as if nothing had hap
pened, and went right on being
nice to me-"
do you know what he did with
the pin?"
mo-"
I told her that he had thrown it
into the pool.
cit is like him." she said, "and
he was in mood to throw you in
after it. I am glad he did not sec
YOU"
II am as strong as he," I
boasted. "I should have liked to
see him try it,"
We parted to meet that night at
Olga's. The Ogre had, Mimi ex-
planned, entertained them a lot
since they came back. And it
wasn't polite to offend her. you'll
know why when you see. her BALI
ROOM"
I must confess that the thing
Jared. I felt that would rather
never accept Olga's hospitality
than to do it as the rest of them
did, with a sIrug of the shoulder
and an air of scorn as. if she owed
them more than they asked.
That night I saw the peacock
portrait. I had arrived at Olga's
earlier than the others, for Lionel
was to call for Bernice, and /
walked over.
Olga greeted me with her slow
enthusiasm. cts nice to see you;
I want to have a talk with you.
Can't you stay for a little while
after the others go?"
promised; and presently when
she was called to the telephone, 1
strayed through the gorgeous
rooms until came to the balcony
which Mimi had described in her
letter. The picture hung alone on
the wall beyond, fanked by q
tapestry or two and lighted by
concealed electric bulbs.
seen tnuS 1T fairly blazed with
color. Minis arms and neck were
bare, and the scant blue of her
long bodice melted into a train of
peacock feathers. Her face was
turned a little so that she looked
over her shoulder with a yelled in
|scrutable glance. In the banded
hair of her proud little head was
a high carved comb which gave
the effect of a peacock's crest. and
the great fan which she carried
was of the same FURNISHED plumes.
This was not the child Q Mimi
whose memory I cherished. The
artist had given, rather, a hint of
what she was to be-"The Proud
Lady" Pride was in every line of
her. I felt sudden cold shock of
separation. What had Ia crude
country boy-to do with this rare
Ecreature How could ever hope
Ito possess her? The ching was
Ipreposterous!
i ITO Be Continually