The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-10

4
an who was troubling his heart, and who
would be his some day. There was
| blonde woman troubling Brant's heart,
but there was small probability of her be-
ing his some day or any d.yy. And Zozo
went on to talk about dark woman who
| would disturb the course of true love. but
| only temporarily and as side issue, SO TO
speak.
"She amt serious" be said. "She may
make muss; but she amt reel serious"
"Good night" said Brant.
"You don't b'lieve in the science" said
Zozo, in a voice of genuine regret. "But
you list see if it don't come true. Good
night. Look out you don't trip over the
scraper."
The blonde woman in Mr.. Brant's case
was Madame Ia Comtesse de Renette. No.
she was .ot a French woman; she was
loyal American. She was the daughter of
an American millionaire; she had lived for
MANY years in France, and her parents had
married her. at the age of eighteen, to
title. The title was owned by a disagree
able and highly immoral old spendthrift,
who had led her wretched life for two
wea-y wears, and then had had the unusual
courtesy and consideration to die. Then
she took what he had left OF her millions,
went home to the town of her birth, bought
fine estate on it's outskirts, and settled
down to enjoy a life wherein she could
awake each morning to feel that the days
would never more bring her suffering and
humiliation.
Then Mr.. Richard Brant disturbed her
peace of mind by falling in love with her,
and what was worse, asking her to marry
| ch1f mt Ia, a
was her best, her dearest FRIEND she ad-
mired and esteemed him more than any
man in the world If she ever could
marry man she would marry him. But
She never, never could. He must not ask
her.
OF course he did ask her. And asked
her more than once And there matters
stood. and there they seemed likely to
stay.
But Richard Brant was man who,
when he wanted thing, wanted 1t with
his whole heart and his whole soul, and to
the exclusion of every other idea from his
mind After eighteen months of waiting
he began to find the situation intolerable.
He had no heart in his business-whlch,
for the matter of that, took care of itself
and he found it, as he said to himself, "a
bore to exist" And what with dwelling
on the unattainable and what with calling
on the unattainable once or twice every
, week, he found that he was getting into a
. morbid state of mind that was the next
thing to mild mania.
This has got to STOP" said Richard
Brant. 81 will put an end TO it. will
wait till an even two years is up, and then
| will 90 away somewhere where l can't
get back until-until Eve got over it..
Opportunty is never lacking to man
in this mood. Some scientific idiot was
getting up an Antartic expedition, to start
in the coming June Brant applied for a
berth.
THAT settles it" he said.
OF course it didn't settle it. he moped
: as much as ever and found it just as hard
r as ever to occupy his mind. II 1t had not
been for the astrologer he would hardly
, have known what to do.
1t amused him TO interest himself IN
Zozo and his affairs. He watched thu
building of the new "orfice," and dis
: : cussed with Zozo the color of the paint and
. the style of the signs. Zozo tried to con
vert him to astrology, and that amused
him.
The little mans earnest faith in thi!
"science" was an edifying study. Then
: when the "orfice'' was completed, ane
= Zozo began business again, he took grea
pleasure in sitting hid in Zozo's back room
, listening to Zozo's clients, who were ofteI
as odd as Zozo himself. He had man.
clients now Had he not mlraculousl.
! evanished from burning building ant
come back unscathes?
l But there are two sides to every friend
ship. Brant took an amused interest Ii
Zozo. Zozo worshipped Brant As his pre-
(. server and his factor. Zozo's affairs Ell
= tertained Brant Brant's affairs were
matter of absorbing concern to Zozo
Zozo would have died for Brant.
So it came about that Zozo found ou
all about the blonde lady in Brant's case
> How? Well, one is lot an astrologe
for nothing Brant's coachman AM
Nine. de Renette's maid were anon:
. Zozo's clients. No society gossip knew S
much about the Brant- Renette affair a
: Zozo knew inside of two months.
> cts perfectly ridiculous Annette'
can't see the mann'
e ..Nadame knows best" said Annette
a Winning away a ready tear. cts only tina
/ love madame And it is not well to ange
L those who have the power of magic. l
e they can bring good luck they can brln
L bad. And he is certainly great magician
= Fire cannot burn him.
IL Nine. de Renette toyed with gorgeousl
printed card that read
If HOZO
Re AsTRoLoGER AND FIRE MONARCH
a Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.
r - Rapelyea street
e WELL she said at last, show him ii
1t Annette But it's perfectly absurdn'
If Zozo. in a very ready made suit, with n
5 earthly idea what to do with his hat, pre-
l. fuse of bows and painfully mustered, oil
Y not inspire awe.
d You wish to see me'" inquired Mime
h de Renette somewhat sternly.
is Madam" began her visitor In treH
d ulous voice, Il come with message fror
q the stars"
st VERY WELL" said Mime. de Renette, Evil
YOU kindly deliver your messages do nc
f wish to detain you-from your stars"
If 1t was flushed. but self complacen'
a Deamlng, happy LoLo VINO slopl%7u rIicnai
Brant on the street an hour later.
- eff you please, Mr.. Brant, sir. p" he sait
"Pd like a few minutes of your time.
Certainly" said Mr.. Brant, wonderin
= if Zozo wanted TO borrow any NOR
> money"
=, You've been great good friend TO M
Mr.. Brant," Zozo began, "and hope 20
b'heve. sir. that me and Mommer and NJ
Simmons and Mamie are jist as grateful q
N well, as anything"
7 "Oh, that's all right, Simmons
=. yes, sir. Well. now you'll pardon n
y for Saen,in, m interfere like, in your bus