The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-09-11

about herself, she evades 1t so grace
fully you forget what it was you asked,
and you know no more about her than
you did beforeyou met her. She's per
feet marvel of tact and beauty, and I'll
be hanged if don't find out all about
her if it takes me till Christmas"
"She must be making o sensation"
I observed, when Bennie paused to re-
cover his breath.
Sensation" he repeated. "Why,
she makes a sensation wherever she
goes. She is the best dressed woman
in New York. Everybody is talking
about her. She has taken a house in
the avenue-the Burbank house, you
know, near Fifty-thirS street, and the
De Kanes have taken her up. Not that
the De Kanes have much of pull of
their own, and they do say old De Kane
is bankrupt, and that he was paid
$50, 900 to introduce such of us fellows
as he could induce to dine with him,
to Mrs. Mum. But that's women's
talk. The family have kept their
mouths shut like CLAIMS about the
beauty. Perhaps that was in the bar
gain. Somebody said she was Chi
cago divorcee, but she herself said that
her husband was dead. l got that
much information out of her, and that's
more than Stuyvesant or any of the
other fellows got. Still, she might
have been a divorcee, and her husband
might have died since the divorce. You
see, Felix, she's not one of our set at all,
and instead of taking her up, we ought
to give the De Kanes the razZle dazzle
for attempting to boost into society
woman that won't stand investiga-
ton. But, confound it! we can't turn
our backs on the game; I for one am
tired of the same old girls, for they're
stupid and thin, and haven't got grain
of snap or ginger, while here's wom-
an who is absolutely fascinating, and
who is clever. Is fellow going to
miss all the fun in life for the sake Of
good form? I tell you there are half
dozen fellows, and Stuyvesant is one of
them-I'm not saying anything about
myself-who would marry Mrs. Mum
tomorrow, and ask no questions.
What do you think of that?"
"She seems to have plenty of money"
I rejoined, "and that might cover
multitude of sins"
Money? I should say she hast"
Bennie began again, after swallowing
an absinthe frapee a waiter had
brought him, "$5,ooo,ooo of it. That
is, they say that's the size of her bank
account. Of course, don't know. But
it looks as If it was so from the ire
mendous rate at which she is living.
She tells me she has entirely redeco-
rated the Burbank house, and that just
as soon as she is perfectly settled she
means to give a dinner. Think of the
nerve! But I'll bet $l00 all the fellows
will be there. I don't know al out the
women, though. They're deuced shy.
hear the Trippman girls have said
some pretty hard things about Mrs.
Mum; but that's only jealousy. Isup-
pose all the girls are piqued because
the fellows have fallen into the new
beauty's net. Can't blame 'em, of
course. But they really don't know
any thing against her. I'm sure of
that, for would have heard it. Idon't
want to hear anything against her;
she looks and acts like a proper person,
and / think she is. I'd like to hear
some good Of her for change. What
do you know, Felix? I've been telling
you all about her, when you should
have been telling me-"
"Well, I'm sorry haven't the de-
sired information, Bennie," I said. II
met her in some western city-in Colo
RADIO, I think it was-when l was out
there on business three years ago. I
never knew much about her. l found
her very charming and clever, and
| called on her few times"
"Oh, come, Felix" Bennie interrupt
ed. "What's the use of that sort of
| talk? You're almost as clever at eva
sion as she is herself. Why don't you
tell me the truth? Hang It! you don't
want to tell"
"My dear boyl" axpostulated, "if
1 knew anything, I'd tell you"
"But you know something!" Bennie
insisted. "Really, you ought to tell it,
Felix. You're the only one who can
clear up the mystery about this wom-
an. This universal silence is suspicious.
One would think you had made bar
gain with her to keep close mouth"
"But haven't spoken to her in three
years." I returned; 81 shouldn't have
known she was in New York except for
a glimpse 1 got of her in the park q
fortnight ago. supposed she had
married New Yorker. knew no bet
ter until you told me. Now, I'll tell
you what I'll do. I'll call on Mrs. Mum
within the next two weeks, and have q
talk with her. Perhaps may find out
something that will interest you. II
you and Stuyvesant and the other fell
lows will meet me here .at IL o'clock
two weeks from tonight, I'll give you
the benefit of my visit"
'By Jove! it's CO." Bennie declared.
81 see no other way to find out about
her. She'll tell you everything for the
sake of old acquaintance. And there's
a good deal to tells or I'm nightly mis-
taken"
So it was settled, and went home to
bed, leaving Bennie meditating some
what gloomily over another absinthe.
1 was in good faith in my promise to
call on Mrs. Mum, and the very next
day, think it was, I presented myself
at the door of the Burbank mansion.
The library, into which was ushered,
had been almost completely refurnished
and was luxury itself. A copy of my
latest novel was lying open on a table
$50 you have come at last" said a soft
voice suddenly, and Mrs. Mum came