DAMA DE NOCHE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2419, 6 February 1909, Page 11 (Supplement)

DAMA DE NOCHE.

(By Henrietta Lee Co idling.) “That’s young Hudgins, who distinguished himself down in Leyte. The Major indicated to the Colonel an officer -who, with a beautiful, darkskinned girl, drifted near them in the web of the rigadon. “Indeed?” The newcomer regarded the Lieutenant with interest. “Clean cut ns .a sabre, with, the face of a dreamer,” was his verdict. “The hind of man who does, things.” “He’s doing things . now,” dryly remarked the Major, “making a fool of himself over that pretty mestiza.” The Colonel observed the young eouy pie, noted the undulating grace of the girl, the beauty of her dark eyes, which slio coqucttishly raised to her partner; then his glance wandered over the gay scene. From the broad verandah above the river, where the two officers sat, the tawdry pomp of the Malic a nan Palace, mellowed by the light- of Chinese lanterns, and half-concealed with palms and orchids, took on a softened charm. A bailo was in'full swing, and the surg- ' * lug mass of color —gayly tinted gowns ‘of women contrasted with white uniforms —swayed and shifted in kaleidoscopic effect. Beyond Manila, alluring city of temptation, hold out insistent arms.

“I hear the East a-cailing,” quoted tlio Colonel, indulgently. “The tropics have power. to stir older blood than tliab boy’s, Norton.”

The younger man shot a swift look of disapproval from wilder bis black brows. “It’s easy to be tolerant when you’re not interested,” lie said: “Hudgins is engaged to the daughter of my old friend, Farewell,sand Plow would you like it if ho were your son?”

The Colonel thoughtfully studied the end of bis cigar. “I’d know it was only a phase,’ be returned with his slow smile.

The Major’s auger flared suddenly up. “Why, man!” he exclaimed, “think of her! I saw him say goodlive to her i»F that garden over there. There were flowers, thousands of dama do lioche—lady of the night. Pure white, fragrant blossoms were all about her like stars, the light 01 her own high spirit was shining in her face. Thousands of flowers,..l ted von —oh, she was exquisite and

now ■ Ho broke off as Hudgins entered the verandah with His corn pan-on. The girl sank down into a chair amid her airy ruffles of jusi, like a bee in the heart of a flower, and the yo-ung man, 'leaning close, (looked tenderly into the lovely eyes which she raised to him over the rim of a glass that a so-ft-footed mucliacho had brought to her. Was there a note of malice ringing through her hr ugh ? thoseswift, darting motions of hers, 1 hatundulating grace of body, did they dimly hint of claws and fangs? ‘•'Will you not drink also, amigo jnio?” incarnation asked, in caressing syllables. “Come, just a drop out of my own glass, .see, like—what do you cadi it —a- lover's cup t” The hoy’s delicately modelled lace was Hushed, his eyes were eager, as he obeyed. Soon they wore dancing again, and as she leaned-close to him with feline grace, her maddening, almost intolerable sweetness went to his head like wine. He stopped dancing abruptly and led her to a seat. _ “Tired already?” she asked; and her smile was half tender, half mocking. She searched his troubled face with her great, soft eyes, over which her hair mado uncertain shadows. “Come with, me,” she lniirmuied. Driven to distraction, half with love and half with woe, ho followed her into a .garden where inyumcrable electric bulks twinkled amid leaf and vine. Tropic 'blossoms swayed lightly in the monsoon, the passionate perfume of the Orient dominating their fragrance. Vet from time to time over these heavy odours there stole a calming balm. Into a region of alluring aco ' v the young man moved, bewitched. The world of reality grow dim about him; the old influences were smothered, the old ties forgotten; he became a primeval creature, as a 01 i.gina. the First Man. . Bnoarnation moved beforo 11 si. leafy frame. The folds of •rrcoo iusi gown, clinging lilpo »» faun to Her dazzling beauty,, oausms y> liko some taro sy.™" 01 e> ' mio ;„ “ y °" “a moti nod ton to she crooned, as she n &d u0()k a seat beside her HP— tendcr , Her voice ■ g ,j ■ art strings to pleading, and eet his no "fsttoiookod at be.- -» taunting, -familial- foUumo out

the twilight, which moved his troubled spirit like a half remembered strain of music. Pie turned from her and gazed into the burnished silver of the Pasig. “Yes, lam troubled,” lie admitted.

She heard the unspoken feeling trembling in his voice. She had known many men, but never one. with this austere reserve, this delicious boyish innocence. “You have secrets?” she challenged.

Pie looked down in her face. Was she angel or demon? Her beauty shining mistily through the dusk recalled a dim old Leonardo portrait. Her witchery filled him with a. kind of madness; he could reason no longer and, - carried forward by a strain of recklessness, he cried : “I would dare death for you!” “Not death, but life, querido amigo,” she murmured, turning to him with an exquisite motion of self-sur-render.

“Enearnation!” ho groaned, overcome by the appeal of her eyes and swept' away by the surge of feeling. “You love me?” she whispered.

Ho placed his arm about her. “And you?” he asked, liis face close to hers. Her answer was inaudible.. She gazed at him until ,he blushed, then aer beautiful eyelids were lowered, her lovely mouth was invitingly lifted. Enthralled by her irresistible charms, bo 'Was drawn down and bewildered—the victim of strange magic.

But again the cooling balm, warring with that other perfume, rustled to him on the breeze—an echo from a dear, lost- world. .Instinctively his latent -honor .and chivalry recoiled fro ’ sudden thought of passion which ih.Ai seized him. He rose abruptly. “It is late.”

“You shall not go!” she cried, starting up angrily. Then, perceiving that in his new mood .remonstrance was useless, tlie cunning of the savage replaced the fire in bis eyes.

“You’ll come again to-morrow?” she suggested in dulcet accents. He looked at her gravely. “The next day. I have something to say to you, something which I cannot tell you now.” “You’ll como to-morrow,” she insisted.

“I’ll be officer of the day.” “Who cares?” “Duty requires me. to be at the quart© 1 .,” he explained.

“Prove cares not for duty!” she cried, her insatiable vanity leading her on.

He. regarded her with curiosity, comprehension dawning in his face.

She received his look with uplifted head, but the color ebbed slowly from her cheeks and she shrank away from him against a- bank of flowers. Wounded, disenchanted, ho gazed at her with self-disgust. Only his innate chivalry prevented his voicing his contempt.

She felt his scorn, and a crimson flush crept up under her dark skin. She darted 'at him, her eyes shining with a malicious light. “Coward!” she cried.

At the look he gave her she pressed closer to the silver starred green shrub. The smitten flowers gave forth a poignant perfume. He recognised the dama do noche now. “Coward!” she hissed again.

The insult fell on deaf ears, for swift upon the wings of that perfume the man was transported into another presence, he heard another voice, he ivas blinded by a radianeo toward which ho groped. Broken, humiliated, he called another name — the name of her he loved and who embodied the. ideals of bis race. There came to him the vision of his love, face tender, transfigured, dimly outlined against a silver-starred ' green firmament whose perfume rose 'about her and pierced the darkness like a mystic cry. The dama de liocho had saved him to his better self.