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diff --git a/old/68685-0.txt b/old/68685-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4ba687a..0000000 --- a/old/68685-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3088 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Moon madness and other fantasies, by -Aimee Crocker Gouraud - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Moon madness and other fantasies - -Author: Aimee Crocker Gouraud - -Release Date: August 4, 2022 [eBook #68685] - -Language: English - -Produced by: D A Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by University of California - libraries) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOON MADNESS AND OTHER -FANTASIES *** - - - - -[Illustration: Photo of the Author] - - - - =Moon-Madness= - - and - - =Other Fantasies= - - - by - - =Aimée Crocker Gouraud= - - - (4th Edition) - - - Broadway Publishing Co. - 835 Broadway New York - - - - - COPYRIGHT 1910 - BY - BROADWAY PUBLISHING CO. - - - - - _To_ - THOSE WHO KNOW - - - - -[Illustration: CONTENTS] - - - 1^o--Our Lady of Red Lips 7 - 2^o--Paula Loved Pearls 19 - 3^o--The Dance of the Cobra 31 - 4^o--The Painted Mrs. Perry 43 - 5^o--Kara the Faithful 53 - 6^o--Betty and Buddha 69 - 7^o--Mrs. Pepper in Paris 79 - 8^o--Moon-Madness 87 - - - - -[Illustration: “OUR LADY OF RED LIPS”] - - - - -MOON-MADNESS - -“OUR LADY OF RED LIPS” - - -THE place was Paris. - -A man stood in front of an art-dealer’s window, and looked at the -painted picture of a woman. - -The man was about twenty-five years of age and extremely handsome. - -He was big and brawny. - -His hair was brown and curly, and his eyes were blue and frank. - -The woman was about thirty years of age, and exceedingly beautiful. - -She was small and slender. - -Her complexion was creamy white, her hair was inky black, her eyes were -dark green, and her lips were bright red. - -If you were French, you could tell that the man was American. - -And if you were an American, you could tell that the woman was French. - -The man stood and stared at the picture. - -He stared at the white complexion--but he had seen complexion like that -before. - -He stared at the black hair--but he had also seen hair like that before. - -He stared at the green eyes--but he had even seen eyes like that before. - -He stared at the red lips--and he had never seen lips like that before. - -He had never thought of such lips. - -He had never dreamed of such lips. - -Of course their vivid crimson color was unnatural, fantastic, grotesque. - -The picture must have been designed for a poster. - -But nevertheless it fascinated the man strangely. - -The white face seemed to turn to him. - -The green eyes seemed to look at him. - -The red lips seemed to smile at him. - -The man hesitated. - -And then he went into the shop. - -“What is that picture?” said the man. - -“That is the portrait of a lady,” said the proprietor. - -“Who painted it?” said the man. - -“Paul Gaspard,” said the proprietor. - -“Is he well known?” said the man. - -“He would have been--had he lived,” said the proprietor. - -“Is he dead?” said the man. - -“Yes,” said the proprietor, “he died six months ago, under peculiar -circumstances.” - -“Tell me about it,” said the man. - -“He was young, and he was clever, and he was handsome,” said the -proprietor, “men admired him, and women loved him. The lady who posed -for this portrait was one of those who loved him. She had loved other -men. She had loved an Italian prince. But he died. She had loved an -English lord. But he died, also. And then--she loved Paul Gaspard.” - -“And then he too died!” said the man. - -“Yes--and he too died!” said the proprietor. - -“How did he die?” said the man. - -“Nobody knows how--or why,” said the proprietor. “He was found dead in -his bed one morning. That was all. There was some sort of a wound, -or a scar, on his breast, over his heart. For a time the coroner was -puzzled. At first there was some thought of suicide--or even of murder. -But, in the end, the authorities decided that Paul Gaspard had died -from natural causes, and there the matter ended.” - -“And the picture,” said the man. - -“The picture had just been finished on the very day he died,” said the -proprietor, “by a strange coincidence.” - -“Very strange indeed!” said the man. - -“Paul Gaspard had from time to time borrowed sums of money from -me, until he owed me in all some fifteen hundred francs,” said the -proprietor, “so when he died, and left no money, I claimed the -picture--and I got it.” - -“And the lady who posed for it?” said the man. - -“She left Paris as soon as Paul Gaspard was in his grave,” said the -proprietor. - -“Where did she go?” said the man. - -“To St. Petersburg--with a Russian duke,” said the proprietor. - -“Is she there now?” said the man. - -“No, she is at Monte Carlo,” said the proprietor. - -“With the Russian duke?” said the man. - -“No, she is there alone,” said the proprietor. - -“Where is the Russian duke?” said the man. - -“He is dead,” said the proprietor. - -“Dead?” said the man. - -“Yes, dead,” said the proprietor, “as dead as all the rest of her -lovers!” - -“The devil!” said the man. - -“Quite so!” said the proprietor. - -“And the name of this woman,” said the man, “what is it?” - -“She calls herself Elise Du Barry,” said the proprietor, “but other -people call her something else.” - -“What do they call her?” said the man. - -“‘Our Lady of Red Lips’!” said the proprietor. - -The man thanked the proprietor, and left the shop. - -In the street he stopped before the window once more, and stood and -stared at the picture. - -“‘Our Lady of Red Lips’,” muttered the man. - -And, as he left the window, and walked away, he murmured, “Monte -Carlo!” - -That night the man dreamed a strange and startling dream. - -First he dreamed of black hair. - -Hair as black as night. - -It covered the heavens and the earth. There was nothing else in the -world but black hair. - -Then he dreamed of white skin. - -Skin as white as snow. - -It covered the heavens and the earth. - -There was nothing else in the world but white skin. - -Then he dreamed of green eyes. - -Eyes as green as the sea. - -They covered the heavens and the earth. - -There was nothing else in the world but green eyes. - -Then he dreamed of red lips. - -Lips as red as blood. - -They covered the heavens and the earth. - -There was nothing else in the world but red lips. - -The lips kissed him on the brow. - -He felt as though he were swooning. - -The lips kissed him on the mouth. - -He felt as though he were dying. - -The lips kissed him on the heart. - -He felt as though the world were coming to an end. - -His soul was full of terror. - -He uttered a shriek. - -And then--he awoke. - -The next day the man left Paris. - -He went to Monte Carlo. - - * * * * * - -The man’s name was Howard Leslie. - -He was a New Yorker. - -He was an only son, and his father was a millionaire. - -This was his first visit to Monte Carlo. - -He walked into the Casino. - -He looked at the people. - -They were strange to see. - -And the people looked at him. - -He was good to behold. - -The celebrated habitues of the place passed before him. - -He saw Madame de Lara, the Italian singer. - -And La Belle Bolero, the Spanish dancer. - -Yvonne Yvette, the French model. - -And Olga Maronoff, the Russian poetess. - -And then--with a bound of the heart, and a gasp of the breath--he saw -_her_! - -Elise Du Barry--Our Lady of Red Lips!... - -She wore a white satin evening gown. - -There were big pearls in her hair, around her throat, and on her -fingers. - -Her complexion was as white as her gown. - -Not a touch of color, in her dress, or in her face--except her mouth. - -But, just as the setting sun will dominate an evening sky, so did this -crimson mouth dominate this ashen face, and this pallid figure. One was -conscious of the woman’s mouth, first, last, and all the time. - -One could not help but be conscious of it. - -Howard Leslie stood and stared at her. - -And she paused and glanced at him. - -How like she was to her portrait! - -Or rather, how like her portrait was to her! - -At last the white face did in reality turn to him! - -At last the green eyes did in reality look at him! - -At last the red lips did in reality smile at him! - -And then Elise Du Barry passed by. - -Howard Leslie followed her. - -She sat at one of the tables. - -He stood beside her. - -She put down some gold--on the red. - -She lost. - -He put down some gold--on the black. - -He won. - -She looked up at him. - -He looked down at her. - -Their eyes met--his so frank and blue, and hers so strange and green. - -He spoke to her. - -She answered him. - -He didn’t know what he was saying to her. - -He didn’t know what she was saying to him. - -He only knew that he and she were talking together. - -He only knew that he and she were walking together--out of the -Casino.... - - * * * * * - -One month passed. - -And then, one day, all Monte Carlo, all Europe, and in fact all the -world, was surprised and shocked to learn that Elise Du Barry, a -celebrated French beauty, had been strangled at Monte Carlo, and that -the man in whose company she had been much seen of late, Howard Leslie, -a young American millionaire, had become a raving maniac. The madman, -in his paroxysms, constantly clutched his breast, where there was some -sort of a wound, or a scar, and he continually cried, - -“Heart’s blood! Heart’s blood! Heart’s blood!” - -The throat of Elise Du Barry had been dreadfully disfigured by the -strong hands that had crushed the life out of her, but her mouth was -still a bright crimson color, thus entitling the woman, even in death, -to the name by which she had been popularly known in life--that of “Our -Lady of Red Lips.”... - - - - -PAULA LOVED PEARLS - - -PAULA didn’t care for diamonds. - -Or rubies. - -Or emeralds. - -She only cared for pearls. - -And her feeling was more than mere admiration. - -It was--love. - -Passionate love. - -But she could not afford to have pearls _to wear_. - -So she had to be content to have pearls _to look at_. - -She used to stand in front of the jewellers’ windows where there were -pearls displayed. - -The rings delighted her. - -The brooches bewildered her. - -But the necklaces distracted her. - -She used to gaze at them. - -She used to gloat over them. - -And then she would go home--relieved. - -But not satisfied. - -In her bedroom Paula had pictures on the walls. - -Many were studies of women wearing pearls. - -Empresses and actresses. - -In her bedroom Paula had books on the tables. - -Many were volumes treating of pearls. - -Their formation and their history. - -Often Paula would go to sleep at night reading one of these books. - -Or looking at one of these pictures. - -Then she would dream that she had pearls of her own. - -Plenty of them. - -And she would be happy. - - * * * * * - -So you see that Paula had a mania. - -But she also had a husband. - -Her husband didn’t have any money. - -But he had a position. - -A position with an exporting concern. - -This concern did business in the Far East. - -So a time came when Paula’s husband was sent to the Orient. - -And when Paula’s husband went there--he took Paula with him. - -They went to Japan. - -And to China. - -And to India. - -In India Paula saw strange things. - -She saw the Hindoos bathing in the sacred Ganges. - -She saw the Parsees exposing their dead to the vultures. - -And she saw fakirs making mango trees grow out of seeds before one’s -very eyes. - -And in India Paula heard strange things, too. - -She heard of strange lives. - -And of strange deaths. - -And she heard of the Rajah of Raboda who owned the finest pearls in the -world. - -He was said to have pearl necklaces yards long. - -And pearl pendants the size of walnuts. - -And he was said to be willing and glad to display these treasures to -any visitors who cared to journey to his palace in the hills to see -them. - -Paula told her husband of these things. - -He was not interested. - -Paula asked her husband to take her to Raboda. - -He declined. - -Paula asked her husband if she might go there alone. - -He consented. - -So Paula got a letter of introduction from the Consul. - -And she started for the hills. - - * * * * * - -Paula arrived at the Palace. - -She presented her credentials. - -And she was informed that she might see the pearls. - -An attendant escorted her through corridors and courts, into an -apartment where, in a glass case under iron bars, were displayed the -objects that Paula loved. - -Loved with all her heart. - -And with all her soul.... - -Paula stood there transfixed with ecstasy. - -She stood there--she knew not how long. - -And then she became conscious that someone was standing beside her. - -Someone was watching her. - -Paula looked up. - -She found herself facing a tall man wearing a green satin robe and a -lavender silk turban. - -Around his neck was a string of pearls. - -In his turban was a clasp of pearls. - -And in his eyes--was a strange expression.... - - * * * * * - -“I am the Rajah of Raboda,” said the man. - -“Oh!” said the woman. - -“These pearls are mine,” said the man. - -“They are marvellous!” said the woman. - -“You like pearls?” said the man. - -“I--love--them!” said the woman. - - * * * * * - -It really was a strange thing that Paula had not made a more -advantageous marriage than she had done. - -Her husband was not of much account. - -And Paula was--quite a beauty. - -Her complexion was dark. - -Her hair was black and glossy. - -Her eyes were black and fiery. - -And her lips were full and red. - -She was just the type to appeal to an American millionaire. - -Or--to an Indian Prince. - -But Paula had never met an American millionaire. - -And she had never met an Indian Prince--before.... - -She looked at the face of the Rajah. - -His skin was black. - -But his hair and his eyes were no blacker than her own. - -If she only looked into his eyes, he might have been a mate for her. - -If he only looked into her eyes she might have been a mate for him. - -And now he _did_ look into her eyes. - -And now she _did_ look into his.... - - * * * * * - -Paula loved pearls. - -And the Rajah loved--women. - -The Rajah _had_ pearls. - -And Paula _was_--a woman. - -So they stood side by side. - -And they stared at one another. - -Then the Rajah showed Paula more pearls. - -He conducted her about the palace. - -He offered her some refreshments. - -And he invited her to be his guest over night. - -Paula accepted his attentions. - -And his invitation. - -She wondered if she were asleep. - -And if this were a dream. - -One of those marvellous dreams of hers. - -She had imagined it all so often before. - -But no, this was not a vision! - -It was a reality! - -She was the guest of an Indian Prince. - -The Prince had the finest pearls in the world. - -And he--liked her. - -She appealed to him. - -So Paula--thought, and thought, and thought.... - - * * * * * - -That night the Rajah put on even more gorgeous robes than he had worn -during the day. - -And even more splendid pearls. - -Paula forgot to look at his black face. - -She forgot to think of it. - -She only looked at his white pearls. - -She couldn’t think of anything else. - -The Rajah told Paula of how his ancestors had obtained these pearls -from afar. - -How they had sought for them. - -How they had fought for them. - -_This_ one had been in the eye of a Buddha. - -_That_ one had been the cause of a battle. - -And so on, and on, and on.... - -Then he stopped speaking of--pearls. - -And he started speaking of--her. - -His voice softened. - -His eyes brightened - -And at last--he said it. - -He was a prince. - -He possessed pearls. - -He--loved--her!.... - - * * * * * - -What did it matter? - -Where was the harm? - -What was a--husband? - -What was--anything? - -The Rajah held her hand in his. - -There were pearls in the rings on his fingers. - -The Rajah put his arm around her waist. - -There were pearls in the bracelets on his wrists. - -The Rajah crushed her to his breast. - -There were pearls in the chains around his neck.... - - * * * * * - -Paula returned to her husband. - -She wore a string of pearls around her throat. - -She gave her husband an explanation. - -She said that she had bought the pearls in a shop. - -She told him that they were imitation. - -And he believed her. - -And she despised him for it. - -Poor fool! - -He didn’t know the value of pearls. - -But the Rajah of Raboda did. - -And so did Paula!... - - - - -THE DANCE OF THE COBRA - - -THE Place was the Harem. - -The Time was the Morning. - -And the Occasion was the Toilet. - -The wives and the women of the Maharajah were being made beautiful for -the pleasure of their lord and master. - -Their bodies were bathed in the pool. - -And anointed with oils. - -And burnished with buffers. - -With infinite care and patience, blue veins were traced on their limbs, -and red tips were painted on their breasts. - -Their raven locks were scented, and their dusky cheeks were tinted. - -Their eyes were darkened with kohl, and their mouths were brightened -with carmine. - -The nails of their fingers and of their toes were stained a ruddy hue. - -But none of the wives or the women demanded or received more care or -attention than did Lotus Flower, the favorite dancing girl of the -Maharajah. - -For none was so lithe of limb nor so supple of joint as was this same -Lotus Flower. - -She it was who could sway the slowest. - -And she it was who could whirl the fastest. - -Lotus Flower was a young Circassian beauty. - -She had been brought from Bagdad. - -For two days the Maharajah had had in the palace as his guest an -English officer, one Captain Esme Lawrence. - -And for two nights Lotus Flower had been summoned to the Court of -Delight to dance before the visitor. - -The first night Lotus Flower had performed the Dance of the Flames. - -She had pirouetted in and out among lighted candles. - -The English officer had watched her intently. - -The second night Lotus Flower had performed the Dance of the Sword. - -During her gyrations she had borne a scimitar upon her head. - -Again the English officer had watched her intently. - -To-night Lotus Flower was to perform the Dance of the Cobra. - -And to-morrow morning the English officer was to go away. - -Lotus Flower must do credit to the Maharajah. - -And to herself. - -She did not need to be told so. - -She understood it fully. - -So she devoted the entire morning to the beautifying of her body. - -And she devoted the entire afternoon to the selecting of her adornments. - -The English officer had watched her hands. - -So she put jingling bracelets around her wrists. - -The English officer had watched her feet. - -So she put jangling bangles around her ankles. - -The English officer had watched her body. - -So she swathed herself in gleaming gauze. - -And the English officer had watched her face. - -So she painted, perfumed and powdered until even the other dancing -girls admitted among themselves that Lotus Flower had never looked -lovelier. - -But still Lotus Flower was not satisfied. - -The English officer had watched her eyes. - -So she put cosmetics around them to make them darker. - -And she put cosmetics into them to make them brighter. - -But that was not why he had watched her. - -That was not _how_ he had watched her. - -He had looked beyond the blackness of cosmetics. - -He had looked beyond the whiteness of cosmetics. - -He had looked in, in, in--to her soul. - -And her soul had looked out, out, out--to him. - -Lotus Flower realized that she did not need kohl and carmine with which -to charm the English officer. - -And this knowledge made her glad. - -And this knowledge made her sad, too--at the same time. - -Do you doubt that such a paradoxical state of mind could exist? - -Out upon you then,--truly you can know but little of the ways of -woman!... - - * * * * * - -That night a splendid repast was served in the Great Banquet Hall. - -Afterwards the Maharajah escorted his guest to the Court of Delight. - -Two throne-like chairs were brought forward for the two men, the Indian -Prince and the English officer. - -The Maharajah wore pantaloons of crimson silk, a coat of purple velvet -embroidered in gold, and a turban of yellow silk embellished with an -aigrette of diamonds. - -Around his neck were strings of pearls. - -And on his fingers were enormous rubies. - -The Maharajah was an ugly man. - -But he looked magnificent. - -Captain Lawrence wore the conventional evening clothes of an English -gentleman. - -He was a handsome man. - -And he looked attractive. - -A young boy with a stringed instrument sang two songs for them. - -One was a song of joy. - -And one was a song of sorrow. - -An old man with a black cloth did some tricks for them. - -First he made various objects appear out of the cloth. - -And then he made various objects disappear into it. - -Finally, to the beating of tom-toms, and the lilting of pipes, Lotus -Flower was brought forward for her part of the performance. - -She bowed before the Maharajah, but she almost forgot to look at him. - -Then she looked at Captain Lawrence, but she almost forgot to bow to -him. - -The Maharajah looked at Lotus Flower and he smiled. - -Captain Lawrence looked at Lotus Flower and he did not smile. - -He was too much interested in her to remember to smile. - -Just as she was too much interested in him to remember to bow. - -Once more she felt that he was looking in, in, in--to her soul. - -And once more she felt that her soul was looking out, out, out--to him. - -“Lotus Flower,” said the Maharajah, “you must dance your best to-night!” - -“Yes, my lord,” said Lotus Flower. - -“To-morrow our guest departs,” said the Maharajah. - -“Yes, my lord,” said Lotus Flower. - -“He returns to England--where he is going to be married,” said the -Maharajah. - -Lotus Flower stood and stared. - -Her heart stopped beating. - -She gasped for breath. - -“Yes, my lord,” said Lotus Flower. - -She had known that the English officer was departing the next day. - -But she had not known that he was going to leave India. - -She had not known that he was going back to England. - -And she had not known that he--was going to be married. - -Somehow, she had imagined, from his eyes, that he was going to stay in -India. - -Somehow, she had imagined, from his eyes, that she was going to see him -again. - -Somehow, she had imagined, from his eyes, that he--and she-- - -But now, all her hopes had been shattered. - -All her dreams had been dispelled. - -There was nothing for her to do--but to dance!... - -And so she began. - -She waved her arms. - -Her bracelets jingled. - -She stamped her feet. - -Her anklets jangled. - -The tom-toms began to throb. - -The pipes began to lilt. - -And Lotus Flower started to perform the Dance of the Cobra. - -She swayed from side to side. - -She darted to and fro. - -She floated backwards and forwards. - -Slowly at first. - -Then faster and faster. - -Finally she stopped. - -“Is that the end of the Dance of the Cobra?” asked Captain Lawrence. - -“No,” said the Maharajah, “that is only the beginning.” - -Lotus Flower had been nerving herself for the ordeal. - -She had been working herself up for the performance. - -And now it began in earnest. - -A strong eunuch stood guard over a big basket. - -Lotus Flower stooped down, lifted the cover, thrust in her arms, and -drew out a large cobra. - -The cobra wriggled and writhed in her clutch. - -The tom-toms started again. - -And the pipes. - -At first, Lotus Flower held the cobra far from her. - -Then a little closer. - -And at last, she placed it upon her body. - -As she danced around, the cobra twined about her. - -It crawled in and out among the soft folds of her gauzy drapery. - -It disarranged the coverings of her shoulders. - -And of her breast. - -And of her waist. - -Thus it was that Lotus Flower postured and posed before the Maharajah -and his guest, her naked body gleaming under the light of the lamps, -and the great cruel cobra crawling over her lithe young limbs. - -The cobra twined about her shoulders. - -Lotus Flower darted here and there. - -The cobra twisted about her thighs. - -Lotus Flower rushed hither and thither. - -She seemed fairly to fly. - -The notes of the music accompanied her. - -And then, suddenly, the music ceased, and two big eunuchs sprang -forward to tear the cobra from her body. - -That was part of the performance. - -The climax had come. - -But--what was this? - -Had the dancer gone mad? - -Lotus Flower fought off the eunuchs. - -She clung to the cobra. - -It pressed tightly about her waist. - -But Lotus Flower pressed it tighter still. - -The eunuchs fought with her. - -But Lotus Flower fought against them. - -The Maharajah sprang up from his chair. - -And Captain Lawrence sprang up from his. - -They rushed towards the unfortunate dancer, to assist the eunuchs in -attempting to save her. - -But it was too late. - -Lotus Flower lay on the ground. - -The cobra was coiled about her in a grip of steel. - -A grip of steel that would crush the life out of any human being. - -Lotus Flower, the favorite dancing girl of the Maharajah, was dead.... - - * * * * * - -Two days later Captain Esme Lawrence left India, and went back to -England--to be married. - - - - -THE PAINTED MRS. PERRY - - -HE was twenty. - -She was thirty-five. - -There was fifteen years difference between them. - -And a great deal more. - -Gordon was simple, even for twenty. - -Mrs. Perry was complex, even for thirty-five. - -He didn’t know anything. - -She knew everything. - -They were both good-looking. - -He was good-looking, and he looked good. - -She was good-looking, and she looked bad. - -He had a healthy face, and a wholesome manner. - -She had an unhealthy face, and an unwholesome manner. - -He was absolutely natural. - -She was absolutely artificial. - -Until Gordon met Mrs. Perry, he had only known girls, school girls. - -He had never known a woman, a woman-of-the-world. - -Gordon had a man-friend. - -The man-friend had a woman-friend. - -The woman-friend was Mrs. Perry. - -Gordon was at a cafe with the man. - -The woman was there with another man. - -Gordon and the woman were introduced. - -They came, they saw, and they conquered. - -He conquered her. - -And she conquered him. - -He had never seen anything quite so wonderful as this woman. - -She fascinated him. - -And she had never seen anything quite so wonderful as this boy. - -He fascinated her. - -She invited him to call on her. - -He accepted the invitation. - -And he called. - -She had suggested nine P. M. - -So at nine P. M. he came. - -Mrs. Perry lived in her own house. - -Gordon was ushered into the drawing-room. - -The walls were hung with pink silken brocade. - -The floor was covered with pink silken rugs. - -The lamps were shaded with pink silken screens. - -Pink roses were in vases and bowls on the gilded mantel-piece, and on -the gilded tables. - -The gilded furniture was upholstered in pink brocade. - -And Mrs. Perry was dressed in black. - -She wore a long clinging robe, low at the neck, and short at the -sleeves. - -In her ears, on her breast, and on her fingers, were big barbaric -looking emeralds. - -On her face was a quantity of make-up. - -Her cheeks were painted white, her lids were painted blue, and her lips -were painted red. - -Her hair was dyed the color of burnished copper, and was worn in a -weirdly wonderful way. - -Mrs. Perry looked at Gordon. - -Gordon looked at Mrs. Perry. - -She smiled. - -He blushed. - -She motioned to him to be seated--in a chair beside a sofa. - -He took the chair--after she had taken the sofa. - -He fidgetted with his hands. - -His hands were big and strong. - -She fidgetted with her feet. - -Her feet were small and shapely. - -“I didn’t know if you would come or not,” said Mrs. Perry. - -“But you invited me to!” said Gordon. - -“I know I did,” said Mrs. Perry. - -“And I said that I would,” said Gordon. - -“I know that too,” said Mrs. Perry. - -“Then why wouldn’t I come?” said Gordon. - -“I don’t know,” said Mrs. Perry, “but I thought that you might -be--afraid.” - -“Afraid of--what?” said Gordon. - -“Afraid of--me,” said Mrs. Perry. - -“Of you?” said Gordon. - -“Or of--yourself,” said Mrs. Perry. - -“Of myself?” said Gordon. - -“Yes,” said Mrs. Perry, “you are so good-looking.” - -Gordon blushed. - -“And so am I!” said Mrs. Perry. - -Gordon stammered. - -“Don’t you think I am?” said Mrs. Perry. - -“Of course I do!” said Gordon. - -“And don’t you know that you are?” said Mrs. Perry. - -“Of course I don’t!” said Gordon. - -“Well, _I do_!” said Mrs. Perry, “and _you_ are!” - -She put her feet up on the sofa, so that she was reclining at full -length beside him. - -He moved his chair away. - -“Don’t go further!” said Mrs. Perry, “but come nearer!” - -He came nearer. - -“That’s a good boy!” said Mrs. Perry, “a very good boy!” - -He looked shy. - -She looked sly. - -“Do you object to my smoking?” said Mrs. Perry. - -“Not at all,” said Gordon. - -He opened his case. - -She took a cigarette. - -He lighted it for her. - -“Since you have been obliging enough to let me have a cigarette,” said -Mrs. Perry, “I will be obliging enough to let you have a--kiss!” - -He looked amazed. - -She looked amused. - -He hesitated. - -She held up her face. - -He kissed her--on the mouth.... - -“And now we are friends!” said Mrs. Perry, “but we must be more -intimate friends yet. We must know one another better. Much better. -Very much better. Mustn’t we?” - -“Yes,” said Gordon. - -She put out her hand and touched him on the knee. - -He shrank away from her. - -She blew a puff of smoke into his face. - -“You must tell me all about yourself,” said Mrs. Perry. - -And he did--under her clever manipulation. - -“And I must tell you all about myself,” said Mrs. Perry. - -But she did not--again under her clever manipulation. - -When Gordon got up to go, the clock was chiming twelve o’clock at night. - -And when Gordon finally did go, the clock was chiming three o’clock in -the morning. - -They had been together for six hours.... - -Mrs. Perry asked Gordon to come again. - -He said that he would. - -And he did. - -The next night. - -And the next. - -And the next. - -And after that, he came every night--for two weeks. - -He didn’t go anywhere else. - -He didn’t want to go anywhere else. - -First, Gordon and Mrs. Perry left the pink drawing-room for the yellow -sitting-room. - -And then, they left the yellow sitting-room for the lavender boudoir. - -It was in the lavender boudoir one evening, at the end of the two -weeks, while they were smoking perfumed cigarettes, and sipping -absinthe, Mrs. Perry made a strange and startling statement. - -“Gordon,” said Mrs. Perry, “you must never come to see me again!” - -“What do you mean?” said Gordon. - -“I mean that you are a boy with a future,” said Mrs. Perry, “and I am a -woman with a past.” - -“Oh, don’t talk like that!” said Gordon. - -“But I must talk like that!” said Mrs. Perry, “you have a life before -you, I have a life behind me. We are not equally matched.” - -“We are!” said Gordon. - -“It isn’t fair,” said Mrs. Perry. - -“It is!” said Gordon. - -“We can’t be friends,” said Mrs. Perry. - -“We can,” said Gordon. - -“No--we can’t,” said Mrs. Perry, “and we--sha’n’t!” - -“But why--why?” said Gordon. - -“Because you are a dear sweet boy,” said Mrs. Perry, “and because I--I -have got a painted face!” - -“I love you,” said Gordon. - -“I have got a painted face,” repeated Mrs. Perry. - -“I love you,” repeated Gordon. - -“Do you love me--in spite of my painted face?” whispered Mrs. Perry. - -“No, I love you--on account of it!” whispered Gordon. - -And it was so. - -And she knew it. - -The surprise was--that he knew it. - -But Gordon had learned a lot--in two weeks.... - - - - -KARA THE FAITHFUL - - -WHEN the Rajah of Jurma was twenty-eight years of age, he believed -himself to be happy. - -But when the Rajah of Jurma was twenty-nine years of age, he _knew_ -himself to be happy. - -At twenty-eight, the Rajah had a noble title and a splendid fortune. - -But at twenty-nine the Rajah had also--a beautiful wife. - -So what more could mortal man desire? - -The Rajah had been brought up by a wise father. - -He had been taught self-restraint. - -And he had become a virtuous man. - -The Ranee had been brought up by a foolish mother. - -She had been taught self-indulgence. - -And she had become a vicious woman. - -The Rajah was kind and considerate. - -The Ranee was unkind and inconsiderate. - -But the Ranee had a beautiful face. - -And the Rajah had a bountiful fortune. - -So when he had sought her hand in marriage, she had readily consented. - -And the Rajah of Jurma deemed himself blessed. - -In the morning she would walk with him. - -And he would smile with satisfaction. - -In the afternoon she would talk with him. - -And he would laugh with happiness. - -In the evening she would lie in his arms. - -And he would weep with ecstasy. - -He provided her with silken robes and with jeweled ornaments. - -And she had a whole retinue of servants to wait upon her. - -She had men to hold umbrellas over her when she went out. - -She had men to sway fans above her when she stayed in. - -And she had women to dress her and to undress her, and to do her -bidding throughout the day and throughout the night. - -These, and more, had the Ranee. - -But the Rajah had--Kara. - -And the Ranee was--jealous. - -And something--else. - -Kara was the personal attendant of the Rajah. - -He was five years younger than his master. - -And five times handsomer. - -At least he seemed so--to the Ranee. - -Kara had been in the service of the Rajah for seven years. - -And he was highly thought of. - -He had proved himself worthy of the confidence that had been placed in -him. - -He had accompanied his master into danger. - -He had served him in health. - -And he had nursed him in sickness. - -So all this meant a great deal to the Rajah. - -(The Rajah had been brought up by a wise father.) - -But all this meant nothing whatever to the Ranee. - -(The Ranee had been brought up by a foolish mother.) - -The Rajah always saw in Kara a faithful servant. - -The Ranee only saw in Kara--a handsome man.... - -The Rajah had been married for almost a year. - -During that time he had never been separated from his wife for a single -day. - -But then he was summoned to the Viceregal palace, to consult with the -Viceroy on matters connected with the government of the Province of -Jurma. - -He was to be gone for six days. - -And so he was sad. - -He held his wife in his arms. - -She lay there limp. - -He kissed her on the mouth. - -She felt no thrill. - -He tore himself away. - -She heaved a sigh of relief. - -The Rajah left the palace with tears in his eyes. - -The Ranee went to her apartments with smiles on her lips. - - * * * * * - -That night the Ranee sent for Kara, the personal attendant of her -husband. - -“Why did you not go with your master?” said the Ranee. - -“It was not the wish of my lord,” said Kara. - -“And what _was_ the wish of your lord?” said the Ranee. - -“That I should remain with my lady,” said Kara. - -“And what were you to do for me?” said the Ranee. - -“I was to guard you,” said Kara. - -“Guard me--from what?” said the Ranee. - -“From--danger,” said Kara. - -“The only danger that I fear is--loneliness!” said the Ranee. - -The Ranee looked in Kara’s eyes. - -Kara looked on the ground. - -“It was at my wish that your master bade you stay,” said the Ranee. - -“Yes, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Did you know that?” said the Ranee. - -“No, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Well, what do you say now that you _do_ know it?” said the Ranee. - -“I thank you, my lady,” said Kara. - -“You thank me--for what?” said the Ranee. - -“For your trust, my lady,” said Kara. - -“I do not call it--trust,” said the Ranee. - -Kara was silent. - -“I call it--esteem,” said the Ranee. - -Still Kara was silent. - -“I admire you,” said the Ranee. - -Why did he not speak to her? - -“And I--shall be--lonely!” said the Ranee. - -Why did he not look at her? - -“Is there anything that I can do for my lady,” said Kara. - -His voice was the voice of a servant. - -“No, not to-night!” said the Ranee. - -Her voice was the voice of the mistress.... - - * * * * * - -The next night the Ranee sent for Kara a second time. - -“How long have you been with your master?” said the Ranee. - -“Seven years, my lady,” said Kara. - -“You have been in his personal service throughout that time?” said the -Ranee. - -“Yes, my lady,” said Kara. - -“And you have also been in his confidence?” said the Ranee. - -“Yes, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Then be in mine also,” said the Ranee. - -Kara looked surprised. - -“And let me be in yours,” said the Ranee. - -Kara looked bewildered. - -“Your master has had adventures?” said the Ranee. - -“Many, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Adventures with men?” said the Ranee. - -“Yes, my lady,” said Kara. - -“And adventures with--women?” said the Ranee. - -“No, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Oh, he must have!” said the Ranee. - -“I do not know, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Try to recollect!” said the Ranee. - -“I cannot, my lady,” said Kara. - -“You refuse to tell me?” said the Ranee. - -“I have nothing to tell, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Nothing to tell--after seven years!” said the Ranee. - -“My duty has been to serve him,” said Kara. - -“And your duty is now to amuse me!” said the Ranee. - -“I am sorry, my lady,” said Kara. - -“So am I!” said the Ranee. - -“Is there anything more, my lady?” said Kara. - -“No--you may go!” said the Ranee.... - -The next night the Ranee sent for Kara a third time. - -Kara stood at the door. - -“Come here!” said the Ranee. - -Kara came into the room. - -“Here before me!” said the Ranee. - -Kara approached her. - -“Here beside me!” said the Ranee. - -Kara hesitated. - -The Ranee sprang to her feet. - -She flung herself upon his breast. - -She curled her arms around his neck. - -She kissed him on the mouth. - -“I love you!” whispered the Ranee. - -He resisted her. - -He repulsed her. - -He pushed her away from him. - -“My lady!” cried Kara. “I--” - -“You--what?” said the Ranee. - -“I--must--go!” said Kara. - -“Why?” said the Ranee. - -“I am a servant,” said Kara. - -“I have forgotten that!” said the Ranee. - -“But I have not!” said Kara. - -“What do you mean?” said the Ranee. - -“I am the servant of the Rajah--your husband!” said Kara. - -“What of that?” said the Ranee. - -“I serve--_him_!” said Kara. - -“And not--me?” said the Ranee. - -“I serve--_him_!” repeated Kara. - -“You must serve me too!” said the Ranee. - -“In what way, my lady?” said Kara. - -“You must--love me!” said the Ranee. - -“I--cannot!” said Kara. - -“You--must!” said the Ranee. - -“I--will not!” said Kara. - -She flung her arms around him again. - -And again he pushed her away from him. - -“He will never know!” whispered the Ranee. - -“I cannot stay!” said Kara. - -“I will give you money!” said the Ranee. - -“I must go!” said Kara. - -“Do you know what you are doing?” said the Ranee. - -“I know, my lady!” said Kara. - -“And do you know what _I_ can do?” said the Ranee. - -“I know that too, my lady!” said Kara. - -“Very well, then!” said the Ranee; “you need not wait! You may go! But -you shall go--to the dungeon!” - -He stood silent. - -She hesitated. - -“Do you hear?” said the Ranee. - -“I hear, my lady,” said Kara. - -“Which do you choose,” said the Ranee; “the dungeon, and chains, or -gold, and _me_?” - -“I am the Rajah’s servant,” said Kara, “but it is for the Ranee to put -me in chains,--if she sees fit to do so!” - -“And by heaven, I _do_ see fit to do so!” said the Ranee. - -She struck a gong. - -A servant entered. - -“Call the guard!” said the Ranee. - -The servant clapped his hands. - -Two guardsmen appeared. - -“This man has made an attack upon me!” said the Ranee. “Put him in -chains, and throw him into the dungeon--until the Rajah returns!” - -The guard seized upon Kara, and led him out of the apartment of the -Ranee. - -And the Ranee, left to the women who came hurrying to her assistance, -gave way to a fit of rage. - -“The dog, the dog, the dog!” cried the Ranee. - -And, in her fury, she tore her veil to shreds. - -This veil was, in the East, the symbol of modesty.... - - * * * * * - -Three days later, the Rajah of Jurma returned to his palace. - -He went at once to the apartment of the Ranee. - -And the Ranee at once informed him of the attack made upon her by Kara, -his servant. - -“It seems incredible!” cried the Rajah. - -“But it is true!” cried the Ranee. - -“What did he do?” said the Rajah. - -“As soon as you went away,” said the Ranee, “in fact, the very first -night you were gone, he came to me and said that you had left him to -guard me, and that he meant to guard me from--loneliness! I dismissed -him. The next night he came a second time, and wanted to tell me of -your adventures--with women! I dismissed him again. And then the next -night he came a third time, and sprang upon me, and seized me in his -arms, and--” - -“He must be mad!” cried the Rajah. - -“Not at all!” cried the Ranee. - -“Where is he now?” said the Rajah. - -“He is in the dungeon!” said the Ranee. - -“What shall we do with him?” said the Rajah. - -“He must be punished!” said the Ranee. - -“Of course!” said the Rajah. - -“He should be whipped!” said the Ranee. - -“Very well,” said the Rajah. - -“And at once!” said the Ranee. - -“Without delay!” said the Rajah. - -“Have him brought here!” said the Ranee. - -The Rajah gave the order to a servant and in a short time Kara was -brought into the room, loaded with chains, and guarded by six men. - -Kara stood before the Rajah and the Ranee. - -His face was wan. - -His hair was wild. - -But his eyes-- - -His eyes were like the eyes of a faithful dog that has tried to lick -the hand of its master, and has been rewarded with a kick. - -Kara did not look at the Ranee. - -He only looked at the Rajah. - -“Kara, what thing is this that I hear--” began the Rajah. - -“Let him be whipped!” said the Ranee. - -“Kara, what demon possessed you that you should--” began the Rajah. - -“Let him be whipped!” cried the Ranee. - -“Kara--after all these years--” began the Rajah. - -“Shall I or shall I not be avenged?” cried the Ranee. - -“Let him be whipped!” said the Rajah. - -A strong man stepped forward. - -He bore a thick whip. - -And he lashed Kara across the back, again, and again, and again. - -Kara stood there, and never made a move, and never uttered a sound. - -“You are not hurting him!” cried the Ranee. “You are not trying to hurt -him! He does not feel it! Give _me_ the whip! Let _me_ punish him.” - -The Ranee sprang up from her couch, and seizing the whip from the -hands of the servant, herself began to brutally lash the body of the -unfortunate Kara. - -The flesh was ripped and torn. - -The blood streamed down his limbs. - -But still he made no move. - -And still he made no sound. - -The Ranee stopped. - -She turned to the Rajah. - -“Here, _you_ must whip him!” cried the Ranee. “It does not hurt him -coming from me! But it _may_ hurt him coming from you!” - -“But I--” began the Rajah. - -“I must be avenged!” cried the Ranee, “and _you_ must avenge me!” - -The Rajah took the bloodstained whip from the hands of the Ranee. - -He raised it aloft. - -But Kara fell to the ground before the blow was struck. - -He had fainted. - - - - -BETTY AND BUDDHA - - -Betty was tired of Bob. - -And Bert. - -And Reggie. - -So she took up with Buddha. - -Bob was too hot. - -Bert was too cold. - -And Reggie was neither hot nor cold--merely lukewarm. - -Men seemed all wrong. - -But Buddha seemed just right. - -One need never worry about him. - -He could always be relied upon. - -So Betty made a fuss of him. - -She got silver for his garments. - -And gold for his features. - -And pearls for his eyes. - -First she gave him a shrine. - -Then she gave him a corner of a room. - -And finally she gave him a whole room to himself. - -She got oriental draperies for the wall, oriental rugs for the floor, -and oriental odds and ends for every nook and cranny. - -And, last but not least, she got oriental silks and satins and -jewels--for herself. - -She said that these were for--Buddha. - -But, be that as it may, she looked very well in them. - -And, in her heart of hearts, she was well aware of the fact. - -Betty had never been on the stage. - -But she had acted--all her life. - -She had played the heroine in many little comedies and tragedies. - -And in this, her latest production--she had Buddha for the hero. - -Betty was not only a temperamental actress--she was also an artistic -stage manager. - -She had a wonderful eye for situations and effects. - -She always saw that the scenes were properly set. - -And she loved art for art’s sake. - -But to-day she wished that she had an audience to view the -performance--or, at any rate, that she had a few dramatic critics -present. - -It was matinee. - -The hour was four o’clock. - -Curtains were drawn over the windows. - -Candles were lighted in brackets. - -Incense was burning in braziers. - -And Betty wore her Eastern robes. - -She was draped in yellow silk. - -She was decked in golden ornaments. - -And she was possessed of the spirit of adoration.... - -She sang to Buddha. - -A song of praise. - -Her voice was sweet. - -She danced for Buddha. - -A dance of joy. - -Her steps were light. - -She prayed for Buddha. - -A prayer of peace. - -Her eyes were sad. - -“O Buddha!” cried Betty, “I would learn of thee! Teach me thy will!” - -She stood before him. - -But Buddha made no sign. - -“O Buddha!” cried Betty, “I do not ask for much--only for a little!” - -She knelt before him. - -Still Buddha made no sign. - -“O Buddha!” cried Betty. “I would be at peace! At peace with the -world!” - -She prostrated herself before him. - -And still Buddha made no sign. - -Betty waited. - -And waited. - -And waited.... - -All of a sudden there was a sound. - -Betty started. - -What could it be? - -The sound was repeated. - -It was a knock at the door. - -Betty heaved a sigh. - -She rose to her feet. - -“Come in!” said Betty. - -A servant entered the room. - -“What is it?” said Betty. - -“Mr. Billy is here,” said the servant. - -“Show him in!” said Betty. - -Her face was a study. - -The servant left the room. - -Betty went to a glass. - -She inspected herself. - -She was satisfied with the reflection. - -She had cause to be. - -A man entered the room. - -This was “Mr. Billy.” - -“Hello, Betty!” said Billy. - -“Hello, Billy!” said Betty. - -“Am I disturbing you?” said Billy. - -“Not at all!” said Betty. - -“Would you rather I went away?” said Billy. - -“On the contrary!” said Betty. - -She curled herself on her divan under a canopy. - -He perched himself on a stool beside her. - -She rattled her bracelets. - -He stroked his chin. - -“You look very charming,” said Billy. - -“I feel very happy,” said Betty. - -“May I ask what you have been doing?” said Billy. - -“You may,” said Betty. - -“And will you tell me?” said Billy. - -“I will,” said Betty. - -“Well?” said Billy. - -“I have been worshipping Buddha!” said Betty. - -“Not really?” said Billy. - -“Yes really!” said Betty. - -“Do you believe in him?” said Billy. - -“Of course!” said Betty. - -“I don’t!” said Billy. - -“You don’t believe in anything,” said Betty. - -“Oh, yes, I do,” said Billy. - -“Well, what do you believe in?” said Betty. - -“I believe in--you!” said Billy. - -“Be serious!” said Betty. - -“I am!” said Billy. - -“But Buddha is a god,” said Betty. - -“And you are a goddess,” said Billy. - -“But he answers my prayers,” said Betty. - -“And you answer mine,” said Billy. - -“Do I?” said Betty. - -“I hope so!” said Billy. - -“What do you pray for?” said Betty. - -“Shall I tell you?” said Billy. - -“I’ve asked you to,” said Betty. - -“I pray for love!” said Billy. - -“Ah!” said Betty. - -“For your love,” said Billy. - -“Oh!” said Betty. - -“Do you answer my prayer?” said Billy. - -“I--don’t--know!” said Betty. - -He leaned towards her. - -He took her in his arms. - -And he breathed his prayer--with a kiss. - -She shrank from him. - -She hid her face. - -And then she answered his prayer--and his kiss.... - -Her head, with its glittering ornaments, rested on his shoulder. - -Her arms, with their jingling bangles, twined around his neck. - -And her mouth, with its maddening caress, clung to his. - -The candles cast a soft glow over them. - -The incense sent a sweet odor around them. - -And Buddha kept a watchful eye upon them.... - -Billy was about to kiss her again. - -But Betty released herself from his embrace. - -She got up. - -She walked over to the shrine. - -And she turned Buddha around--so that he could not see. - -Then she went back to Billy--and answered his prayer, and his kiss--all -over again.... - - * * * * * - -In the beginning, we stated that Betty was tired of Bob. - -And Bert. - -And Reggie. - -And, in the end, we will state that Betty was tired of Buddha, too. - -Buddha was only a god. - -But Betty was not tired of Billy. - -Billy was--a man! - - - - -MRS. PEPPER IN PARIS - - -MRS. PEPPER went to Paris. - -She went alone. - -And so she was--lonely. - -Why had she ever left New York? - -Why had she ever wanted to leave New York? - -Why had she ever wanted to leave New York--alone? - -Tom had offered to go with her. - -And so had Dick. - -And so had Harry. - -But she had wanted to be alone. - -And she got what she wanted. - -And a great deal more. - -Good Lord! - -What a place! - -What a disgusting place! - -Nothing to see! - -Nowhere to go! - -Nothing to do! - -Who thought that Paris was gay? - -Mrs. Pepper didn’t! - -She thought that it was miserable. - -Who thought that French women were stylish? - -Mrs. Pepper didn’t! - -She thought that they were frumps! - -Who thought that French men were polite? - -Mrs. Pepper didn’t! - -She thought that they were boors! - -So she wrote to Tom, in New York. - -And to Dick, in New York. - -And to Harry, in New York. - -And she said, “I hate Paris!” - -In the morning, she walked--alone. - -Mile after mile. - -In the afternoon, she drove--alone. - -Hour after hour. - -In the evening, she dined--alone. - -Course after course. - -But what was the good of anything? - -Nothing! - -She met a Count. - -But he was a Frenchman. - -And a puppet. - -She met a Baron. - -But he was a Russian. - -And a savage. - -Then she met--a Man. - -He was an American. - -And a gentleman. - -She met him in the Bois de Boulogne. - -It was in the morning. - -She was walking. - -So was he. - -She was walking up. - -He was walking down. - -They met. - -He looked at her. - -She looked at him. - -They passed. - -He looked around. - -So did she. - -She walked on. - -He followed her. - -She knew when he was behind her. - -She knew when he was beside her. - -And then he spoke. - -“I beg your pardon!” said the Man. - -“What is it?” said the Woman. - -“Please do not misunderstand me,” said the Man. - -“I will try not to,” said the Woman. - -“I am an American,” said the Man. - -“Yes,” said the Woman. - -“I am here alone,” said the Man. - -“Well?” said the Woman. - -“And I am--lonely,” said the Man. - -“What has this to do with me?” said the Woman. - -“That is what I want to know,” said the Man. - -“Indeed?” said the Woman. - -“You are an American,” said the Man. - -“Yes,” said the Woman. - -“You are here alone,” said the Man. - -“I am,” said the Woman. - -“And you are--lonely,” said the Man. - -“I am--not,” said the Woman. - -“Oh, I thought you were!” said the Man. - -“Well, you have made a mistake!” said the Woman. - -“You _have_ misunderstood me!” said the Man. - -“No,” said the Woman, “_you_ have misunderstood _me_!” - -She walked away. - -He stood still. - - * * * * * - -That afternoon, when she drove, she saw the Man and he saw her. - -That night, when she dined, she saw the Man and he saw her. - -The next morning, when she walked, she saw the Man and he saw her. - -And so it went--morning, noon and night. - -Day after day. - -He never spoke. - -He never made a sign. - -And neither did she. - -But he was always--there. - - * * * * * - -Now he was a Man. - -And she was a Woman. - -He was an American. - -And so was she. - -So at last--one evening, in the foyer of the hotel, she bowed to him. - -He came over to her. - -She held out her hand. - -He took it. - -He looked into her eyes. - -She looked into his. - -“You _are_ lonely!” said the Man. - -“No,” said the Woman, “not any more!” - - * * * * * - -Mrs. Pepper wrote to Tom, in New York. - -And to Dick, in New York. - -And to Harry, in New York. - -And she said, “I love Paris!” - - - - -MOON-MADNESS - - -IT was noontime. - -Noontime in Bombay. - -Nana Lalla fared forth through the town. - -The streets were narrow and winding. - -They were lined with shops. - -Goldsmiths and silversmiths. - -Fruit-shops and sweet-shops. - -Merchants and money changers. - -Before these booths people stopped and stared. - -Bargained and bartered. - -Went in, or went on. - -Great throngs tramped up and down. - -To and fro. - -Shoulder to shoulder. - -Some in flowing robes. - -Some in scanty rags. - -Dogs trotted at one’s side. - -Bullocks pushed at one’s back. - -And all the time the sun shone in the sky. - -Shone like a ball of fire. - -It burned the world with its blazing beams. - -Nana Lalla hated the day. - -And she loathed the sun. - -She did not look to the left. - -Nor to the right. - -She looked straight before her. - -And she went her way. - - * * * * * - -It was midnight. - -Midnight in Bombay. - -Nana Lalla was in her room. - -She lay on her couch. - -Her eyes were open. - -But she was dreaming. - -Dreaming of sweet-smelling flowers. - -And soft-splashing fountains. - -And bright-beaming eyes. - -Of such things the poets prated. - -Of such things the singers sang. - -And Nana Lalla had read the poets’ rhymes. - -And Nana Lalla had heard the singers’ melodies. - -She delighted in these things. - -Delighted in them exceedingly. - -She tossed and she turned. - -She sighed and she sobbed. - -And then she arose. - -She went to the window. - -She looked through the lattice. - -The moon shone in the sky. - -Shone like a pool of silver. - -It bathed the world in liquid light. - -Nana Lalla loved the night. - -And she worshipped the moon. - - * * * * * - -Nana Lalla wound a scarf about her body. - -Draped a shawl over her head. - -And slipped sandals on her feet. - -She stole out of her room. - -She slipped out of the house. - -And once again she fared forth through the town. - - * * * * * - -Never had Nana Lalla known such a night. - -Never had Nana Lalla seen such a moon. - -So soft, and so silver. - -So gentle, and so gracious. - -And yet with all, so--maddening. - -Nana Lalla’s eyes sparkled. - -Nana Lalla’s hands trembled. - -And Nana Lalla’s heart beat high. - -Oh, could she only flee away from the city! - -Could she only flee away to the country! - -Could she only flee away--by the light of the moon! - -Or else--could only something happen! - -Something strange. - -Something sweet. - -If only-- - -Someone stood before her. - -Someone spoke to her. - -Someone touched her arm. - -It was a man. - -And yes--his eyes were sparkling too. - -His hands were trembling also. - -And his heart was beating as wildly as was hers. - -She could see. - -She could tell. - -She could feel. - -He and she were alone. - -Alone at midnight. - -And the moon was shining. - -How she loved the moon! - -And perhaps he loved it too. - -Nana Lalla was not afraid. - -Instead, she was full of hope. - -He must _love_ the moon--even as did she! - -So, when he touched her, she did not shrink away. - -When he took her in his arms, she yielded herself. - -And when he kissed her--she responded.... - -The Man always remembered Nana Lalla. - -He had loved her. - -And he thought that she had loved him. - -But Nana Lalla soon forgot the Man. - -She had not loved him. - -She had only loved--the Moon.... - - - THE END - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - -On page 60, spang has been changed to sprang. - -All other spelling has been retained as typeset. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOON MADNESS AND OTHER -FANTASIES *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Moon madness and other fantasies</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Aimee Crocker Gouraud</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 4, 2022 [eBook #68685]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: D A Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by University of California libraries)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOON MADNESS AND OTHER FANTASIES ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter hide" style="width: 40%"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px"> -<img src="images/i_frontispiece.jpg" alt="Photo of the Author" /> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h1><span class="u">Moon-Madness</span></h1></div> - -<p class="center">and</p> - -<p class="ph2"><span class="u">Other Fantasies</span></p> - -<p class="center">by</p> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="u">Aimée Crocker Gouraud</span></p> - -<p class="center p4b">(4th Edition)</p> - -<hr class="r25" /> - -<p class="center p4">Broadway Publishing Co.<br /> -835 Broadway      New York</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center">COPYRIGHT 1910<br /> -<span class="smcap">By</span><br /> -BROADWAY PUBLISHING CO.</p></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><i>To</i><br /> -THOSE WHO KNOW</p></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px"> -<img src="images/i_contents.jpg" alt="Table of Contents" /> -</div></div> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" summary="CONTENTS"> - -<tr><td class="tdr">1<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—Our Lady of Red Lips</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">2<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—Paula Loved Pearls</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_17">19</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">3<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—The Dance of the Cobra</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">31</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">4<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—The Painted Mrs. Perry</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_41">43</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">5<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—Kara the Faithful</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_51">53</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">6<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—Betty and Buddha</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_67">69</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">7<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—Mrs. Pepper in Paris</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_77">79</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">8<sup>o</sup></td> -<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">—Moon-Madness</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_85">87</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px"> -<img src="images/i_ourlady.jpg" alt="Our Lady of Red Lips" /> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> -<p class="ph1"><span class="smcap">Moon-Madness</span></p> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak">OUR LADY OF RED LIPS</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">T</span>he</span> place was Paris.</p> - -<p>A man stood in front of an art-dealer’s -window, and looked at the -painted picture of a woman.</p> - -<p>The man was about twenty-five years of -age and extremely handsome.</p> - -<p>He was big and brawny.</p> - -<p>His hair was brown and curly, and his -eyes were blue and frank.</p> - -<p>The woman was about thirty years of age, -and exceedingly beautiful.</p> - -<p>She was small and slender.</p> - -<p>Her complexion was creamy white, her -hair was inky black, her eyes were dark -green, and her lips were bright red.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> -<p>If you were French, you could tell that -the man was American.</p> - -<p>And if you were an American, you could -tell that the woman was French.</p> - -<p>The man stood and stared at the picture.</p> - -<p>He stared at the white complexion—but -he had seen complexion like that before.</p> - -<p>He stared at the black hair—but he had -also seen hair like that before.</p> - -<p>He stared at the green eyes—but he had -even seen eyes like that before.</p> - -<p>He stared at the red lips—and he had -never seen lips like that before.</p> - -<p>He had never thought of such lips.</p> - -<p>He had never dreamed of such lips.</p> - -<p>Of course their vivid crimson color was -unnatural, fantastic, grotesque.</p> - -<p>The picture must have been designed for -a poster.</p> - -<p>But nevertheless it fascinated the man -strangely.</p> - -<p>The white face seemed to turn to him.</p> - -<p>The green eyes seemed to look at him.</p> - -<p>The red lips seemed to smile at him.</p> - -<p>The man hesitated.</p> - -<p>And then he went into the shop.</p> - -<p>“What is that picture?” said the man.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> -<p>“That is the portrait of a lady,” said the -proprietor.</p> - -<p>“Who painted it?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“Paul Gaspard,” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“Is he well known?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“He would have been—had he lived,” -said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“Is he dead?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the proprietor, “he died six -months ago, under peculiar circumstances.”</p> - -<p>“Tell me about it,” said the man.</p> - -<p>“He was young, and he was clever, and -he was handsome,” said the proprietor, “men -admired him, and women loved him. The -lady who posed for this portrait was one -of those who loved him. She had loved -other men. She had loved an Italian prince. -But he died. She had loved an English -lord. But he died, also. And then—she -loved Paul Gaspard.”</p> - -<p>“And then he too died!” said the man.</p> - -<p>“Yes—and he too died!” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“How did he die?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“Nobody knows how—or why,” said the -proprietor. “He was found dead in his bed -one morning. That was all. There was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>some sort of a wound, or a scar, on his -breast, over his heart. For a time the coroner -was puzzled. At first there was some -thought of suicide—or even of murder. But, -in the end, the authorities decided that Paul -Gaspard had died from natural causes, and -there the matter ended.”</p> - -<p>“And the picture,” said the man.</p> - -<p>“The picture had just been finished on the -very day he died,” said the proprietor, “by -a strange coincidence.”</p> - -<p>“Very strange indeed!” said the man.</p> - -<p>“Paul Gaspard had from time to time -borrowed sums of money from me, until he -owed me in all some fifteen hundred francs,” -said the proprietor, “so when he died, and -left no money, I claimed the picture—and -I got it.”</p> - -<p>“And the lady who posed for it?” said the -man.</p> - -<p>“She left Paris as soon as Paul Gaspard -was in his grave,” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“Where did she go?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“To St. Petersburg—with a Russian -duke,” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“Is she there now?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“No, she is at Monte Carlo,” said the proprietor.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> -<p>“With the Russian duke?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“No, she is there alone,” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“Where is the Russian duke?” said the -man.</p> - -<p>“He is dead,” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“Dead?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“Yes, dead,” said the proprietor, “as dead -as all the rest of her lovers!”</p> - -<p>“The devil!” said the man.</p> - -<p>“Quite so!” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“And the name of this woman,” said the -man, “what is it?”</p> - -<p>“She calls herself Elise Du Barry,” said -the proprietor, “but other people call her -something else.”</p> - -<p>“What do they call her?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“‘Our Lady of Red Lips’!” said the proprietor.</p> - -<p>The man thanked the proprietor, and left -the shop.</p> - -<p>In the street he stopped before the window -once more, and stood and stared at the -picture.</p> - -<p>“‘Our Lady of Red Lips’,” muttered the -man.</p> - -<p>And, as he left the window, and walked -away, he murmured, “Monte Carlo!”</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p> -<p>That night the man dreamed a strange -and startling dream.</p> - -<p>First he dreamed of black hair.</p> - -<p>Hair as black as night.</p> - -<p>It covered the heavens and the earth. -There was nothing else in the world but -black hair.</p> - -<p>Then he dreamed of white skin.</p> - -<p>Skin as white as snow.</p> - -<p>It covered the heavens and the earth.</p> - -<p>There was nothing else in the world but -white skin.</p> - -<p>Then he dreamed of green eyes.</p> - -<p>Eyes as green as the sea.</p> - -<p>They covered the heavens and the earth.</p> - -<p>There was nothing else in the world but -green eyes.</p> - -<p>Then he dreamed of red lips.</p> - -<p>Lips as red as blood.</p> - -<p>They covered the heavens and the earth.</p> - -<p>There was nothing else in the world but -red lips.</p> - -<p>The lips kissed him on the brow.</p> - -<p>He felt as though he were swooning.</p> - -<p>The lips kissed him on the mouth.</p> - -<p>He felt as though he were dying.</p> - -<p>The lips kissed him on the heart.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p> -<p>He felt as though the world were coming -to an end.</p> - -<p>His soul was full of terror.</p> - -<p>He uttered a shriek.</p> - -<p>And then—he awoke.</p> - -<p>The next day the man left Paris.</p> - -<p>He went to Monte Carlo.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The man’s name was Howard Leslie.</p> - -<p>He was a New Yorker.</p> - -<p>He was an only son, and his father was a -millionaire.</p> - -<p>This was his first visit to Monte Carlo.</p> - -<p>He walked into the Casino.</p> - -<p>He looked at the people.</p> - -<p>They were strange to see.</p> - -<p>And the people looked at him.</p> - -<p>He was good to behold.</p> - -<p>The celebrated habitues of the place passed -before him.</p> - -<p>He saw Madame de Lara, the Italian -singer.</p> - -<p>And La Belle Bolero, the Spanish dancer.</p> - -<p>Yvonne Yvette, the French model.</p> - -<p>And Olga Maronoff, the Russian poetess.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span></p> -<p>And then—with a bound of the heart, and -a gasp of the breath—he saw <i>her</i>!</p> - -<p>Elise Du Barry—Our Lady of Red -Lips!...</p> - -<p>She wore a white satin evening gown.</p> - -<p>There were big pearls in her hair, around -her throat, and on her fingers.</p> - -<p>Her complexion was as white as her -gown.</p> - -<p>Not a touch of color, in her dress, or in -her face—except her mouth.</p> - -<p>But, just as the setting sun will dominate -an evening sky, so did this crimson mouth -dominate this ashen face, and this pallid -figure. One was conscious of the woman’s -mouth, first, last, and all the time.</p> - -<p>One could not help but be conscious of -it.</p> - -<p>Howard Leslie stood and stared at her.</p> - -<p>And she paused and glanced at him.</p> - -<p>How like she was to her portrait!</p> - -<p>Or rather, how like her portrait was to -her!</p> - -<p>At last the white face did in reality turn -to him!</p> - -<p>At last the green eyes did in reality look -at him!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> - -<p>At last the red lips did in reality smile -at him!</p> - -<p>And then Elise Du Barry passed by.</p> - -<p>Howard Leslie followed her.</p> - -<p>She sat at one of the tables.</p> - -<p>He stood beside her.</p> - -<p>She put down some gold—on the red.</p> - -<p>She lost.</p> - -<p>He put down some gold—on the black.</p> - -<p>He won.</p> - -<p>She looked up at him.</p> - -<p>He looked down at her.</p> - -<p>Their eyes met—his so frank and blue, -and hers so strange and green.</p> - -<p>He spoke to her.</p> - -<p>She answered him.</p> - -<p>He didn’t know what he was saying to -her.</p> - -<p>He didn’t know what she was saying to -him.</p> - -<p>He only knew that he and she were talking -together.</p> - -<p>He only knew that he and she were walking -together—out of the Casino....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>One month passed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> - -<p>And then, one day, all Monte Carlo, all -Europe, and in fact all the world, was surprised -and shocked to learn that Elise Du -Barry, a celebrated French beauty, had -been strangled at Monte Carlo, and that the -man in whose company she had been much -seen of late, Howard Leslie, a young -American millionaire, had become a raving -maniac. The madman, in his paroxysms, -constantly clutched his breast, where there -was some sort of a wound, or a scar, and -he continually cried,</p> - -<p>“Heart’s blood! Heart’s blood! Heart’s -blood!”</p> - -<p>The throat of Elise Du Barry had been -dreadfully disfigured by the strong hands -that had crushed the life out of her, but -her mouth was still a bright crimson color, -thus entitling the woman, even in death, to -the name by which she had been popularly -known in life—that of “Our Lady of Red -Lips.”...</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17-19]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="PAULA_LOVED_PEARLS">PAULA LOVED PEARLS</h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">P</span>aula</span> didn’t care for diamonds.</p> - -<p>Or rubies.</p> - -<p>Or emeralds.</p> - -<p>She only cared for pearls.</p> - -<p>And her feeling was more than mere admiration.</p> - -<p>It was—love.</p> - -<p>Passionate love.</p> - -<p>But she could not afford to have pearls -<i>to wear</i>.</p> - -<p>So she had to be content to have pearls -<i>to look at</i>.</p> - -<p>She used to stand in front of the jewellers’ -windows where there were pearls displayed.</p> - -<p>The rings delighted her.</p> - -<p>The brooches bewildered her.</p> - -<p>But the necklaces distracted her.</p> - -<p>She used to gaze at them.</p> - -<p>She used to gloat over them.</p> - -<p>And then she would go home—relieved.</p> - -<p>But not satisfied.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span></p> -<p>In her bedroom Paula had pictures on the -walls.</p> - -<p>Many were studies of women wearing -pearls.</p> - -<p>Empresses and actresses.</p> - -<p>In her bedroom Paula had books on the -tables.</p> - -<p>Many were volumes treating of pearls.</p> - -<p>Their formation and their history.</p> - -<p>Often Paula would go to sleep at night -reading one of these books.</p> - -<p>Or looking at one of these pictures.</p> - -<p>Then she would dream that she had pearls -of her own.</p> - -<p>Plenty of them.</p> - -<p>And she would be happy.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>So you see that Paula had a mania.</p> - -<p>But she also had a husband.</p> - -<p>Her husband didn’t have any money.</p> - -<p>But he had a position.</p> - -<p>A position with an exporting concern.</p> - -<p>This concern did business in the Far -East.</p> - -<p>So a time came when Paula’s husband was -sent to the Orient.</p> - -<p>And when Paula’s husband went there—he -took Paula with him.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span></p> -<p>They went to Japan.</p> - -<p>And to China.</p> - -<p>And to India.</p> - -<p>In India Paula saw strange things.</p> - -<p>She saw the Hindoos bathing in the sacred -Ganges.</p> - -<p>She saw the Parsees exposing their dead -to the vultures.</p> - -<p>And she saw fakirs making mango trees -grow out of seeds before one’s very eyes.</p> - -<p>And in India Paula heard strange things, -too.</p> - -<p>She heard of strange lives.</p> - -<p>And of strange deaths.</p> - -<p>And she heard of the Rajah of Raboda -who owned the finest pearls in the world.</p> - -<p>He was said to have pearl necklaces yards -long.</p> - -<p>And pearl pendants the size of walnuts.</p> - -<p>And he was said to be willing and glad -to display these treasures to any visitors -who cared to journey to his palace in the -hills to see them.</p> - -<p>Paula told her husband of these things.</p> - -<p>He was not interested.</p> - -<p>Paula asked her husband to take her to -Raboda.</p> - -<p>He declined.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> -<p>Paula asked her husband if she might go -there alone.</p> - -<p>He consented.</p> - -<p>So Paula got a letter of introduction from -the Consul.</p> - -<p>And she started for the hills.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Paula arrived at the Palace.</p> - -<p>She presented her credentials.</p> - -<p>And she was informed that she might see -the pearls.</p> - -<p>An attendant escorted her through corridors -and courts, into an apartment where, -in a glass case under iron bars, were displayed -the objects that Paula loved.</p> - -<p>Loved with all her heart.</p> - -<p>And with all her soul....</p> - -<p>Paula stood there transfixed with ecstasy.</p> - -<p>She stood there—she knew not how long.</p> - -<p>And then she became conscious that someone -was standing beside her.</p> - -<p>Someone was watching her.</p> - -<p>Paula looked up.</p> - -<p>She found herself facing a tall man wearing -a green satin robe and a lavender silk -turban.</p> - -<p>Around his neck was a string of pearls.</p> - -<p>In his turban was a clasp of pearls.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span></p> -<p>And in his eyes—was a strange expression....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>“I am the Rajah of Raboda,” said the -man.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” said the woman.</p> - -<p>“These pearls are mine,” said the man.</p> - -<p>“They are marvellous!” said the woman.</p> - -<p>“You like pearls?” said the man.</p> - -<p>“I—love—them!” said the woman.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It really was a strange thing that Paula -had not made a more advantageous marriage -than she had done.</p> - -<p>Her husband was not of much account.</p> - -<p>And Paula was—quite a beauty.</p> - -<p>Her complexion was dark.</p> - -<p>Her hair was black and glossy.</p> - -<p>Her eyes were black and fiery.</p> - -<p>And her lips were full and red.</p> - -<p>She was just the type to appeal to an -American millionaire.</p> - -<p>Or—to an Indian Prince.</p> - -<p>But Paula had never met an American -millionaire.</p> - -<p>And she had never met an Indian Prince—before....</p> - -<p>She looked at the face of the Rajah.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p> -<p>His skin was black.</p> - -<p>But his hair and his eyes were no blacker -than her own.</p> - -<p>If she only looked into his eyes, he might -have been a mate for her.</p> - -<p>If he only looked into her eyes she might -have been a mate for him.</p> - -<p>And now he <i>did</i> look into her eyes.</p> - -<p>And now she <i>did</i> look into his....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Paula loved pearls.</p> - -<p>And the Rajah loved—women.</p> - -<p>The Rajah <i>had</i> pearls.</p> - -<p>And Paula <i>was</i>—a woman.</p> - -<p>So they stood side by side.</p> - -<p>And they stared at one another.</p> - -<p>Then the Rajah showed Paula more -pearls.</p> - -<p>He conducted her about the palace.</p> - -<p>He offered her some refreshments.</p> - -<p>And he invited her to be his guest over -night.</p> - -<p>Paula accepted his attentions.</p> - -<p>And his invitation.</p> - -<p>She wondered if she were asleep.</p> - -<p>And if this were a dream.</p> - -<p>One of those marvellous dreams of hers.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p> -<p>She had imagined it all so often before.</p> - -<p>But no, this was not a vision!</p> - -<p>It was a reality!</p> - -<p>She was the guest of an Indian Prince.</p> - -<p>The Prince had the finest pearls in the -world.</p> - -<p>And he—liked her.</p> - -<p>She appealed to him.</p> - -<p>So Paula—thought, and thought, and -thought....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>That night the Rajah put on even more -gorgeous robes than he had worn during the -day.</p> - -<p>And even more splendid pearls.</p> - -<p>Paula forgot to look at his black face.</p> - -<p>She forgot to think of it.</p> - -<p>She only looked at his white pearls.</p> - -<p>She couldn’t think of anything else.</p> - -<p>The Rajah told Paula of how his ancestors -had obtained these pearls from afar.</p> - -<p>How they had sought for them.</p> - -<p>How they had fought for them.</p> - -<p><i>This</i> one had been in the eye of a Buddha.</p> - -<p><i>That</i> one had been the cause of a battle.</p> - -<p>And so on, and on, and on....</p> - -<p>Then he stopped speaking of—pearls.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span></p> -<p>And he started speaking of—her.</p> - -<p>His voice softened.</p> - -<p>His eyes brightened</p> - -<p>And at last—he said it.</p> - -<p>He was a prince.</p> - -<p>He possessed pearls.</p> - -<p>He—loved—her!....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>What did it matter?</p> - -<p>Where was the harm?</p> - -<p>What was a—husband?</p> - -<p>What was—anything?</p> - -<p>The Rajah held her hand in his.</p> - -<p>There were pearls in the rings on his -fingers.</p> - -<p>The Rajah put his arm around her -waist.</p> - -<p>There were pearls in the bracelets on his -wrists.</p> - -<p>The Rajah crushed her to his breast.</p> - -<p>There were pearls in the chains around -his neck....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Paula returned to her husband.</p> - -<p>She wore a string of pearls around her -throat.</p> - -<p>She gave her husband an explanation.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> -<p>She said that she had bought the pearls -in a shop.</p> - -<p>She told him that they were imitation.</p> - -<p>And he believed her.</p> - -<p>And she despised him for it.</p> - -<p>Poor fool!</p> - -<p>He didn’t know the value of pearls.</p> - -<p>But the Rajah of Raboda did.</p> - -<p>And so did Paula!...</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29-31]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_DANCE_OF_THE_COBRA">THE DANCE OF THE COBRA</h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">T</span>he</span> Place was the Harem.</p> - -<p>The Time was the Morning.</p> - -<p>And the Occasion was the Toilet.</p> - -<p>The wives and the women of the Maharajah -were being made beautiful for the -pleasure of their lord and master.</p> - -<p>Their bodies were bathed in the pool.</p> - -<p>And anointed with oils.</p> - -<p>And burnished with buffers.</p> - -<p>With infinite care and patience, blue veins -were traced on their limbs, and red tips were -painted on their breasts.</p> - -<p>Their raven locks were scented, and their -dusky cheeks were tinted.</p> - -<p>Their eyes were darkened with kohl, and -their mouths were brightened with carmine.</p> - -<p>The nails of their fingers and of their toes -were stained a ruddy hue.</p> - -<p>But none of the wives or the women demanded -or received more care or attention -than did Lotus Flower, the favorite dancing -girl of the Maharajah.</p> - -<p>For none was so lithe of limb nor so -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>supple of joint as was this same Lotus -Flower.</p> - -<p>She it was who could sway the slowest.</p> - -<p>And she it was who could whirl the -fastest.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower was a young Circassian -beauty.</p> - -<p>She had been brought from Bagdad.</p> - -<p>For two days the Maharajah had had in -the palace as his guest an English officer, -one Captain Esme Lawrence.</p> - -<p>And for two nights Lotus Flower had -been summoned to the Court of Delight to -dance before the visitor.</p> - -<p>The first night Lotus Flower had performed -the Dance of the Flames.</p> - -<p>She had pirouetted in and out among -lighted candles.</p> - -<p>The English officer had watched her intently.</p> - -<p>The second night Lotus Flower had performed -the Dance of the Sword.</p> - -<p>During her gyrations she had borne a -scimitar upon her head.</p> - -<p>Again the English officer had watched -her intently.</p> - -<p>To-night Lotus Flower was to perform -the Dance of the Cobra.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p> -<p>And to-morrow morning the English officer -was to go away.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower must do credit to the Maharajah.</p> - -<p>And to herself.</p> - -<p>She did not need to be told so.</p> - -<p>She understood it fully.</p> - -<p>So she devoted the entire morning to the -beautifying of her body.</p> - -<p>And she devoted the entire afternoon to -the selecting of her adornments.</p> - -<p>The English officer had watched her -hands.</p> - -<p>So she put jingling bracelets around her -wrists.</p> - -<p>The English officer had watched her feet.</p> - -<p>So she put jangling bangles around her -ankles.</p> - -<p>The English officer had watched her -body.</p> - -<p>So she swathed herself in gleaming gauze.</p> - -<p>And the English officer had watched her -face.</p> - -<p>So she painted, perfumed and powdered -until even the other dancing girls admitted -among themselves that Lotus Flower had -never looked lovelier.</p> - -<p>But still Lotus Flower was not satisfied.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> -<p>The English officer had watched her eyes.</p> - -<p>So she put cosmetics around them to make -them darker.</p> - -<p>And she put cosmetics into them to make -them brighter.</p> - -<p>But that was not why he had watched her.</p> - -<p>That was not <i>how</i> he had watched her.</p> - -<p>He had looked beyond the blackness of -cosmetics.</p> - -<p>He had looked beyond the whiteness of -cosmetics.</p> - -<p>He had looked in, in, in—to her soul.</p> - -<p>And her soul had looked out, out, out—to -him.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower realized that she did not -need kohl and carmine with which to charm -the English officer.</p> - -<p>And this knowledge made her glad.</p> - -<p>And this knowledge made her sad, too—at -the same time.</p> - -<p>Do you doubt that such a paradoxical -state of mind could exist?</p> - -<p>Out upon you then,—truly you can know -but little of the ways of woman!...</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>That night a splendid repast was served -in the Great Banquet Hall.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> -<p>Afterwards the Maharajah escorted his -guest to the Court of Delight.</p> - -<p>Two throne-like chairs were brought forward -for the two men, the Indian Prince -and the English officer.</p> - -<p>The Maharajah wore pantaloons of crimson -silk, a coat of purple velvet embroidered -in gold, and a turban of yellow silk embellished -with an aigrette of diamonds.</p> - -<p>Around his neck were strings of pearls.</p> - -<p>And on his fingers were enormous rubies.</p> - -<p>The Maharajah was an ugly man.</p> - -<p>But he looked magnificent.</p> - -<p>Captain Lawrence wore the conventional -evening clothes of an English gentleman.</p> - -<p>He was a handsome man.</p> - -<p>And he looked attractive.</p> - -<p>A young boy with a stringed instrument -sang two songs for them.</p> - -<p>One was a song of joy.</p> - -<p>And one was a song of sorrow.</p> - -<p>An old man with a black cloth did some -tricks for them.</p> - -<p>First he made various objects appear out -of the cloth.</p> - -<p>And then he made various objects disappear -into it.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> -<p>Finally, to the beating of tom-toms, and -the lilting of pipes, Lotus Flower was -brought forward for her part of the performance.</p> - -<p>She bowed before the Maharajah, but she -almost forgot to look at him.</p> - -<p>Then she looked at Captain Lawrence, but -she almost forgot to bow to him.</p> - -<p>The Maharajah looked at Lotus Flower -and he smiled.</p> - -<p>Captain Lawrence looked at Lotus Flower -and he did not smile.</p> - -<p>He was too much interested in her to remember -to smile.</p> - -<p>Just as she was too much interested in -him to remember to bow.</p> - -<p>Once more she felt that he was looking -in, in, in—to her soul.</p> - -<p>And once more she felt that her soul was -looking out, out, out—to him.</p> - -<p>“Lotus Flower,” said the Maharajah, -“you must dance your best to-night!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my lord,” said Lotus Flower.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow our guest departs,” said the -Maharajah.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my lord,” said Lotus Flower.</p> - -<p>“He returns to England—where he is going -to be married,” said the Maharajah.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> -<p>Lotus Flower stood and stared.</p> - -<p>Her heart stopped beating.</p> - -<p>She gasped for breath.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my lord,” said Lotus Flower.</p> - -<p>She had known that the English officer -was departing the next day.</p> - -<p>But she had not known that he was going -to leave India.</p> - -<p>She had not known that he was going -back to England.</p> - -<p>And she had not known that he—was going -to be married.</p> - -<p>Somehow, she had imagined, from his -eyes, that he was going to stay in India.</p> - -<p>Somehow, she had imagined, from his -eyes, that she was going to see him again.</p> - -<p>Somehow, she had imagined, from his -eyes, that he—and she—</p> - -<p>But now, all her hopes had been shattered.</p> - -<p>All her dreams had been dispelled.</p> - -<p>There was nothing for her to do—but to -dance!...</p> - -<p>And so she began.</p> - -<p>She waved her arms.</p> - -<p>Her bracelets jingled.</p> - -<p>She stamped her feet.</p> - -<p>Her anklets jangled.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> -<p>The tom-toms began to throb.</p> - -<p>The pipes began to lilt.</p> - -<p>And Lotus Flower started to perform the -Dance of the Cobra.</p> - -<p>She swayed from side to side.</p> - -<p>She darted to and fro.</p> - -<p>She floated backwards and forwards.</p> - -<p>Slowly at first.</p> - -<p>Then faster and faster.</p> - -<p>Finally she stopped.</p> - -<p>“Is that the end of the Dance of the -Cobra?” asked Captain Lawrence.</p> - -<p>“No,” said the Maharajah, “that is only -the beginning.”</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower had been nerving herself -for the ordeal.</p> - -<p>She had been working herself up for the -performance.</p> - -<p>And now it began in earnest.</p> - -<p>A strong eunuch stood guard over a big -basket.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower stooped down, lifted the -cover, thrust in her arms, and drew out a -large cobra.</p> - -<p>The cobra wriggled and writhed in her -clutch.</p> - -<p>The tom-toms started again.</p> - -<p>And the pipes.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> -<p>At first, Lotus Flower held the cobra far -from her.</p> - -<p>Then a little closer.</p> - -<p>And at last, she placed it upon her body.</p> - -<p>As she danced around, the cobra twined -about her.</p> - -<p>It crawled in and out among the soft folds -of her gauzy drapery.</p> - -<p>It disarranged the coverings of her shoulders.</p> - -<p>And of her breast.</p> - -<p>And of her waist.</p> - -<p>Thus it was that Lotus Flower postured -and posed before the Maharajah and his -guest, her naked body gleaming under the -light of the lamps, and the great cruel cobra -crawling over her lithe young limbs.</p> - -<p>The cobra twined about her shoulders.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower darted here and there.</p> - -<p>The cobra twisted about her thighs.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower rushed hither and thither.</p> - -<p>She seemed fairly to fly.</p> - -<p>The notes of the music accompanied her.</p> - -<p>And then, suddenly, the music ceased, and -two big eunuchs sprang forward to tear the -cobra from her body.</p> - -<p>That was part of the performance.</p> - -<p>The climax had come.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> -<p>But—what was this?</p> - -<p>Had the dancer gone mad?</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower fought off the eunuchs.</p> - -<p>She clung to the cobra.</p> - -<p>It pressed tightly about her waist.</p> - -<p>But Lotus Flower pressed it tighter still.</p> - -<p>The eunuchs fought with her.</p> - -<p>But Lotus Flower fought against them.</p> - -<p>The Maharajah sprang up from his chair.</p> - -<p>And Captain Lawrence sprang up from -his.</p> - -<p>They rushed towards the unfortunate -dancer, to assist the eunuchs in attempting -to save her.</p> - -<p>But it was too late.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower lay on the ground.</p> - -<p>The cobra was coiled about her in a grip -of steel.</p> - -<p>A grip of steel that would crush the life -out of any human being.</p> - -<p>Lotus Flower, the favorite dancing girl -of the Maharajah, was dead....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Two days later Captain Esme Lawrence -left India, and went back to England—to -be married.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41-43]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_PAINTED_MRS_PERRY">THE PAINTED MRS. PERRY</h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">H</span>e</span> was twenty.</p> - -<p>She was thirty-five.</p> - -<p>There was fifteen years difference -between them.</p> - -<p>And a great deal more.</p> - -<p>Gordon was simple, even for twenty.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Perry was complex, even for thirty-five.</p> - -<p>He didn’t know anything.</p> - -<p>She knew everything.</p> - -<p>They were both good-looking.</p> - -<p>He was good-looking, and he looked -good.</p> - -<p>She was good-looking, and she looked -bad.</p> - -<p>He had a healthy face, and a wholesome -manner.</p> - -<p>She had an unhealthy face, and an unwholesome -manner.</p> - -<p>He was absolutely natural.</p> - -<p>She was absolutely artificial.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span></p> -<p>Until Gordon met Mrs. Perry, he had only -known girls, school girls.</p> - -<p>He had never known a woman, a woman-of-the-world.</p> - -<p>Gordon had a man-friend.</p> - -<p>The man-friend had a woman-friend.</p> - -<p>The woman-friend was Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>Gordon was at a cafe with the man.</p> - -<p>The woman was there with another man.</p> - -<p>Gordon and the woman were introduced.</p> - -<p>They came, they saw, and they conquered.</p> - -<p>He conquered her.</p> - -<p>And she conquered him.</p> - -<p>He had never seen anything quite so wonderful -as this woman.</p> - -<p>She fascinated him.</p> - -<p>And she had never seen anything quite -so wonderful as this boy.</p> - -<p>He fascinated her.</p> - -<p>She invited him to call on her.</p> - -<p>He accepted the invitation.</p> - -<p>And he called.</p> - -<p>She had suggested nine P. M.</p> - -<p>So at nine P. M. he came.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Perry lived in her own house.</p> - -<p>Gordon was ushered into the drawing-room.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span></p> -<p>The walls were hung with pink silken -brocade.</p> - -<p>The floor was covered with pink silken -rugs.</p> - -<p>The lamps were shaded with pink silken -screens.</p> - -<p>Pink roses were in vases and bowls on the -gilded mantel-piece, and on the gilded -tables.</p> - -<p>The gilded furniture was upholstered in -pink brocade.</p> - -<p>And Mrs. Perry was dressed in black.</p> - -<p>She wore a long clinging robe, low at the -neck, and short at the sleeves.</p> - -<p>In her ears, on her breast, and on her -fingers, were big barbaric looking emeralds.</p> - -<p>On her face was a quantity of make-up.</p> - -<p>Her cheeks were painted white, her lids -were painted blue, and her lips were painted -red.</p> - -<p>Her hair was dyed the color of burnished -copper, and was worn in a weirdly wonderful -way.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Perry looked at Gordon.</p> - -<p>Gordon looked at Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>She smiled.</p> - -<p>He blushed.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p> -<p>She motioned to him to be seated—in a -chair beside a sofa.</p> - -<p>He took the chair—after she had taken -the sofa.</p> - -<p>He fidgetted with his hands.</p> - -<p>His hands were big and strong.</p> - -<p>She fidgetted with her feet.</p> - -<p>Her feet were small and shapely.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know if you would come or not,” -said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“But you invited me to!” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“I know I did,” said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“And I said that I would,” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“I know that too,” said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“Then why wouldn’t I come?” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” said Mrs. Perry, “but I -thought that you might be—afraid.”</p> - -<p>“Afraid of—what?” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“Afraid of—me,” said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“Of you?” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“Or of—yourself,” said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“Of myself?” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Mrs. Perry, “you are so good-looking.”</p> - -<p>Gordon blushed.</p> - -<p>“And so am I!” said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>Gordon stammered.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> -<p>“Don’t you think I am?” said Mrs. -Perry.</p> - -<p>“Of course I do!” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“And don’t you know that you are?” said -Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“Of course I don’t!” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“Well, <i>I do</i>!” said Mrs. Perry, “and <i>you</i> -are!”</p> - -<p>She put her feet up on the sofa, so that -she was reclining at full length beside him.</p> - -<p>He moved his chair away.</p> - -<p>“Don’t go further!” said Mrs. Perry, -“but come nearer!”</p> - -<p>He came nearer.</p> - -<p>“That’s a good boy!” said Mrs. Perry, “a -very good boy!”</p> - -<p>He looked shy.</p> - -<p>She looked sly.</p> - -<p>“Do you object to my smoking?” said Mrs. -Perry.</p> - -<p>“Not at all,” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>He opened his case.</p> - -<p>She took a cigarette.</p> - -<p>He lighted it for her.</p> - -<p>“Since you have been obliging enough to -let me have a cigarette,” said Mrs. Perry, -“I will be obliging enough to let you have -a—kiss!”</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p> -<p>He looked amazed.</p> - -<p>She looked amused.</p> - -<p>He hesitated.</p> - -<p>She held up her face.</p> - -<p>He kissed her—on the mouth....</p> - -<p>“And now we are friends!” said Mrs. -Perry, “but we must be more intimate -friends yet. We must know one another -better. Much better. Very much better. -Mustn’t we?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>She put out her hand and touched him -on the knee.</p> - -<p>He shrank away from her.</p> - -<p>She blew a puff of smoke into his face.</p> - -<p>“You must tell me all about yourself,” -said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>And he did—under her clever manipulation.</p> - -<p>“And I must tell you all about myself,” -said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>But she did not—again under her clever -manipulation.</p> - -<p>When Gordon got up to go, the clock was -chiming twelve o’clock at night.</p> - -<p>And when Gordon finally did go, the clock -was chiming three o’clock in the morning.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> -<p>They had been together for six hours....</p> - -<p>Mrs. Perry asked Gordon to come again.</p> - -<p>He said that he would.</p> - -<p>And he did.</p> - -<p>The next night.</p> - -<p>And the next.</p> - -<p>And the next.</p> - -<p>And after that, he came every night—for -two weeks.</p> - -<p>He didn’t go anywhere else.</p> - -<p>He didn’t want to go anywhere else.</p> - -<p>First, Gordon and Mrs. Perry left the -pink drawing-room for the yellow sitting-room.</p> - -<p>And then, they left the yellow sitting-room -for the lavender boudoir.</p> - -<p>It was in the lavender boudoir one evening, -at the end of the two weeks, while they -were smoking perfumed cigarettes, and sipping -absinthe, Mrs. Perry made a strange -and startling statement.</p> - -<p>“Gordon,” said Mrs. Perry, “you must -never come to see me again!”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“I mean that you are a boy with a future,” -said Mrs. Perry, “and I am a woman -with a past.”</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> -<p>“Oh, don’t talk like that!” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“But I must talk like that!” said Mrs. -Perry, “you have a life before you, I have -a life behind me. We are not equally -matched.”</p> - -<p>“We are!” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“It isn’t fair,” said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“It is!” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“We can’t be friends,” said Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“We can,” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“No—we can’t,” said Mrs. Perry, “and -we—sha’n’t!”</p> - -<p>“But why—why?” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“Because you are a dear sweet boy,” said -Mrs. Perry, “and because I—I have got a -painted face!”</p> - -<p>“I love you,” said Gordon.</p> - -<p>“I have got a painted face,” repeated Mrs. -Perry.</p> - -<p>“I love you,” repeated Gordon.</p> - -<p>“Do you love me—in spite of my painted -face?” whispered Mrs. Perry.</p> - -<p>“No, I love you—on account of it!” whispered -Gordon.</p> - -<p>And it was so.</p> - -<p>And she knew it.</p> - -<p>The surprise was—that he knew it.</p> - -<p>But Gordon had learned a lot—in two -weeks....</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51-53]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="KARA_THE_FAITHFUL">KARA THE FAITHFUL</h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">W</span>hen</span> the Rajah of Jurma was -twenty-eight years of age, he believed -himself to be happy.</p> - -<p>But when the Rajah of Jurma was twenty-nine -years of age, he <i>knew</i> himself to be -happy.</p> - -<p>At twenty-eight, the Rajah had a noble -title and a splendid fortune.</p> - -<p>But at twenty-nine the Rajah had also—a -beautiful wife.</p> - -<p>So what more could mortal man desire?</p> - -<p>The Rajah had been brought up by a wise -father.</p> - -<p>He had been taught self-restraint.</p> - -<p>And he had become a virtuous man.</p> - -<p>The Ranee had been brought up by a -foolish mother.</p> - -<p>She had been taught self-indulgence.</p> - -<p>And she had become a vicious woman.</p> - -<p>The Rajah was kind and considerate.</p> - -<p>The Ranee was unkind and inconsiderate.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p> -<p>But the Ranee had a beautiful face.</p> - -<p>And the Rajah had a bountiful fortune.</p> - -<p>So when he had sought her hand in marriage, -she had readily consented.</p> - -<p>And the Rajah of Jurma deemed himself -blessed.</p> - -<p>In the morning she would walk with him.</p> - -<p>And he would smile with satisfaction.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon she would talk with him.</p> - -<p>And he would laugh with happiness.</p> - -<p>In the evening she would lie in his arms.</p> - -<p>And he would weep with ecstasy.</p> - -<p>He provided her with silken robes and -with jeweled ornaments.</p> - -<p>And she had a whole retinue of servants -to wait upon her.</p> - -<p>She had men to hold umbrellas over her -when she went out.</p> - -<p>She had men to sway fans above her when -she stayed in.</p> - -<p>And she had women to dress her and to -undress her, and to do her bidding throughout -the day and throughout the night.</p> - -<p>These, and more, had the Ranee.</p> - -<p>But the Rajah had—Kara.</p> - -<p>And the Ranee was—jealous.</p> - -<p>And something—else.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p> -<p>Kara was the personal attendant of the -Rajah.</p> - -<p>He was five years younger than his master.</p> - -<p>And five times handsomer.</p> - -<p>At least he seemed so—to the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Kara had been in the service of the Rajah -for seven years.</p> - -<p>And he was highly thought of.</p> - -<p>He had proved himself worthy of the confidence -that had been placed in him.</p> - -<p>He had accompanied his master into danger.</p> - -<p>He had served him in health.</p> - -<p>And he had nursed him in sickness.</p> - -<p>So all this meant a great deal to the Rajah.</p> - -<p>(The Rajah had been brought up by a -wise father.)</p> - -<p>But all this meant nothing whatever to -the Ranee.</p> - -<p>(The Ranee had been brought up by a -foolish mother.)</p> - -<p>The Rajah always saw in Kara a faithful -servant.</p> - -<p>The Ranee only saw in Kara—a handsome -man....</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> -<p>The Rajah had been married for almost a -year.</p> - -<p>During that time he had never been separated -from his wife for a single day.</p> - -<p>But then he was summoned to the Viceregal -palace, to consult with the Viceroy on -matters connected with the government of -the Province of Jurma.</p> - -<p>He was to be gone for six days.</p> - -<p>And so he was sad.</p> - -<p>He held his wife in his arms.</p> - -<p>She lay there limp.</p> - -<p>He kissed her on the mouth.</p> - -<p>She felt no thrill.</p> - -<p>He tore himself away.</p> - -<p>She heaved a sigh of relief.</p> - -<p>The Rajah left the palace with tears in -his eyes.</p> - -<p>The Ranee went to her apartments with -smiles on her lips.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>That night the Ranee sent for Kara, the -personal attendant of her husband.</p> - -<p>“Why did you not go with your master?” -said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“It was not the wish of my lord,” said -Kara.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> -<p>“And what <i>was</i> the wish of your lord?” -said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“That I should remain with my lady,” said -Kara.</p> - -<p>“And what were you to do for me?” said -the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I was to guard you,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Guard me—from what?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“From—danger,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“The only danger that I fear is—loneliness!” -said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>The Ranee looked in Kara’s eyes.</p> - -<p>Kara looked on the ground.</p> - -<p>“It was at my wish that your master bade -you stay,” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Did you know that?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“No, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you say now that you <i>do</i> -know it?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I thank you, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“You thank me—for what?” said the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>“For your trust, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“I do not call it—trust,” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Kara was silent.</p> - -<p>“I call it—esteem,” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> - -<p>Still Kara was silent.</p> - -<p>“I admire you,” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Why did he not speak to her?</p> - -<p>“And I—shall be—lonely!” said the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>Why did he not look at her?</p> - -<p>“Is there anything that I can do for my -lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>His voice was the voice of a servant.</p> - -<p>“No, not to-night!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Her voice was the voice of the mistress....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The next night the Ranee sent for Kara -a second time.</p> - -<p>“How long have you been with your master?” -said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Seven years, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“You have been in his personal service -throughout that time?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“And you have also been in his confidence?” -said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Then be in mine also,” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Kara looked surprised.</p> - -<p>“And let me be in yours,” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Kara looked bewildered.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p> -<p>“Your master has had adventures?” said -the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Many, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Adventures with men?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“And adventures with—women?” said the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>“No, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he must have!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I do not know, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Try to recollect!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I cannot, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“You refuse to tell me?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I have nothing to tell, my lady,” said -Kara.</p> - -<p>“Nothing to tell—after seven years!” said -the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“My duty has been to serve him,” said -Kara.</p> - -<p>“And your duty is now to amuse me!” -said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“So am I!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Is there anything more, my lady?” said -Kara.</p> - -<p>“No—you may go!” said the Ranee....</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> -<p>The next night the Ranee sent for Kara -a third time.</p> - -<p>Kara stood at the door.</p> - -<p>“Come here!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Kara came into the room.</p> - -<p>“Here before me!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Kara approached her.</p> - -<p>“Here beside me!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>Kara hesitated.</p> - -<p>The Ranee sprang to her feet.</p> - -<p>She flung herself upon his breast.</p> - -<p>She curled her arms around his neck.</p> - -<p>She kissed him on the mouth.</p> - -<p>“I love you!” whispered the Ranee.</p> - -<p>He resisted her.</p> - -<p>He repulsed her.</p> - -<p>He pushed her away from him.</p> - -<p>“My lady!” cried Kara. “I—”</p> - -<p>“You—what?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I—must—go!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Why?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I am a servant,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“I have forgotten that!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“But I have not!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I am the servant of the Rajah—your -husband!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“What of that?” said the Ranee.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span></p> -<p>“I serve—<i>him</i>!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“And not—me?” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I serve—<i>him</i>!” repeated Kara.</p> - -<p>“You must serve me too!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“In what way, my lady?” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“You must—love me!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I—cannot!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“You—must!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I—will not!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>She flung her arms around him again.</p> - -<p>And again he pushed her away from him.</p> - -<p>“He will never know!” whispered the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I cannot stay!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“I will give you money!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I must go!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Do you know what you are doing?” said -the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I know, my lady!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“And do you know what <i>I</i> can do?” said -the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“I know that too, my lady!” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Very well, then!” said the Ranee; “you -need not wait! You may go! But you -shall go—to the dungeon!”</p> - -<p>He stood silent.</p> - -<p>She hesitated.</p> - -<p>“Do you hear?” said the Ranee.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> -<p>“I hear, my lady,” said Kara.</p> - -<p>“Which do you choose,” said the Ranee; -“the dungeon, and chains, or gold, and -<i>me</i>?”</p> - -<p>“I am the Rajah’s servant,” said Kara, -“but it is for the Ranee to put me in chains,—if -she sees fit to do so!”</p> - -<p>“And by heaven, I <i>do</i> see fit to do so!” -said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>She struck a gong.</p> - -<p>A servant entered.</p> - -<p>“Call the guard!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>The servant clapped his hands.</p> - -<p>Two guardsmen appeared.</p> - -<p>“This man has made an attack upon -me!” said the Ranee. “Put him in chains, -and throw him into the dungeon—until the -Rajah returns!”</p> - -<p>The guard seized upon Kara, and led -him out of the apartment of the Ranee.</p> - -<p>And the Ranee, left to the women who -came hurrying to her assistance, gave way -to a fit of rage.</p> - -<p>“The dog, the dog, the dog!” cried the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>And, in her fury, she tore her veil to -shreds.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span></p> -<p>This veil was, in the East, the symbol of -modesty....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Three days later, the Rajah of Jurma returned -to his palace.</p> - -<p>He went at once to the apartment of the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>And the Ranee at once informed him of -the attack made upon her by Kara, his servant.</p> - -<p>“It seems incredible!” cried the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“But it is true!” cried the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“What did he do?” said the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“As soon as you went away,” said the -Ranee, “in fact, the very first night you -were gone, he came to me and said that you -had left him to guard me, and that he meant -to guard me from—loneliness! I dismissed -him. The next night he came a second time, -and wanted to tell me of your adventures—with -women! I dismissed him again. And -then the next night he came a third time, -and sprang upon me, and seized me in his -arms, and—”</p> - -<p>“He must be mad!” cried the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“Not at all!” cried the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Where is he now?” said the Rajah.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span></p> -<p>“He is in the dungeon!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“What shall we do with him?” said the -Rajah.</p> - -<p>“He must be punished!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Of course!” said the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“He should be whipped!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” said the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“And at once!” said the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Without delay!” said the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“Have him brought here!” said the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>The Rajah gave the order to a servant -and in a short time Kara was brought into -the room, loaded with chains, and guarded -by six men.</p> - -<p>Kara stood before the Rajah and the -Ranee.</p> - -<p>His face was wan.</p> - -<p>His hair was wild.</p> - -<p>But his eyes—</p> - -<p>His eyes were like the eyes of a faithful -dog that has tried to lick the hand of its -master, and has been rewarded with a kick.</p> - -<p>Kara did not look at the Ranee.</p> - -<p>He only looked at the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“Kara, what thing is this that I hear—” -began the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“Let him be whipped!” said the Ranee.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span></p> -<p>“Kara, what demon possessed you that -you should—” began the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“Let him be whipped!” cried the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Kara—after all these years—” began -the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“Shall I or shall I not be avenged?” cried -the Ranee.</p> - -<p>“Let him be whipped!” said the Rajah.</p> - -<p>A strong man stepped forward.</p> - -<p>He bore a thick whip.</p> - -<p>And he lashed Kara across the back, -again, and again, and again.</p> - -<p>Kara stood there, and never made a move, -and never uttered a sound.</p> - -<p>“You are not hurting him!” cried the -Ranee. “You are not trying to hurt him! -He does not feel it! Give <i>me</i> the whip! -Let <i>me</i> punish him.”</p> - -<p>The Ranee sprang up from her couch, -and seizing the whip from the hands of the -servant, herself began to brutally lash the -body of the unfortunate Kara.</p> - -<p>The flesh was ripped and torn.</p> - -<p>The blood streamed down his limbs.</p> - -<p>But still he made no move.</p> - -<p>And still he made no sound.</p> - -<p>The Ranee stopped.</p> - -<p>She turned to the Rajah.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> -<p>“Here, <i>you</i> must whip him!” cried the -Ranee. “It does not hurt him coming from -me! But it <i>may</i> hurt him coming from -you!”</p> - -<p>“But I—” began the Rajah.</p> - -<p>“I must be avenged!” cried the Ranee, -“and <i>you</i> must avenge me!”</p> - -<p>The Rajah took the bloodstained whip -from the hands of the Ranee.</p> - -<p>He raised it aloft.</p> - -<p>But Kara fell to the ground before the -blow was struck.</p> - -<p>He had fainted.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67-69]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="BETTY_AND_BUDDHA">BETTY AND BUDDHA</h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">B</span>etty</span> was tired of Bob.</p> - -<p>And Bert.</p> - -<p>And Reggie.</p> - -<p>So she took up with Buddha.</p> - -<p>Bob was too hot.</p> - -<p>Bert was too cold.</p> - -<p>And Reggie was neither hot nor cold—merely -lukewarm.</p> - -<p>Men seemed all wrong.</p> - -<p>But Buddha seemed just right.</p> - -<p>One need never worry about him.</p> - -<p>He could always be relied upon.</p> - -<p>So Betty made a fuss of him.</p> - -<p>She got silver for his garments.</p> - -<p>And gold for his features.</p> - -<p>And pearls for his eyes.</p> - -<p>First she gave him a shrine.</p> - -<p>Then she gave him a corner of a room.</p> - -<p>And finally she gave him a whole room to -himself.</p> - -<p>She got oriental draperies for the wall, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>oriental rugs for the floor, and oriental odds -and ends for every nook and cranny.</p> - -<p>And, last but not least, she got oriental -silks and satins and jewels—for herself.</p> - -<p>She said that these were for—Buddha.</p> - -<p>But, be that as it may, she looked very -well in them.</p> - -<p>And, in her heart of hearts, she was well -aware of the fact.</p> - -<p>Betty had never been on the stage.</p> - -<p>But she had acted—all her life.</p> - -<p>She had played the heroine in many little -comedies and tragedies.</p> - -<p>And in this, her latest production—she -had Buddha for the hero.</p> - -<p>Betty was not only a temperamental actress—she -was also an artistic stage manager.</p> - -<p>She had a wonderful eye for situations -and effects.</p> - -<p>She always saw that the scenes were -properly set.</p> - -<p>And she loved art for art’s sake.</p> - -<p>But to-day she wished that she had an -audience to view the performance—or, at -any rate, that she had a few dramatic critics -present.</p> - -<p>It was matinee.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> -<p>The hour was four o’clock.</p> - -<p>Curtains were drawn over the windows.</p> - -<p>Candles were lighted in brackets.</p> - -<p>Incense was burning in braziers.</p> - -<p>And Betty wore her Eastern robes.</p> - -<p>She was draped in yellow silk.</p> - -<p>She was decked in golden ornaments.</p> - -<p>And she was possessed of the spirit of -adoration....</p> - -<p>She sang to Buddha.</p> - -<p>A song of praise.</p> - -<p>Her voice was sweet.</p> - -<p>She danced for Buddha.</p> - -<p>A dance of joy.</p> - -<p>Her steps were light.</p> - -<p>She prayed for Buddha.</p> - -<p>A prayer of peace.</p> - -<p>Her eyes were sad.</p> - -<p>“O Buddha!” cried Betty, “I would -learn of thee! Teach me thy will!”</p> - -<p>She stood before him.</p> - -<p>But Buddha made no sign.</p> - -<p>“O Buddha!” cried Betty, “I do not -ask for much—only for a little!”</p> - -<p>She knelt before him.</p> - -<p>Still Buddha made no sign.</p> - -<p>“O Buddha!” cried Betty. “I would be -at peace! At peace with the world!”</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span></p> -<p>She prostrated herself before him.</p> - -<p>And still Buddha made no sign.</p> - -<p>Betty waited.</p> - -<p>And waited.</p> - -<p>And waited....</p> - -<p>All of a sudden there was a sound.</p> - -<p>Betty started.</p> - -<p>What could it be?</p> - -<p>The sound was repeated.</p> - -<p>It was a knock at the door.</p> - -<p>Betty heaved a sigh.</p> - -<p>She rose to her feet.</p> - -<p>“Come in!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>A servant entered the room.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Billy is here,” said the servant.</p> - -<p>“Show him in!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>Her face was a study.</p> - -<p>The servant left the room.</p> - -<p>Betty went to a glass.</p> - -<p>She inspected herself.</p> - -<p>She was satisfied with the reflection.</p> - -<p>She had cause to be.</p> - -<p>A man entered the room.</p> - -<p>This was “Mr. Billy.”</p> - -<p>“Hello, Betty!” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Billy!” said Betty.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> -<p>“Am I disturbing you?” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Not at all!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“Would you rather I went away?” said -Billy.</p> - -<p>“On the contrary!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>She curled herself on her divan under a -canopy.</p> - -<p>He perched himself on a stool beside her.</p> - -<p>She rattled her bracelets.</p> - -<p>He stroked his chin.</p> - -<p>“You look very charming,” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“I feel very happy,” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“May I ask what you have been doing?” -said Billy.</p> - -<p>“You may,” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“And will you tell me?” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“I will,” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“Well?” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“I have been worshipping Buddha!” said -Betty.</p> - -<p>“Not really?” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Yes really!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“Do you believe in him?” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Of course!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“I don’t!” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“You don’t believe in anything,” said -Betty.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span></p> -<p>“Oh, yes, I do,” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you believe in?” said -Betty.</p> - -<p>“I believe in—you!” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Be serious!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“I am!” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“But Buddha is a god,” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“And you are a goddess,” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“But he answers my prayers,” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“And you answer mine,” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Do I?” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“I hope so!” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“What do you pray for?” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“Shall I tell you?” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“I’ve asked you to,” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“I pray for love!” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Ah!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“For your love,” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>“Do you answer my prayer?” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“I—don’t—know!” said Betty.</p> - -<p>He leaned towards her.</p> - -<p>He took her in his arms.</p> - -<p>And he breathed his prayer—with a kiss.</p> - -<p>She shrank from him.</p> - -<p>She hid her face.</p> - -<p>And then she answered his prayer—and -his kiss....</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span></p> -<p>Her head, with its glittering ornaments, -rested on his shoulder.</p> - -<p>Her arms, with their jingling bangles, -twined around his neck.</p> - -<p>And her mouth, with its maddening caress, -clung to his.</p> - -<p>The candles cast a soft glow over them.</p> - -<p>The incense sent a sweet odor around -them.</p> - -<p>And Buddha kept a watchful eye upon -them....</p> - -<p>Billy was about to kiss her again.</p> - -<p>But Betty released herself from his embrace.</p> - -<p>She got up.</p> - -<p>She walked over to the shrine.</p> - -<p>And she turned Buddha around—so that -he could not see.</p> - -<p>Then she went back to Billy—and answered -his prayer, and his kiss—all over -again....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the beginning, we stated that Betty was -tired of Bob.</p> - -<p>And Bert.</p> - -<p>And Reggie.</p> - -<p>And, in the end, we will state that Betty -was tired of Buddha, too.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> -<p>Buddha was only a god.</p> - -<p>But Betty was not tired of Billy.</p> - -<p>Billy was—a man!</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77-79]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MRS_PEPPER_IN_PARIS">MRS. PEPPER IN PARIS</h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">M</span>rs. Pepper</span> went to Paris.</p> - -<p>She went alone.</p> - -<p>And so she was—lonely.</p> - -<p>Why had she ever left New York?</p> - -<p>Why had she ever wanted to leave New -York?</p> - -<p>Why had she ever wanted to leave New -York—alone?</p> - -<p>Tom had offered to go with her.</p> - -<p>And so had Dick.</p> - -<p>And so had Harry.</p> - -<p>But she had wanted to be alone.</p> - -<p>And she got what she wanted.</p> - -<p>And a great deal more.</p> - -<p>Good Lord!</p> - -<p>What a place!</p> - -<p>What a disgusting place!</p> - -<p>Nothing to see!</p> - -<p>Nowhere to go!</p> - -<p>Nothing to do!</p> - -<p>Who thought that Paris was gay?</p> - -<p>Mrs. Pepper didn’t!</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> -<p>She thought that it was miserable.</p> - -<p>Who thought that French women were -stylish?</p> - -<p>Mrs. Pepper didn’t!</p> - -<p>She thought that they were frumps!</p> - -<p>Who thought that French men were polite?</p> - -<p>Mrs. Pepper didn’t!</p> - -<p>She thought that they were boors!</p> - -<p>So she wrote to Tom, in New York.</p> - -<p>And to Dick, in New York.</p> - -<p>And to Harry, in New York.</p> - -<p>And she said, “I hate Paris!”</p> - -<p>In the morning, she walked—alone.</p> - -<p>Mile after mile.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon, she drove—alone.</p> - -<p>Hour after hour.</p> - -<p>In the evening, she dined—alone.</p> - -<p>Course after course.</p> - -<p>But what was the good of anything?</p> - -<p>Nothing!</p> - -<p>She met a Count.</p> - -<p>But he was a Frenchman.</p> - -<p>And a puppet.</p> - -<p>She met a Baron.</p> - -<p>But he was a Russian.</p> - -<p>And a savage.</p> - -<p>Then she met—a Man.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span></p> -<p>He was an American.</p> - -<p>And a gentleman.</p> - -<p>She met him in the Bois de Boulogne.</p> - -<p>It was in the morning.</p> - -<p>She was walking.</p> - -<p>So was he.</p> - -<p>She was walking up.</p> - -<p>He was walking down.</p> - -<p>They met.</p> - -<p>He looked at her.</p> - -<p>She looked at him.</p> - -<p>They passed.</p> - -<p>He looked around.</p> - -<p>So did she.</p> - -<p>She walked on.</p> - -<p>He followed her.</p> - -<p>She knew when he was behind her.</p> - -<p>She knew when he was beside her.</p> - -<p>And then he spoke.</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon!” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” said the Woman.</p> - -<p>“Please do not misunderstand me,” said -the Man.</p> - -<p>“I will try not to,” said the Woman.</p> - -<p>“I am an American,” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the Woman.</p> - -<p>“I am here alone,” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“Well?” said the Woman.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> -<p>“And I am—lonely,” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“What has this to do with me?” said the -Woman.</p> - -<p>“That is what I want to know,” said the -Man.</p> - -<p>“Indeed?” said the Woman.</p> - -<p>“You are an American,” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the Woman.</p> - -<p>“You are here alone,” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“I am,” said the Woman.</p> - -<p>“And you are—lonely,” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“I am—not,” said the Woman.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I thought you were!” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“Well, you have made a mistake!” said -the Woman.</p> - -<p>“You <i>have</i> misunderstood me!” said the -Man.</p> - -<p>“No,” said the Woman, “<i>you</i> have misunderstood -<i>me</i>!”</p> - -<p>She walked away.</p> - -<p>He stood still.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>That afternoon, when she drove, she saw -the Man and he saw her.</p> - -<p>That night, when she dined, she saw the -Man and he saw her.</p> - -<p>The next morning, when she walked, she -saw the Man and he saw her.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> -<p>And so it went—morning, noon and -night.</p> - -<p>Day after day.</p> - -<p>He never spoke.</p> - -<p>He never made a sign.</p> - -<p>And neither did she.</p> - -<p>But he was always—there.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Now he was a Man.</p> - -<p>And she was a Woman.</p> - -<p>He was an American.</p> - -<p>And so was she.</p> - -<p>So at last—one evening, in the foyer of -the hotel, she bowed to him.</p> - -<p>He came over to her.</p> - -<p>She held out her hand.</p> - -<p>He took it.</p> - -<p>He looked into her eyes.</p> - -<p>She looked into his.</p> - -<p>“You <i>are</i> lonely!” said the Man.</p> - -<p>“No,” said the Woman, “not any more!”</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Mrs. Pepper wrote to Tom, in New York.</p> - -<p>And to Dick, in New York.</p> - -<p>And to Harry, in New York.</p> - -<p>And she said, “I love Paris!”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 87]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MOON-MADNESS">MOON-MADNESS</h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap"><span class="dropcap">I</span>t</span> was noontime.</p> - -<p>Noontime in Bombay.</p> - -<p>Nana Lalla fared forth through the -town.</p> - -<p>The streets were narrow and winding.</p> - -<p>They were lined with shops.</p> - -<p>Goldsmiths and silversmiths.</p> - -<p>Fruit-shops and sweet-shops.</p> - -<p>Merchants and money changers.</p> - -<p>Before these booths people stopped and -stared.</p> - -<p>Bargained and bartered.</p> - -<p>Went in, or went on.</p> - -<p>Great throngs tramped up and down.</p> - -<p>To and fro.</p> - -<p>Shoulder to shoulder.</p> - -<p>Some in flowing robes.</p> - -<p>Some in scanty rags.</p> - -<p>Dogs trotted at one’s side.</p> - -<p>Bullocks pushed at one’s back.</p> - -<p>And all the time the sun shone in the sky.</p> - -<p>Shone like a ball of fire.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span></p> -<p>It burned the world with its blazing -beams.</p> - -<p>Nana Lalla hated the day.</p> - -<p>And she loathed the sun.</p> - -<p>She did not look to the left.</p> - -<p>Nor to the right.</p> - -<p>She looked straight before her.</p> - -<p>And she went her way.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was midnight.</p> - -<p>Midnight in Bombay.</p> - -<p>Nana Lalla was in her room.</p> - -<p>She lay on her couch.</p> - -<p>Her eyes were open.</p> - -<p>But she was dreaming.</p> - -<p>Dreaming of sweet-smelling flowers.</p> - -<p>And soft-splashing fountains.</p> - -<p>And bright-beaming eyes.</p> - -<p>Of such things the poets prated.</p> - -<p>Of such things the singers sang.</p> - -<p>And Nana Lalla had read the poets’ -rhymes.</p> - -<p>And Nana Lalla had heard the singers’ -melodies.</p> - -<p>She delighted in these things.</p> - -<p>Delighted in them exceedingly.</p> - -<p>She tossed and she turned.</p> - -<p>She sighed and she sobbed.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p> -<p>And then she arose.</p> - -<p>She went to the window.</p> - -<p>She looked through the lattice.</p> - -<p>The moon shone in the sky.</p> - -<p>Shone like a pool of silver.</p> - -<p>It bathed the world in liquid light.</p> - -<p>Nana Lalla loved the night.</p> - -<p>And she worshipped the moon.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Nana Lalla wound a scarf about her -body.</p> - -<p>Draped a shawl over her head.</p> - -<p>And slipped sandals on her feet.</p> - -<p>She stole out of her room.</p> - -<p>She slipped out of the house.</p> - -<p>And once again she fared forth through -the town.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Never had Nana Lalla known such a -night.</p> - -<p>Never had Nana Lalla seen such a moon.</p> - -<p>So soft, and so silver.</p> - -<p>So gentle, and so gracious.</p> - -<p>And yet with all, so—maddening.</p> - -<p>Nana Lalla’s eyes sparkled.</p> - -<p>Nana Lalla’s hands trembled.</p> - -<p>And Nana Lalla’s heart beat high.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p> -<p>Oh, could she only flee away from the -city!</p> - -<p>Could she only flee away to the country!</p> - -<p>Could she only flee away—by the light -of the moon!</p> - -<p>Or else—could only something happen!</p> - -<p>Something strange.</p> - -<p>Something sweet.</p> - -<p>If only—</p> - -<p>Someone stood before her.</p> - -<p>Someone spoke to her.</p> - -<p>Someone touched her arm.</p> - -<p>It was a man.</p> - -<p>And yes—his eyes were sparkling too.</p> - -<p>His hands were trembling also.</p> - -<p>And his heart was beating as wildly as -was hers.</p> - -<p>She could see.</p> - -<p>She could tell.</p> - -<p>She could feel.</p> - -<p>He and she were alone.</p> - -<p>Alone at midnight.</p> - -<p>And the moon was shining.</p> - -<p>How she loved the moon!</p> - -<p>And perhaps he loved it too.</p> - -<p>Nana Lalla was not afraid.</p> - -<p>Instead, she was full of hope.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> -<p>He must <i>love</i> the moon—even as did -she!</p> - -<p>So, when he touched her, she did not -shrink away.</p> - -<p>When he took her in his arms, she yielded -herself.</p> - -<p>And when he kissed her—she responded....</p> - -<p>The Man always remembered Nana -Lalla.</p> - -<p>He had loved her.</p> - -<p>And he thought that she had loved him.</p> - -<p>But Nana Lalla soon forgot the Man.</p> - -<p>She had not loved him.</p> - -<p>She had only loved—the Moon....</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="transnote"><div class="chapter"> -<p class="ph2 nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes"><span class="smcap">Transcriber’s Notes:</span></p> -</div> - -<p>On page 60, spang has been changed to sprang.</p> - -<p>All other spelling has been retained as typeset.</p></div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOON MADNESS AND OTHER FANTASIES ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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