The Forrest City times., 1895-03-22


ing my card in his fingers, confronted
me.
Monsieur has so many callers" he
explained, with bow, eying me curl
ously all the time. What might be
madame's business?"
Perfectly well aware that might as
well beat retreat at once ds hope for
success If answered his question, my
business is with monsieur" l said,
calmly. Kindly hand him my card,
and he will see me-"
Still hesitating, but evidently i'm
pressed by the assurance with which I
spoke, the man turned and tapped at
an adjacent door.
"Enter" responded a voice from
within. The man left the door a1ar
behind him. Silently / stepped up to
1t and peeped through the crack, being
rewarded for my temerity by the sight
OF rather stout figure of medium
height, clad in long frock coat, with
a bullet-shaped head, hair cropped
tight, well-formed nose, and straight
mustache of enormous proportions
"Mees Margaret Neveelr' l heard
him say. ''No. do not think know
the lady" Then he added, turning to
the servant: us mademoiselle young
or oldP"
Young, SIR" said the man: and in my
anxiety l had almost called through
the opening of the door land pretty"
did you ask her beezneez?"
"Yessir. She said it was direct with
YOU"
We'll, will see her in one moment" !"
came the welcome words; but, as I
stepped back from the door, they were
followed by: But shust make sure her
beezneez has nosing to do with ze
noospapairs.
A groan almost escaped me. It was
no use prevaricating when, in a mo-
ment's time, l should be in the great
mans presence. told the servant
candidly that 1 did indeed come from
the editor of the Weekly Ray. paper
that had always expressed its greatest
admiration of NJ. Coussot and all his
works, to bid him welcome to our
shores.
The mans face relaxed as I said this.
He returned to the room, and second
after l heard M. Coussot's voice from
within:
"Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Yer goot! ver' goot
indeed! Tell Mees Newell / feel ze
honor greatly, but" - and here he
raised his tones-''M. Coussot is nevair
interviewed"
$50 much for the glory was to be
covered with" said I, as, hurrying
from the scene of my defeat, 1 turned
into Regent street.
Next morning, still feeling a bit
ashamed of myself, 1 went into the
city to keep an appointment that the
editor had made for me.
That over. was coming down
Threadneedle street, intending to walk
back to the office, when. passing the
entrance to the Bank of England,
saw sight that made my heart go
thump!
Three genial looking gentlemen,
locked arm in arm, were emerging from
under the famous portals, and in the
central figure l recognized M. Jean
Coussot himself
Falling back "a pace, l "shadowed"
them. They got to the corner and
stopped at the edge of the pavement,
talking, laughing, gesticulating wildly.
Suddenly they shook hands violently,
and, with much raising of hats and
vociferous interchange of good wishes,
left him. He crossed over to the Man
sion house. l followed. Why l did so,
can hardly say, except that / still
felt lingering hope that fate would
yet befriend me.
Arrived on the opposite pavement,
NJ. Coussot stopped and took up his
station on the curb, critically eying
the various road cars and omnibuses as
they came up.
A Hammersmith car drew up, and,
with unsupported agility, he jumped
on to the steps and nimbly climbed up
stairs.
! followed, and took seat behind
him.
AS we neared the top of Cheapside,
thought it time to commence opera
tions.
Excuse me-" said l, in my softest
possible tones, Il am not sure if l
am on the right car. Does this one
go co Hyde Park corner, can you tell
me?"
AS he heard my voice NJ. Coussot
jerked round on his seat, and, as he
looked at me, politely raised his hat.
"Ah, meesl / am strangair in Lon
don," he said. Il will inquire of the
drivair."
And bending over the rail, ''Do you
pass re Hyde Park cornair?" he asked;
and then turned to me again with:
''Yes, zis car pass re cornair."
Thank you, so much" said /, sweet
IL 1ae+ tb;s 81