The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-04

traveller, who strolled on enjoying his
cigaratte. and rejecting comPlacently on
the splendid mastery he had acquired over
the vulgar passions common TO the vulgar
herd. He was going to the Butler ball, Just
as a medical student would 20 TO the disSect-
ing room 20 analyse and learn.
And there is no doubt that in the course
of the eveuing-balmy it was and in August
H. Darlington did learn a most valuable
lesson.
Pushing through the crush of dancers,
who had changed the big building into
human kalaeidoscope-and a very warm
one-he passed with sigh of relief into the
garden at the back, and seated himself in
one Of the little grottes which lined the
sides. There his thoughts promptly drifted
into their favorite philosophic vein, and
listening laZily to the crash of music and
watching the blaze of light and color before
him. he was already deep in an essay on
the vanity Of pleasure when his reflections
were suddenly interrupted. Without look
ing round he became aware of the fact that
a woman was standing bShind him. He
heard the rustling of her skirts and the
sounds of pleasant voice, but it was not
these which attracted him so much as a
strange, delightful perfume, a fragrance
which he remembered vaguely but could not
place.
Turning he saw the most fascinating
him with a pair of wonderful dark eyes
tempting him with siren smile.
Mr. II. Darlington Wells decided to post
pone his valuable reflections on the vanity
Of pleasure, and with that confidence in his
SAVIOR faire, which never forsakes Har-
ward senior, proceeded to make himself
agreeable to this NEST interesting specimen
of the Partisan siren.
"Hum!" said Wells to himself, as he sur
veyed the situation, "a good-looking girl,
this, or, by the gods, / have never seen one !!
I'll chat with her a bit and improve my
French. Hi, there, Garcon, une consom-
mat on pour madame"
Madame took a combination of liquors
with which Mr.. Wells was unacquainted,
and at her suggestion he tried the same
ever in search of knowledge. Finding it TO
his taste he tried another, and madame did
the same, and by this time the converse
ton had taken a friendly turn. Madame
was delightfully."- lenient of his faults in
French and lavish in her compliments of
his pronunciation.
Decidedly a superior woman" said H.
Darlington Wells, communing with him
self. STRANGE she should have come to
such a place as this. Perhaps, though,
like myself, she is here to study human
nature"
Later Mr. Wells used to wonder if his
fair and interesting companion had not
studied human nature before coming to the
Butler.
He concluded that she had; he also con-
cluded that it would be the hight Of bad
taste for him to treasure up malice against
Frank Moore, Charley Wilson and Jack
Trumbull, who, though good friends of his,
had certainly treated him in the shabbiest
possible manner ON the fatal night under
consideration.
And here is how it all came about Trum-
dents living in the same hotel with Wells
on the Rue Racine. Unlike that dignifed
young Bostonian they cared far more for
fun than philosophy, and happening to spy
| their immaculate friend as he seated him
self In the grotto made up their mis-
chievous minds to keep dark and yet, If pos
sible, to have a fingor in the development
of events.
4
About o'clock a. m. MIR. Wells of Har-
| ward brought up at his hotel in a very I'M
| happy frame of mind. The events of the
| past few hours were not stamped on his
| memory with that precision to which he
| was accustomed, and he was angry with
| himself that such was the case. Here was
| he, serious-minded fellow, making an
utter fool of himself because a certain
French girl happened to have black eyes
| and a fascinating smile. 1t was too utterly
absurd; something quite unique in his ex.
| perience, and as he fell into a troubled
| sleep his overtaxed faculties were con-
| fusedly trying to work out some explanation
of that remarkable fragrance which seemed
30 linger in his memory with singular
distinctness.
During the night-perhaps an hour later.
he could not tell how long-his head seemed
in such a queer state-he was awakened alb
ruptly. The hotel was perfectly silent. his
room dark, and everything apparently as 1t
| should be. And yet he was conscious in an
| uncertain kind Of way that something had
just happened, and. indeed, was happening
at that very moment. Listening intently
he fancied he heard movement outside the
door, and, lifting himself cautiously on one
arm, he peered into the darkness and fancied
he saw an uncertain form floating Like vapol
between himself and the door. Looking
more closely Re perceived that it was vapoI
or smoke, or something which came floating
toward him in a white cloud. Then. to his
astonishment. he recognized that same
singular odor, only now far stronger and
more penetrating, which he had experienced
earlier in the evening at the Butler Sc
delightful was this fragrance that he was
conscious of but one desire-to fall bach
languidly on his pillow and drop off into
enchanted slumber. Against this tempta
ton, however, he struggled with all the
energy he could command, feeling that
| Unero was some ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at WOrh
against him, and that verything-perheps
even his life-depended on his remaining
master of his senses.
Suddenly the door opened and he heard G
cautious step as some one advanced into the
room. AT the same time the clouds of in
cense or whatever it was grew thicker auC
its fragrance of such overpowering sweet
ness that he had no longer either the power
or the desire to fight against it. Failing
back unconscious without word or CRY
Wells had no further knowledge of event.
until late the following afternoon when
alarmed at his unwonted hardness, the
garcon of the hotel forced open the door
after having first knocked vainly.
Ten minutes later the garcon came dowr
stairs in a state of intense excitement anC
informed the rest Of the establishment thai
monsieur" had been robbed during the
night. He bad found him lying across the
bed. fully dressed and plunged in profound
stupor, from which he had been reused witt
difficulty. He further added that mon
sieur was in terrible state" and that ''tht
patron" had better go to him at once. This
''the patron" did, and the subsequent in
vestigation demonstrated that the garcont
story was perfectIy correct