The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-30
much as your stay in my house. But
I shall come to see you-I may, may

shall come to see you-I may. may I
not?"
gave hasty assent, for at that in
stant my hostess entered the room to
bid me farewell. She was closely fol-
lowed by a foptman, Picot. who came
to announce the carriage. AS Mrs. Dlcky
entered upon the discussion Of some do
mestic topic with her husband. I took
advantage Of their preoccupation to ap-
proach the servant with the tip which
had prepared for him. This, needless
of the fact that Its size would natur-
ally arouse the mans suspicious as to
the disinrerestedness of the motive that
prompted 1t, 1 had made large out OF
all sort of proportion to the occasion.
I had thought 1t good opportunity to
supply my father with a sum which. ju-
diciously expended, would keep him in
comfort until 1 could decide upon some
way of portioning him without disclos-
ing my real identity. 1t was $500 that
l had the folly to place in the hand
which was ready for a comparative pit
tance. ssaS-l,
AS he felt the roll of bills, he glanced
quickly down at them, and then, OBJ
serving the denomination of some, he
SHOT a perpleXed and questioning look,
that was overlooking with insinuation,
at my face.
81 understand. of course, that this is
hush-money," it said. as plainly as
speech; "but what for?"
Before he could recover from his
stupefaction sufficiently to thank me,
his master, having observed the trans
action, came forward.
Pardon me. madam he said, "but
it is one of the rules Of my household
that my servants are not to accept
fees
He held out his hand to Picot. Il
will return your tip, Picot; you know
the rules of the servants hall I sup
pose?'
The man had no choice but to obey.
But walls of such magnitude are sacri-
feed without disinelination, and the
sharp, sallow face looked orninously
ugly as the thin, covetous hand deliv-
cred up its treasure to Quintard
He looked surprised and shocked as
he felt the substantial thickness Of the
roll and even his good breeding could
not prevent his glancing inquisitively
at the amount he had received.
Why, surely, madame, you have
made a mistaken he exclaimed delib-
erately inspecting the bills. Excuse
me, but, in feeling my servants, do you
mean to discharge at an excessive rate
a board bill which has never been pre-
sented? This is $500 that Picot has re-
turned to me!' He addressed me
haughtily, in a tone Of great annoy
ance.
I flushed, and wished the earth would
swallow me. I was fearfully embar-
rassed, for I realized how wholly un-
warrantable my action must appear in
the eyes of my hosts. 1t must seem to
them either as if were trying to ac-
quit myself of every suggestion Of in
debtedness to them, and that at an eX-
Orbitant rate, or else as If l were try
ing to impress the household with a
nf 1ox 1clo ND
travagant disregard Of money. My
embarra ssment was obvious to all, but
Mrs. Quintard tactfully came to my re-
lief. aca s.
20 Richard!' she expostulated care
lessly, what an awful row you do
make over trifes! Why should you
make a personal matter Of the fact that
madame has discovered in Picot fel-
low artist to whom fortune has been
unkind, and that she has sought to re-
lieve him? Don't be so tragic over
nothing"
Her husbands face cleared as she
spoke, and I could have hugged her
for her ready wit. My host turned to
me, still holding out the money for my
acceptance, however.
ooh. I beg your pardon for my scold-
ing" he said, in a most clement voice;
II had not considered that there might
be other motives. STILL sorry as lam
to dispossess needy confrere of your
charity, I prefer that it should not be
bestowed under the present circum-
stances sPicot, you may thank mad
anne for her kindly intentions. and go"
And there the matter rested for the
present. Jean and I returned to-. our
temporary home. where I did not miss
my late surroundings as much as had
anticipated doing, for my late compan-
ions became my frequent visitors. In
deed, Allan became a veritable enfant
gate de la maison. He and Jean grew
to be warm friends. and the best of
comrades and when I wished to be
alone I would send them off together.
easy in the assurance that each would
entertain the other. The boy was
going through a species of calf-love for
me- which filed him with exaltaton
and enthusiasm, and which immensely
would come to him through it, and it
made me feel young again. exultant,
only to perceive that I was yet capable
of inspiring so pure and ingenious, -
20 unsuitable, a passion or
He was the dearest SOFT nf lad. WIN
ming, noble in thought and impulse.
generous and sincere. About me, of
course there hung that atmosphere of
unreality and illusion which ever en-
velops the actress from the standpoint
of the layman. This placed fictitious
value upon me in his eyes, and caused
him to regard me as creature quite
TOO bright and good for human ma
ture's daily food" His manner of all
dressing me was so different from that
which he used towards Jean that she
was wont to allude to herself and me-