The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-02
For The Inte Higtncer.
CHAMELEON.
ARomnnce Of Ii Worlds Fair.
ny ALPHoNsE DE SMITH.
CHAPTER I.

Fanchette was one of those sweet
tblithesome spirits to be found only on
the banks of the Ohio. Born underthe
shadow of Wheeling hill, she had all
that winsomo airy freedom whichmarks
the fair natives of her favored birth
place. An only daughter whose pa
lived only Tor his own Fanchette and
gave his spare moments to looking for
dividends on his, mill stock. She was
endowed with all the captivating accom-
plishments and artistic graces that good
credit can buy.
The June roses had blown and fallen.
and warm-tinted August was fast slid
ing into the delusive autumnal month
OF September, when F~anchette set out
for the Worlds Fair. Unlike those
thoughtless ones who spend their aim
less lives in daily dalliance with infinite
nothingness, this idol OF an elect circle
visited the Dream City with IN object
in view. She needed no guide, no
chairman, no folding chair to guide her
dainty footsteps. Instinct ear akin to
intelligence led her straight to the
Florida building. No sooner had this
fair young creature entered the old tort
thar there was a stir that bore all the
earmarks of an uprising OF the masses.
The chamcieons fell over themselves in
a mad frenzy to be attached to the per-
son of the fair Fanchette.
AS she stood speechless, motionless,
like one in a rance taking account OF
the chameleon>stock and coldly calcu-
.lating which should be hers,
CHAPTER II.
A young man appeared. Tall ,robust,
with chrysanthemum hair and dark,
flashing eye, he said in a far-away ac-
cent that fell strangely on her West
Virginia ear:
81 beg pardon, miss, but thore IS
chameleona and chameleons, an'l know
'em. II you will permit the liberty I'll
pick out one for YOU"
Fauchette spoke no word, but the
silence that fell from herrlips was more
eloquent than spoken words. AS she
stood there in all the freshness OF fair
youth she seemed to say, you may.
Claude Forrester-for that was the
name. OF this scion OF q noble house
saw Fanchette to her lodgings. 1t was
a fateful day for these two young hearts.
CHAPTER III.
The months passed. On a bright
crisp winter day Claude Forester
stepped gaily of the street car, dashed
up the steps OF Fanchette's residence
and pushed the button. His heart beat
high with hope. Recollections OF the
Worlds Fair came crowding on him.
What a meeting there would be! And
oh, tho sweet surprise!
A football on the tufted floor, q swish
ing of a tailor-made gown a Ia direc-
toire, the parting OF the silken curtains,
and Fanchette stood before him. But
what a change! Was the young girl
mad? Had reason been dethroned
since her return from the golden glories
of the Worlds Fair?
She stood erect, proud, even naughty,
and to his look of love her cold gray
eve flashed back defiance. It was a
moment of suspense. F~anchette spoke
first, for she lived there.
"And so, Claude Forester, you have
come for your answer. You profess to
love me. How have you shown your
affection for me? By treating me and
mine with a cold neglect. | have
a chameleon-oh. false one, too we'll
you know it,. You have written me
tons of letters and in every one Of them
have spoken tenderly of my pet. What
Il mockery! Marry you! Never!
Never! Never! Go, Claude Forester,
and triae with another trusting heart.
I can never be your'n. You have sent
me no flies for my chameleon!""
~ H.s+ F