Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-15

ones CHILDHOOD. one always wishes to
| stare: Taking his cigarette from between
his lips, Mr.. Nash addressed NJ. Gerbert,
laughing as he spoke:
$50 SO , your glimpse of Paradise has van
You mean Celestine-my wife? Bah!
That Is finished"
1T was merely an entr'acte then?"
mo. 1t was not an entr'acte. 1t was a
complete tragedy, of the little. sordid sort.
which. at present Is the fashion,"
Mr.. Nash had resumed his cigarette. Mr..
kennard had poised himself against q cor
| ner Of the table.
about your wife as If she we're something
higher than the angels. Do you mean to
| tel me, sir. that that's all over"
"My rawlings? All, nor NJ Gerbert had
of. crushing 1T up in his right hand, he
| held 1t out in front of him. II shall always
have my rawlings, though my wife has
sone.'
Gone? What the devil do you meano"
M. Gerbert shrugged his shoulders.
hat does 1t matter? Perhaps she has
begun to love another, or without loving
| another. she has simply grown tired of
| me. or she finds my poverty more than she
| can bear
Il suppose, young man, you have been
clearing the matrimonial atmosphere. and
| this is the serio-comic fashion in which 1t
pieases you to look at it,
| NJ. Gerbert placed himself in Mr.. Ken
nard's largest armchair.
What sort was this fellow who found 1t
| necessary to advertise the fact that he
| found his life an indispensable burden?'
1.-THE fellow was a woman"
Il might have guessed 1t. The curses
| have come home to roost. She has. doubt
| less. made life an insupportable burden to
| so many men that, now, 1t Is her own
turn"
Keep it up, oerbertt; you'll be cynic
vat .afn
This woman, was she old or young?"
"a girl sir. mere child, not out of her
| teens-eh. Nash? little slip of thing
you could blow away with a breath. With
! the face of saint. sir. or an angel eyes
which were the eyes of Innocence. II ever
| I saw them. And yet, by George, sir, she
| offered for ten thousand francs to kill the
president-kill him. sir! And she spoke as
calmly as if she were telling you her size
| In gloves. Upon my soul, l believe she d do
| 1t, too!'
Ten thousand francs-was that the sum
she asked?'
Ten thousand francs. sir: might have
| understood it if she had asked ten million,
| but for pittance such as that
Il perceive: You have yourself your
price then. 1t is strange this womans
price Is mine. Guarantee me ten thousand
| francs. and 1 will myself kill the president
with my own hand
| Mr.. Kennard looked at NJ. Gerbert for
| some moments in silence Then, going to
| the mantelpiece, he began 10 fill his pipe
from tobacco jar which stood upon
bracket.
| troduce me to Madame Gerbert. When are
you going to keep your pronise?"
| ut is too late"
Don't talk nonsense" The big man had
| filed his pipe. AS he lighted it he plffed
out clouds of smoke. "Gerbert, If you've
nothing particularly on. ask me to spend
| this evening with you; and If you We no es-
pecial objection to the fellow-such as most
| to haVe-IU bring
While NJ Gerbert seemed hesitating. Mr..
Nash spoke
Fnglishman, but, l assure you. he's an I'M
usual specimen, even for an Engilshman.
I'll kick him. if you like.
M Gerbert raised himself out of the
depths Of Mr.. kennards easy cnai;
II see no reason why YOU should not
come-I see no reason. M. kennard-M
Nash-I hope TIC see you In my little apart
ment this evening about g. For my wlfe
1 cannot promise; l see very little OF neT
see anything of her at all. But, for me
to me you will be very welcome He
moved to the door. Until this evening.
my friends about g.. ........ .....
For some minutes after the Frenchman
had gone neither of the Englishmen said
anything. Mr.. Kennard. his head thrown
back. his pipe between his teeth, puffed
clouds of smoke towards the ceiling. He
was the first to speak.
Not very genial invitation-eh, Will
Ham,"
"My dear Hugh, what it is to be heavy
| footed. Did you happen to observe that
| the fellow was half beside himself with
| trouble?"
Il did. Because you are as blind as a
bat it doesn't follow that we all are"
Pause; moro smoke. Should you say that
the trouble is with his wife with his
money!"
"My experience teaches me that when
man has trouble with his money he also,
as a matter Of course, has trouble with
his wife,
Concluded in Tomorrcw's Starr