The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-04-14
mattered not to him whether the play

| was buCCtebluls
The next morning handsome equip.
age stopped before the building and a
footman mounted the stairway, shifted
haughtily as though the neighborhood
was little to his liking, inquired cup
pishly" of the landlady where M.
Claude Moran was to be found and
then proceeded on his upward journey
with grunt of dissatisfaction.
"Come in" shouted the poet who
was taking his morning meal.
The footman strobe arrogantly
through the doorway and gazed con-
temptuously at the shabby surround
ings.
:" Is this NJ. Claude Morain?" he
asked.
cit is; what do you want?"
What do l want? Well, have to
deliver this message"
"Why don't you be quick about it,
or I'm busy"
The footman became more naughty,
but handed to the poet an envelope.
The poet opened it and read brief
message. He became red with con-
fusion and remained standing there in
ecstacy. The footman shifted from
| foot to foot. Who was this shabby fell
low who kept him waiting 80 long9
"Well, the answer" said the foot
man, finally.
sob, you're still here are you?
had forgotten about you. Just tell your
mistress l will call at the hour APP
pointed"
"Tell her what9" repeated the
amazed servant.
"Tell the countess what 1 have said
and go, as am busy"
When the footman had departed.
Claude gazed at the note with rapture.
Will you not come and see your
old friend, Julie, at three O'Clock this
afternoon?" AT first he thought of re-
fusing, remembering the ford man,
his patron. Besides, he had entered
into base conspiracy with his rival.
These poemsl And then he told him.
self he would see her at all hazards.
He counted what money he had, and,
DOMINIC his best clothes, went into a
general merchandise establishment,
where he purchased new gloves, a new
necktie and sundry other articles of at
tire of which he was in urgent need.
He hired carriage at the appointed
hour and repaired to her home.
She seemed like the same Julie he
had known ten years ago. She greeted
him with blush.
"It 80 long since we have met" she
said. al saw your play last night"
For an hour Claude was in Elysium.
She had grown very attractive and he
asked himself if this could be his old
playmate, the little Julie whose par
tnts' estate had adjoined that of his
father. Claude's rapture was broken
by servant entering with the card of
his rival.
"Tell him 1 am busy to-day" said
the little countess. "You are poet,
understand"
Claude began to stammer when she
opened an enameled box and took
therefrom large package of poems.
81 sent for you to ask you if these
verses are sincere"
Greatly, am no judge"
ooh, 1 don't care for the poems
themselves, but what they conceal.
Take this one, for example. AS read
down, the first letter to each line find
what? Claude and Julie. That is
what it spells. Strange, isn't it?"
'It is rather PECULIAR" murmured
Inc embarrassed poet.
"Now, here is another. The same
test, and find: q love Julie Is that
a coincidence? 1t might be, but that
the letters of the same six lines spell
what? Why Claude So we have:
Il love Julie, Claude So all through |
the poems find secretive love MESA
ges from certain Claude. Again, he
tells me his full name in this Ode to the
Midnight Wind: Claude Moran, Ju-
lies boy lover find ciphers every
where" laughed the countess. "Your
poems are regular puzzles. Now,
what want to know is-what do you
mean by it?"
"Nothing, 1 assure you, absolutely
nothing" stammered the poet.
"Why, you, Claudia deceiver,"
said she merrily. "Then those were
mere words-mere nothings! Alas,
whom are we to believe in this world"
'No, no." protested the poet. 81
did intend them, of course-I could not |
forget-so you see"
ga lucid explanation, truly" she ex-
planned, gayly, and he became more
confused.
est is the only one have to give"
he said humbly. ~ can only ask your
pardon for"
The countess now faced him with
flashing eyes and determined mien.
"Did you, or did you not, mean what
you wrote?"
He became just as defiant. All his
embarrassment vanished.
81 did mean those words. l did not
know you would see them. 1 am sorry
you have: And now, good bye"
"Stay."
"Julie!"
care you engaged this evening,
Claude?"
mo; that is"
"Then you must take me to the
theater; l will expect you here, and,
perhaps, Claude, we will see many of
your plays together"
AS he entered his carriage he saw her
gazing out of the window. She blush
ed and drew back; then impulsively
threw him kiss with her hand as she
had done when they were children.
And the old hanson became as char
lot of the gods.-Detroit Free Press