The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-04-27

niger, "a pOlltlclan Is 1901, radical
politician is generally knave as well,
but radical political woman is the
very deuce itself"
And with this ungallant remark the
general took his companions arm and
departed.
III.
Mrs. Dickson, having dressed for din
ner, was sitting nervously in the draw
ing-room, while her face kept wander
ing between the clock and one of Miss
Singleton's most fiery pamphlets, with
which she was endeavoring to fan her
failing courage. Presently she started
as she heard the front door open. Fred
had come back then, she thought,
with an involuntary sigh of relief; at
least her worst forebodings had proved
false. With hasty gesture she laid
aside the pamphlet, and was apparent
ly immersed in the Queen, when Fred
entered the room, whistling cheerfully.
What had happened at Queens Road
station, she wondered; surely there
must have been terrible scene. Yet
Fred, although she dared not look at
his face, seemed as cheerful as usual.
He sat down comfortably in a chair
nearly opposite her.
"Well, Camilla, and what have You
been doing this afternoon"
There was nc answer.
Here, l say, what are you about?
Working out some beastly acrostic?
You might chuck it up now and tell
me your news. What have you been
about?"
She answered in hard, constrained
voice, without raising her eyes from
the page: 'sThat is question l might
more reasonably put to YOU"
''What? 1? Oh, went to few
shops, and looked in at the club for q
bit. That's my brief, unvarnished
tale And now yours?"
Her heart sank within her. Fred
was capable of lying to her, then.
'Was-is-Q Queens Road station "a
pretty placer" she said.
Queens Road station? Singularly
beautiful, should think-famous for
its woodland scenery. But why do you
ask?'
''Fred"-she raised her eyes at last,
and spoke very 'what-were-
you-doing that placer"
''What in the name of goodness are
you talking about? Queens Road sta
ton? Why, haven't been near it for
two months"
''Sir, You were there two hours ago.
You see that know ALL"
"A precious sight more than do my
self, at all events" rejoined her hus-
band. Camilla, what do You mean?
Is 1t riddle, or theatricals, or are you
dreaming?"
''You cannot deceive me longer. 1
have for some time suspected you, and
to-day, with Miss Singleton's help"
what in"
"Silence, please-I have found you
out. Yes, SIR" she cried. rising from
her seat, and suddenly producing once
more the fatal postal card, II know
what this means"
Fred glared at it in open-mouthed
for some seconds. And
then, gradually realizing the state Of
affairs, he fell back in his chair-and
roared with uncomfortable laughter.
Camilla burst into tears SIT is too
cruel!' she sobbed.
At the sight of her distress Fred en-
deavored to compose himself. "And
he gasped, did you take
this to mean?"
They looked at the card together. It
bore single line, DO. RS g."
why" her voice was choked with
tears, ''it means be at Queens Roads
station at g."
Fred relapsed once more into sonor-
Gus outlaws.
''Ho, no! BE at - Oh! no! no!
Camilla, what a goose you
are! Why didn't you learn to play
chess? Bishop to Queens Rocks
Sixth and it is my brothers last move
In correspondence game that am
playing with him. And you and Miss
Singleton thoughtful, ha, har'
Camilla looked up quickly, a light
breaking through her tears. A mo-
ment's suspense-and she had thrown
herself into her husbands arms, laugh
ing and crying at the same time.
"Oh, Fred" she cried, show can yon
forgive mel"
1t was at this precise moment that
the door suddenly opened, and Miss
Singleton appeared, flushed, d.
sheveled and breathless. "Oh, Camilla"
she exclaimed, impetuously,- there is
some terrible mistake. We went in
i've hansoms, and waited an hour-and
there was a rude crowd which jeered
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. this mean?"
For she had now realized that here
was Camilla in her traitorous hus-
bands arms.
ut MEANS" remarked that gentle
nan, coolly, that for once in your life,
Miss Singleton, You have made slight
1t means that the preternatur-
Il sagacity of the Feminine league is,
Tor once, in fault. And it means, l fear,
hat the New Woman, despite her wis
lom, is even more liable to blunder