Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-06-04
STROKE OF RUIN.

1t was moonlight and rather late in
the alnly evening, with a breeze flut-
toring along Royal street, and the sound
Of guitar coming from an indefinite
and but few strollers-these mostly
crcolcs in high heelcd shoes tapping
lightly On the banquets-went up and
down the narrow way.
BOYLE Harding leaned back in an easy
chair on the iron rallied balcony or gal
lery, which overhung the sidewalk and
smoked slowly, with half closed eyes.
He was awaiting and expecting the ar
rival Of his young friend, Francois Ra-
singular degree.
Even at the moment, up the uncar.
paed stairway came the active creole's
feet, two steps at a time, along with a
lively tune sung almost breathlessly
through a curving black mustache.
"Ah, but here am, " he cried issuing
through the doorway and tripping gay
step along the floor toward Harding.
"Wcll, and what is it," demanded
inc new 1oIhcl. w Hso navy w"
found out?'
"Bah!" He produced cigarette and
asked for Il light by an inimitablc pan
tonlime with head and shoulders.
"Maybe she went to the French opera.
Go with me. have a box. Come. "
''But haven't you yet seen her?'
"Seen her How should know? M.
Harding forgcts the conditions, He
laughed in his atrociously frivolous
French way.
81 beg pardon" said Harding quick
ly 81 had indeed forgotten that did
not know her name, her place of resi-
dcnce, nor yet even the color OF her
eyes. Yes, I will go with you to the
opera. Everybody goes, eh?''
"Not everybody, but everybody OF
the best. 1t is the distinction. We draw
the line in front of the boxes. ~
"Not the dead line, hope"
"Evcn that sometimes; yes. I have
known q glance Of sweet eyes to cost a
man his best blood under tho oaks. Are
you IL good fcnccr?'
Boyle Harding mado 10 answer, but
flung his cigar stump over the iron fill
gree down into the street, where 1T CO.
ruscatcd On the cobblestones, and then
he rose and shook himself lightly as
one docs who forms an imperfect plan
or feels vaguely inpatient over delayed
expectations.
Tic sky above New Orleans was as
blue as a sapphire, and the irregular
old houses along Royal street caught
many stray CLINT from the splendid
moon. Harding was in mood to feel
all the force of such scene. lie had
come south u fortnight past with letters
of introduction to influential people,
but he was not seeking society. quiet
soiourn i'll New Orleans with his eyes
and ears open suited him better. He was
young, however, brimful OF blood ana
surcharged with a poets imagination.
What was perhaps just the thing nc
would have most desired caino to him
unexpectedly one day. 1t was Il twinkle
of romance in the gloom of Royal street.
He suddenly met beautiful young wo
man face to face at the door OF 'tarcln
old book store, q dingy hole where YOU
find the contents of French libraries
that have been sold at successive safes
or picked up at auction Warm eyes eA
changed an involuntary look whlci
seemed to have glow of inquiry struch
ont of iris points. Harding was electrl
fled and impulsivcly lifted his hat
She passed him with half SMILE leaV
ing breath of violets and the rustic ..
gown quietly elegant i'll the ar roune
about. -,
The color of her hair, her height th'
tint Of her eyes, her compleAloii-nr'
could net fix one of these Ill his mlilu
but he knew that she was the lovellest
the most enchanting girl that eve
breathcd. The impression entered M
consciousness so suddenly and set ltsel
50 deep and with such thrill OF roman
tic pleasure that he stopped SNORT II
the door and stood there, hat III hilho
smiling reminisccntly and listening u
fine mr. of lis own blood swectly quick
ening along his veins A..
\ lover is great fool, but ne ~ 'i
only man who knows what song /" wa
that the stars sang, and to MN So'
must 90 if you would learn the secro
of heavenly happiness and the value q
ne
dreams as nutrimcnt for the llil''si' i''
,ion. A lovers soul will treble us s.''
urc by feeding one moment OH SIM:
In fact, Boyle Harding had 1eit .n IN,
sudden growth within. 1t had 4ulIh /.
rncd, broadencd and swcetened III
spiritual vision, while affordnS III
ald richly mysterious lncrcment 10 Hi
enjoyment Of his new surro'llloi'lss'
This was midway in the fiftlcs' whci
New Orleans bad reached the sple''ui'
zenith of her wealth, and When th
peculiar color of her social NC W."
most dazzling and romantic AS d.
American city She stood apart: " ,
almost tropical, heart OF passion ~,
ury, pleasure and aboudlng hoSlr r
fly. And with it all went the "id li''
,,om If chivalric personal courage "','
the love of spectacular results Ill n'"'
ters Of honor.
Harding and his young creole iii,n
get out on foot it was but shor' sue
To 'thn onpro hOuSe-anu us tncy NSh