The morning call., 1894-06-03
CHAPTER I.

Sir Rupert Glendale was just on the
point of entering the gardens of the Tuii-
leries, after leaving the Hotel Bristol,
where he had been to call upon his sister,
Lady Wooler, when he was hailed by an
eager young voice that proceeded from a
carriage rolling across the Place de la Con-
corde.
II say, Glendale! Come with us, If
you've nothing better to do. We're having
| high old time of 1t, DE Varens and 1.
sPon my life, l can't remember half the
places we've been to this morning"
The vOture was stopped and the boy
| leaned out and seized his kinsman By tho
arm.
Sir Rupert rather liked young Middleton,
because the lad had all the qualities in
which he found himself deficient-fresb-
ness, vgor, enthusiasm; so, without
demur, ne got into the carriage and it
drove on in the direction of the Champs
Elysees.
you haven't told me whittier You are
bound at present." ne asked, after ex-
changing greetings with NJ. de Varens, a
fin de steele young Partisan, who had en-
gagged to complete MiddletOn's education
by making him to know" the most won
derful city in the world.
1--WE are going to reception at ladv's
| mouse.
Ii sounds too good TO be true. but De
Varens has the entree. sure enough, aud
she rather affects EnglShmen, il seems
Just fancyl Won't l have the pull over
the Johnnies at home when | tell them
that Eve been to Nine. Calvadoro's?"
''Mme. Calvadoro? The new dancer at
the Foles DTamatiques ?" inquired Glen
dale, his face growing serious at once.
De Varens was quick to perceive the
change.
You need not fear" be said in q low
voice, ''it is auite-what you call it-secure
for your young cousin. La CalvadorO has
The whole world of Paris at her feet, but
she is cold, and smiles on all alike. She
is artiste-ncthing more. On the stage
she is all life, SsiOn. frenzy. one would
say her blood was fire. but in private
with characteristic shrug-"it is another
affair"
al do not like dancers, and hate Span
iards," remarked Sir Rupert. and then re-
lapsed into gloomy silence. Tba Partisan
gave him stare OF mingled aslOnlshment
and disgust. There was certainly no az
counting for the vagaries of these strange
islanders.
Presently the carriage turned up one of
the avenues that diverge from the champs
ElyseeS. and stopped at Nine. CaivadorO's
house Fate had evidently determined that
Glendale should make the acquaintance of
the dancer.
Glendale looked bigger and sitter than
ever as he followed Middleton and Lis
French friend into the salon. He made
the rest of the men who were there appear
puny. Insignificant, by sheer force of con-
tTast.
The dancer was half reclining in a low
lounEing-chalT. smoking a cigarette and
laughing at some scandalOus story that
one of her admirers was retailing for her
benefit. She was striking. richly tin ted
, brunette, with glorious dark eyes and a
wearied expression underlying the paint.
NJ. de Vareus approached the charmed
: circle.
, Permit me, madame. TO present my
, friends, Sir Rupert Glendale and Mr.. Mid
dleton They are both dying TO make
, your most charming acquaintance.
, Nine Calvadoro glanced at the fresh,
! rudy face of the English lad and smiled.
: Then she looked higher. and with sud-
: den exclamatio half rose from her seat.
Mother of God! You here, Rupert
Glendale?"
The baronet stood stnlid and unsmiling,
after a scarce perceptibe bow.
How? You are previously known to
each other?" exclaimed De Varens, his
m0DkeyIike eyes al once afGe with curl
osity. How strange Of life it is, these
meetings.
The dancer had completely recovered
her sang frOid during his speech.
Ma fol, but you are not complimentary,
NJ. de Varens, with your strange meetings
and your wonderings! 1 have not always
been what l now am, any more than your
friend has always been Sir Rupert"
De Varens laid his hand upon his heart.
Madame, you diScoDSOlate me-! did not
mean anything 20 offend. The honor is,
of course. to my friend, who has had the
privilege TO know madame before the rest
OF u.s."
Sir Rupert Glendale muttered something
to the dancer in explanation Of his change
of name. He had succeeded TO the title
only year before. He was obviously i'll
at ease, and after few cOmmonplaces
were exchanged between The lady and
himself he retired into the background.
t and the circle OF worsbipers closed up
3 again, retaining within II, however, the
. figure of little Middleton.
De Varens noticed many things during
the next half hour. Every now and again
the white lace that yelled the front of
, Nine. CaVadoro's amber satin teagOwn
rose and fell tumuliuously, AMI at such
: times she pressed her hand upon her side,
as though to still the quite perceptible
! beating of her heart. Then her eyes
Q would keep wandering To where GleudaIe'S
. fair head lowered above the others.
= "Sir Ruperts an awful stick. you
2 know; not a bit of go in him. spite OF his
/ fine physique he might be 90 instead of 80.
for any fun be cares about nowadays.
You mustn't think all my countrymen
are like that" said little Middleton,
presently. H. was in the seventh heaven,
for the enchantress allowed him to
sit by her and talk. For myself.
Won know" he continued, 81 want to
see every side Of life before settling
down. Now, Lady WooIer, she is more
human, more get-at-aOle than Glendale. A
stunning woman. too. If it wasn't for a
Young girl, Ella Darby, who is under her
ladyshp'S wing at present, she and
would certainly have some fun together.
Indeed. as 1t Is, I've taken her to one or
two of the cafes chantants. and had just ii
peep at the JaTdin de Paris; but thar was
when Glendale was escorting Ella to Fon-
taineblea u to show her the most interesting
of all the palaces.
The dancer threw away her cigarette.
'Who is this young girl you speak of?'
she asked suddenly; land how is it al
lowed thatshe goes 10 Fon tame beau alone
with gentleman
ION, It's only Glendale. don't you know ?
He's old enough to be her father-almost-
and he's her guardian besdesi All the
same. little Ella is awfully gone on Sir
Rupert. Makes a sort of hero OF him be-
cause of that SOudan business, when he
got those two Arab bullets inside Of him
while saving the life of a private in his
regiment. He's just the man to attract a
young girl"
as she pretty, this Miss Darby ?" ques-
toned Nine. CalvadorO.
The youngster shrugged his shoulders in
q manner initiated from De Varens.
IL suppose so! Really, Pve never