The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-08-09

| progress OF lHe opera, anu ne WIS
strangely tacituTn all the way home.
seeming entirely preoccupled with
thoughts altogether foreign to the sur
rOundingS.
Il beg your pardon, Weldon" he
| said, when we were once more in the
house, and settled comfortably by the
glowing CRATE for a quiet smoke. Il
beg your pardon, but fear | was poor
company this evening"
While mentally agreed with him, |
protested to the contrary.
"Iou want to hear my story? Very
WE'LL 1t is an DER true tale, at all
events, and may prove interesting
After a few moments silence, in
which his thoughts seemed far away, he
began:
You remember when last we part
edY"
Yes, on the deck of the steamer, as
| YOU were starting for Europe
Exactly. After landing, ! went at
once to London, where | remained for
several months, doing nothing in par
! ticular, but passing the time as a young
man naturally would who had his pOck
cts lined with gold and an abundance
of leisure time on his hands. After an
idle. aimless life in that old city.
crossed the channel and made my way
to Paris. You remember, Weldon,
when | became of age, my guardian
turned the whole of my income over to
me, unreservedly, while he still retained
the management of the estate, at my
particular request. AS | had never
been abroad, and, in fact, had not
travelled much in my own country, |
naturally felt desire to see the
world
Quite natural, I'm sure"
well, began to make the most of
the two resources at my command
time and mOney-and was soon living a
gay and perhaps somewhat fast life in
this, the best, or might say the worst
of French cities. At any rate. | found
myself enjoying it all very well, and it
was one ceaSeless round of gayeties,
with theatres succeeding balls, and
these closely followed in their turn by
the opera or something equally enter
tanning | owed the most Of my intro
auctions into society to an artist friend
of mine who, though already famous,
and on the shining road to riches
through the medium Of his brush, lived
somewhat of Bohemian life among
the multitude Of artists studying under
those various Partisan masters. Per-
haps you knew this Arthur PiCrrepont?
He was formerly from New York"
II knew him by reputation only"
I'VE were quite intimate, and had
many a jolly time together. There was
a certain club in existence in Paris then,
of which he was one of the leading
spirits. Ii was their custom to hold re
ceptiOnS every two weeks at their ele-
CANT club house, which were attended
by the members who were almost en-
tirely actors, actresses, journalists and
musicians, together with their friends.
These were always most enjoyable af-
fairs, and we went a number of times
during the season.
at was at one of the parties or recep-
tons, that | first met Jules Dupres.
He was typical Frenchman, in stat
ure small and wiry, with coal-black
hair and bushy eyebrows, and heavy
moustache, almost hiding his thin,
treacherous lips. His eyes were small
and deep-set, piercing in the intensity
Of their blackness, while they darted
about so restlessly, and with such a
sinister expression, that instinctively
fairly presented. This bad impression
speedily wore off as entered into con-
versatiOn with him, when | found him
one of the most accomplished takers
had ever met. There was no subject |
could touch upon but what he was per-
fectly at home, and could Outtalk me
twice over"
"IIe must have been remarkable"
Ned smiled as he responded, II see
you do remember me, after ALL"
Yes; but go on"
"As | was saying, this man was so
entertaining that | soon forgot my half
formed prejudiceS, and was completely
charmed by his manner. AS time ran
along, and we met at a number of social
events, / became quite intimate with
him. My artist friend noticed this, and
did not appear to sanction it.
81 don't half like that black French
man of yours, Pierce, he said to me
one day, while was watching him at
work in his studio.
"'Why?'
$50, fancy he is not exactly fair
and square man. may be wrong, but
he don't impress me at all favorably.'
$50 thoroughly infatuated had | be-
come with him that | laughed Pierre
points fears to the winds. | was sure
he was all right. Why, such jolly
good fellow could not be very bad at
heart
ut was one evening in early May that
found me at the last of the club recep-
tons for the season. AS usual, my
olive-hued Dupres was there, as smiling
and voluble as ever. During the even
ing, which seemed more than usually
gay, wandered into the almost desert
ed smoking-room, and sinking into an
easy-chair, was soon enveloped in "a
cloud of smoke, and deep in a brown
study.
"A penny for your thoughts, my
friend
~ looked up, and there was Dupres,
leaning in careless attitude against |
one of the window easements. All. it's |
you; is it? | was just thinking how |
pleasant it all was here, and how | |
hated to leave
leave? Is monsieur going away |
"'Yes, have decided to ramble on.
am going to start for st. Petersburg |
tomorrow.
lis it possible? How very singular, |
| am going to Riga myself, and per- |
haps we can arrange TO travel in com |
pany.'
H'I woS not aware Vnu contaminated |