The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-11-12

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~ mow'd foryiue him encrythtng."
known-and to have her say, "Look!
this is from my friend c.; is it not
ine?" was almost glory enough for some
of the callow youth who worshiped a:
her shrine. for Leonie was exclusive.
But this was not enough for George
Chalmers. At heart he was something
Of Bohemian and he despised les cor
venances. When he had first met
Leonie ho had not only been enchanted
ny the bold and brilliant aspects of her
physical beauty, which time and the at
triton of city life only polished and
made moro perfect, but as we'll by the
irresistible dash and 60 of her personal
ity. She was neither dull nor course of
mind, and knew how to retain as well
as to attract the admiration Of men.
So. as their intimacy grew, young Chal-
mers cursed the puritanical sentiment
that hedged them about, and strove by
lavish generosity to make up to her in
some measure for the loss Of those things
that he could not do for her before tho
world.
So far as his relations with Lima Ten
nant were concerned, Of course this At
fair with Leonis would be over some
day, and he expected to settle down
finally into the substantial, matter Of
fact citizen. Then he could not hope
for better wife than Lima would be,
but he wished she had something more
of Leonie's chic.
Leonie did not mean to harm tho
young fellow. She knew that he spent
a great deal of money for her, but it did
not occur to her to question its source.
Perhaps it would have made no differ
ence, anyway. Perhaps she would have
let him go on just the same. But, again,
perhaps she would not, for she really
cared for him. In his treatment of her
he had been different from other men
she had known. He never seemed
ashamed Of her friendship. He seemed
to recognize her right to place in the
world, her right to the very place that
she hcld-if that was the one place to,
which she was best suited. Society had
no right to prescribe her lines. How
could the world know whether she
would fit into any one of its dull, accus-
toned grooves? How can the world
know that Of any Of us? He would
have been glad to have fewer lines kim
self.
Ogden Chalmers was probably no bet
ter and no worse than other men, and he
had.never preached high standard of
morality for the guidance of others. He
was content to take men and things as
he found them. Yet he felt a strange
repugnance when the necessity present
ed itself Of going to this woman's house.
Already he had associated her in his
mind with Georges downfall, and as the
chief cause thereof; and as the cause
likewise Ct the disgrace that had come
upon them all. Toward the woman her.
self he felt a dull anger, more because
she had crossed the clean. white path
way of Lima Tenants life than for
aught else.
He expected to find her coarse end
loud and probably insolent. He would
make his business brief and be done
with her.
Il don't think shall detain You long"
he said at once when she came into the
room where he waited. 81 am Ogden
Chalmers. and have come to make yot,
plain statement and a proposal. Ny
brother is in prison and mainly through
you. (At this the woman demurred by
negative gesture and tried to speak,
but Chalmers stopped her.) It is my
purpose to have him released, If it can
be accomplished. as soon as possible,
but only upon one condition" At this
the woman looked up curiously and he
continued: "That condition is that there
shall never be any chance of his meeting
You again. If you consent to this aun
willing to pay you well, more than you
could possibly make out of him." he
added sneeringly.
'.And If do not consent?"
''Then shall have to cease my efforts
for his release"
you are very hard, she whimpered.
II care SO much for him, and then
never to see him again."