Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-22

she said encouragingly after the common.
| places were over with
Mr.. Warburton gazed peacefully into
the fire He had been asked this question
before by other women. 1t made him feel
| that it was the desire of the questioner to
measure him. At present he did not care
| to be measured. He knew instinctively
that this woman cared for the young au-
thor, or thought she did, which was about
the same thing. He was moved no more
than a man usually is by the interest of
pretty woman. His feelings, which had
been sorely tried, had just Gained down
to a natural state, and he was not anxious
for more upheavals Anyway he had no
desire to be taken up for Il few hours
amusement and then dropped.
There is little about me that ! worth
telling" he said quietly. Il was born in
| st. Louis. entered Columbia college, stud
led mining and engineering, went to South
America, found silver in Peru, where am
interested in mine. Two months ago
felt longing to be back in America for
the Christmas season, and here l am"
Mrs Clementry raised her eyebrows
just shade. This was not the answer
she had expected. Young Mr.. Shirley
would not have so answered. This man
was different from the run, then. She
didn't know if he were laughing at her or
not But sho was clever woman and
didn't often make mistakes. Her quick
intuition told her that he would be an
easy man to handle if his feelings were
moved. She made up her mind in an in
cto tn ut hnt CHI "a pl
for him, but there is excitement in stand.
ing ON a cratGr's edge when one knows
that the fires below are not extinct.
So this delightful woman, with her own
affections divided between the young au-
thor and her somewhat elderly husband
(not equally divided), determined to win
the love of a man who, she knew, must
suffer. No. not for a within, but because
she believed he would come unwillingly.
She always wanted the next to impossible
1t was passion with her.
During the Rmainder of the visit she
was sweet, reserved, serious. She let him
see the womanlnCss of her. She did draw
him out in spite of himself She got an
idea of his earnestness, his ability and his
weaknesses. She was $oally charming
woman and would have denied that she
was cruel. Perhaps she thought only of
the moment, or maybe she didn't think
at ALL
When Mr.. Warburton arose to go, he
felt regret at parting. Mrs. Clementry ad-
mitted to herself after he had gone that
she had enjoyed his visit. The man, as he
walked slowly toward the elevated sta
tion felt somewhat as one does after be-
ing mesmerized. He awoke that night
thinking about her and found it hard to
sleep again. In the morning he thought
of her. At luncheon tho visit of the pre-
ceding evening was less distinct That
evening it was fainter still. The force OF
Mrs. Clementry's spell was apparently
evapCrating.
Mrs ClCmcntry's carriage rolled up to
the opera house on the Carmen" night,
just after Mr. Warburton had assisted his
little cousin from his He lifted his hat
as Mrs. Clementry passed him in the cor
ridor on the way to her box. Mr.. Warbur'
ton and his companion found their or
chestrn stalls with$ome difficulty, for il
was the biggest night of the season. Ed
Guard de Rcszke was to sing the Torea
dor; his brother Jean, Don Jose; De
Lussan, Carmen, and Melba was Michaela
Not even the great Faust" nights of the
year before had drawn SO large an audi
ence. The thought of the great basso''
thrilling notes ringing out in the song o.
the bullfghter filled all with expectation
The sharp twang of tuning violins vibrat
ed through the flower perfumed air. Tht
tiers of boxes, one above another, scintil
lated like diamond horseshoes Tho city,
wealth was en- parade, and no city in TIT
world can produce more brilliant sight
Jack" said the little lady as soon al
Warburton had got off his coat and folded
his programme, who was that woman
you just bowed top
Mrs. Clementry, the wife of Clemen
try, the banker"
rs she an old friend of yours2"
\ 81 don't know that l call her friend n
\ all. l met her but once at dinner ant
dropped in tho next afternoon"
D WELL" said the little lady, with de
cision, Il really thought she was frient
[ and felt some way that she didn't lik
me-"
Jacks good humored laugh was browne,
y by the orchestra. In truth, he had almos
\ forgotten Mrs Clementry, for it was full
\ two weeks since he had paid the Afternoon
visit. He had not gone back because h
j realized that she was exceedingly attract
i've; that if he saw much of her he woul
\ in all likelihood regret it, He had bee
y wounded before. He was not anxious TO
\ any more suffering. He had been a mot
n more than once and had burned his wings
\ He did not believe in love at first sight
but he had an intelligent perception as t
how love might grow, and then there wa
} Mr. Clementry. Warburton knew himself