The Washington times., 1937-07-30

He had the faculty of seeming to
know her thoughts. He said
After your song, and the encore, ]
shall seat you at little table, and
bring to you such gentlemen as are
important. And if they ask you,
you will dance with them, please" "
She took a long look at herself
in the mirror. Was this vision of
beauty actually Toni Goddard?
No, no, the marquise in he1
chateau! Or, better still, Marie
Antoinette reincarnated!
A queen who would welcome not
her subjects, but congenial spirits
of her court. It would be revel
as in Petit Trianon days! There
was nothing to be afraid of. They
adored her. AS she stared into
the glass, the urgency of her wish
brought about the queerest expe.
rience. Mystic! Thrilling!
She had the power of seeing
back! She was one with the ill
fated queen! She wasn't in this
century. The hands Of time had
been turned back. Through the
power of her imagination, she was
Marie Antoinette, fearless, coquet.
tish, grande dame, conquering
Monsieur AlphonSe, who had
been suffering all her nervous
tremors with her, saw her chin tilt
high. 'The child has breeding,
courage, the grand manner" he
told himself on q long breath Of
relief as he watched her.
Amazing Transformation!
quietly he slipped on his glasses.
He had the strangeSt feeling as
though he were spying on some
thing that was not quite of this
mortal world. This dark-eyed
beauty, her lips parted, that radi-
ance on her face, seemed to have
contacted some eternal truth, as
though a veil had suddenly been
lifted.
AS indeed it had.
Or so, looking back on it after
ward. it seemed to Toni. A queer,
psychic phenomenon. The soul of
Marie Antoinette seemed to have
taken possession Of her, animating
her gestures, infusing her fright
ened heart with queenly courage.
In the mirror, Toni saw ex-
quisite, shadowy figures all around
her. Gradually, beside her, the
worn face of her singing master
changed. It assumed a noble
mien. With thudding heart she
knew 1t for her lover, the hand
some count who had been faithful
unto death. He smiled, infinite
tenderness in his eyes.
1t seemed to her like the image
of Guy Halstead-F -Flagg smiling at
her, encouraging her.
A call boy came to the door.
Mr.. NiklaS had started his speech.
Was she ready?
She did not hear.
She was listening to the music
Of a spinet and "a harp, smiling
back at dear, dark eyes that
caressed her.
AIPLIO14OC UOuSA1Co 1EC1 O44 U41C
shoulder. Come"
With head held high, Pepito
on her shoulder, she swept out
on the balcony at the last word
Of Niklas' speech, and was led
to the top of the staircase by
him to rounds of applause.
In a dream she sang as she
had never sung before. Be.
witched! The silVery notes rang
high and clear, thrilling with
their dramatic quality.
Gone was her fear They
loved her. They were her sub
jects.s She was on a throne. Her
eyes swept the spellbound
audience, seeking one face.
1t smiled up at her.
She was seated at small ring
side table.
Niklas, Lou Steiner, and hel
singing teacher, made a kind Of
bodyguard over her for the
smart guests at the previeW
clamored to meet the enchantress
Niklas was beaming. BEHIND
his goggles, Lou Steiner's eyes
snapped with the light of victory
Monsieur Alphonse was similarly
radiant.
She had put it over. 1t hac
been a triumph.
will you honor me by dane
inc with me- marnlIiSep" RefnrF
her stood a son of one of the
richest families of America.
She glanced at Niklas.
"Ah, thank you. You are yer