Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-24

utterng a meaningless falsetto laugh
at the end OF every sentence.
"Ohw exclaimed Katie, gushlngly
Madame is always so hard "A us poor
Americans -rel he! he! Isn't she. Mr.
MIR" and she looked inquiringly to-
ward the reporter.
I'VE viii have some more coffee,
Katie" said madame quietly. Then
when Katie had departed on her err
rand; ''rhat" she continued, rs an
example OF what 1 mean. That woman
is never satisfied unless she knows
everybOdy's name and business. Now,
you might come here every day for a
year. and | would not care about know
ing your name.
Katie has injured the business in
more than one way by her inquisitive-
ness and her long tongue, and she has
robbed me Of q good friend into the
bargain.
By the way, 1t would be a famous
idea when l have my houris here TO
have tho danse du ventre done every
| evening. But l must first be sure OF
my people. II would be horrible IL any
vulgar, excitable men should get in,
and 1t Is 50 difficult to discriminate
sometimes.
/ 1t was with many expressions of dis
tiugulshed consideration that Madame
Selma parted with her visitor. When
the reporter called again the hour was
more propitlous for an estimate of the
| exclusive clientele OF the Twenty-fifth
street temple of Oriental vice.
The front ami back parlurs were
| thrown open and fifteen or sixteen peo-
| pie were scattered about in the various
stages Of exaltation or drowslness pro-
| duced by hashish. Several of the men
| were in evening dress, and three of
them We're members of the Union
| League Club.
The women We're for the most part
OF the half-world, but there was one
who, mp to the time of certain di-
vorce scandal few years ago, occu-
pied an enylable position. and another
was the wife of a merchant whose
wealth Is as notorious as his eccen-
| triclty.
But the most interesting Of all was
n girl whose perfect blonde beauty is
familiar Ia those who frequent the
opera and other semi-social functions
at the height Of the season. She was
accompanied by II young Englishman
OF artistic and bohemian associations,
and both seemed to have surrendered
themselves completely to the influence
OF the narcotic.
There was no note Of vulgarIty in the
scene and Kate Clarke, who was busy
keeping the coffee cups replenished
and the nnrghilehs In molSlng trim.
looked somewhat out Of her element.
Madame Selma, on the other hand.
appeared supremelE Iontented. Her
shrewd strongly marked face beaned
above the splendOr of a magnificent
gold embroidered Turkish costume. and
as she lihgtly touched the strIngs OF
a curiously shaped guitar she presented
a ploture that was in singular, harmony
with the phase OF debased voluptuotis-
ness with which she has inoculated
| the leisured men and von,an az NJ,
York.
She quickly engaged in an animated
confidential chat with the reporter and
entertained him with an amusina, a.
scriptlon of the idlosyncracies OF some
OF her guests.
a small private party, It appeared
occupied the back extension MADAME
iaushingly refused to disclose their
When tho reporter reminded her OF
her promise to provide him vim
an opium layout abe became serians
ma sntreated him TO think better OF
~ dissuade even my best customer,
from asking for DOPE" she urged
~ eGeise. u You insist on Il, you shall
have IT, but the risk for me Il vsrv
great II the neighbors once detected
the smell of opium my business Womb
De broken up, Hashish IS iust as n1ass-
ant, ana much safer for me"
And SO the reporter yielded
en-, nlaaume, feel SO slckr' ex.
claimed the blonde girl at that mo.
Il do not wonder" replied sei,r,
oomposediy, u told you that arrani,
was terribly potent spirit ana ,.,
you insisted on drinking IL ont ~
ehamrihgne glass. o1' VI
4 SN~ns' wosid not be surprised to