West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-05-28

icctcd upward sure safeguard
against maraudcrs As usual. a high
balcony graccd the front OF the house.
From the gate massive iron barred
onea stone pave led up to the old
fashioned door
81 feel very grateful, she said, lift
ing her big eyes TO mine with shadow
of timidity in their depths which made
them all the lovlicr; and, she hesitated
= little, know my father would wish
To thank YOU also, if-if
" If you only knew whom 20 thank
| added, with "A conscious shame al my
own lack of courtesy. Now. [ don't
know what deviltry prompted me to
the action but instead of handing her
my own card gave her one OF Frank
Smiths, Il young fellow rooming with
me at the 81. Charles, a drummer for
"a large hat firm i'm Detroit Hi, name
graccd the card i'm full, aud also Ire
moine II Lccman, the name OF the firm
he was connected with. II was "a fool
iSh thing TO do, yet never expected to
see the young lady again, and / sup
pose it occurred 10 me that 10 would be
"A good joke ON Smith
''Io my great astonishment she rec
ogniZcd the first name
Y on must come i'm and see my
father, She said. Mr. Trcmoinc is
AN old friend of ours, and ne will be so
delighted TO see YOU
Into what kind of a scrape had /
gotten myself? ldecliucd rs courteous
~ rs possible. and tried To hasten
away; but just then an old gentleman
appeared at the door i'm answer 10 our
ring at the gate, for, as YOU rcmem-
Der, IN New Orlcan, most of the bells
are on the front gate
''ln few word, the young lady ex-
planned the situation. With true
Southern hospitality he invited me to
enter, thanking me i'm most Yolublc
terms for my kindness 10 his daugh-
ter Seeing | would offend by not ac-
ccpting their invitation. / stepped i'm
with them. As usual in these French
houses, the hall led into little barren
looking court From this, however,
we entered into IN apartment that
was elegantly furnished
"A servant took my umbrella and
hat, and the old gentleman pushed for
ward a handsome caSy-chair for me,
seating himself near me The young
lady disappeared. rcappearing in lit
tie while in charming dinner-drcss of
garnet satin.
81 confess ! was little dazed bv the
sudden turn affairs had taken, and the
tete-a-tete with the gentleman, whose
name | asccrtaincd TO be DE Chartrc,
was not embarrassing for he asked me
score of questions about Detroit and
the people there, all of which /, never
having been in that city, was obliged
to answer at random, or from vague
"reminiscences of what Smith had told
me casually.
Il tried I'm vain TO turn the subject.
and had almost given myself up to dcs-
perate iibbing when / CHANGED To per-
ccivc that piano was behind me-
During a momentary lull i'm the CONVEX
sation, i'm which DE Chartre was prob
ably trying to reconcile my rambling
information with his own knowledge
and conjecturcs, | turned to the Young
lady, requesting some music.
TO my relief she consented imme-
diately, thus saving her father from
any further surprises i'm the way of
chaotic guessing ON my part. She sang
and played quite prettily and | found
myself even more prepoSsesscd than
had been ut first
After she had played several songs
! arose to 20, but as ] did so dinner
was announced. and | was urgently
invited by them both to remain. Again
! saw that to refuse wOuld be TO offend,
so, in order to preserve smith $ reputa-
ton from further damage, | accepted.
resolving that would exert my talents
to the utmost i'm being entertaining.
You see, / wanted them TO speak "a
good word for Smith if ever they
should chance TO communicate with
this Iremoine, whom ! heartily wished
at the bottom OF the sea.
"The dinner was served IN good
style, and quite enjoyed by Smith, who
was sometimes rather dilatory i'm re-
spending TO his name. but who man
eyed to keep the upper hand i'm the
conversation. not allowing the old gen
tleman single gap in which to insert
his inquiries about Detroit and the Ire
moincs.
After dinner we adjourned TO the
parlor that il, the young lady and
myself the old gentleman going of
for ~ smokc. in which / declined TO
join him.
The rain which had been mild at
first, now turned into a raging torrent.
IT beat savagely against the Windows.
and the wind swept mournfully through
the court Now and then il crept UNI
der the door, and into the room. bring
ing faint scent Of the orange-blooms
that were being swept fromithcir stems
ON the bending trees without But the
inclcmencv OF the weather outside only
made the comfort and brightness of the
apartment seem more perfect.
with such a charming hostess the
moments sped swiftly / became more
and more cnthrallcd with her dark eyes
and her gracious manners. $50 typical
OF the grace which has made the creole
women celebrated. Besides. the novelty
Of the situation made DO seem tcufold
more attractive ! began 10 iremble
vaguely for Smith peace OF mind L.
would br upcrhuman for man To- re-
-ist the fascination of the lovely creole.
don't know 20 what length ] might
have committed myself, had not the
door opened and Monsieur DE Chartrc
once more appeared upon the scene.
A. DO was, think he -urpri cd me save
ing some fooi-hly tender thing TO- his
daughter.
~ looked 10 my watch A flush Of
shame crnpt over me. 10 was past ten
o'clock ] felt that bad iufrinrci ou
the hospitality extended 60 me. ] be-
gan FOO apologize. but Monsieur Dc
& hart r.. .f..r......I $3.50.