Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-03-31
address, Is Osborne Terrace


Taking a card out of NV noo1,o+ :
scrubbed few lines on the back has
tily. Dear jack l wrote. .Awfullv
sorry | cannot meet you as promised
Pressing engagement-Max Thew
were to Jack Albery, our tenor. T had
promised to meet him at the club and
go down to the theatre together after
ward. That much accomplished
proceeded to the address given bv INV
| fair correspondent.
Il | began to the trim house,
maid who answered my ring, and then
l stammered and looked foolish.
had forgotten that I did not know her
name.
The girl smiled behind her apron.
It's all right, sir. Will you come this
way. please?'
She showed me into the daintiest
or boudoirs. Rich curtains and rugs.
the thick administer on the floor, and
the array of little ornaments scattered
profusely around the room proclaimed
its owner to be accustomed to luxury.
A second or, two later the curtains
opened and in walked, not she whom
was expecting, but-Barraud! I gave
a start of amazement | had pretty
nearly forgotten his existence; but the
lnsolent smile, just showing the white
of his teeth, on his face as he advanc-
ed, brought back wildly to my 1ecol-
/, lection the circumstances of our last
i meeting.
So we meet again, Mr.. Deuchars?'
1T seems that we do I replied
coldly; and, seeing that he was about
to speak, I added; But will you please
acquaint your mistress that l am here?
My time is limited l took him to be
| a servant. l had heard that since his
| dismissal he had contracted habits of
intemperance and gradually sunk own
the social ladder.
| Much to my relief, after moments
| hesitation, during which he appeared
undecided whether to continue the con-
versation or accept rebuff, he chose the
latter and vanished. Five minutes,
perhaps, elapsed. Again the curtain
divided, and this time-ah! / stepped
forward to greet my divinity.
"'I must apologize most humbly for
keeping you waiting, Mr.. Deuchars,'
she said. I hardly dared hope that
you would find time to pay me Wis
it.
Beauty has but to express wish
and it Immediately becomes COM
mand,' I replied in my most tender
manner, and bent low to take her hand
when
''Ho! no! no! ho!-ha! ha! hal
"a burst of derisive laughter check
ed the gallant intention and caused me
to start back in dismay. A furious
clutch at faxen wig, the sound of d
dress being roughly torn down the
middle. Barraud! Again! It was
grotesque figure that confronted me.
Shreds of feminine attire chung to him
here and there, and the hasty wipe he
had given his face had had the effect
of distributing the grease paint and
powder on it in blotchy, uneven
patches.
"Then comprehended. have said
that he was a consummate master OF
the art of makeup, and his slight,
girlish frame had lent itself to his tai
ent with marvellous effect. l had been
tricked, duped, deceived completely.
And now! For what purpose had he
lured me into his power? For In his
power I felt that | was. There was
CLEAN of incipient madness in his eyes.
and the smile of hooking triumph on
his patched and powdered features gave
him the appearance of some unreal,
| fantastic figure; some bizarre concep-
| ton of an overheated imagination. A
sense of impending danger caused me
to SILVER slightly.
cat last he broke the silence, which
was fast growing oppressive.
We'll, Msieur Deuchars, DO / not
make a charming young lady? Does
not your mouth water when / cast my
eyes UP at you-so? l suppose you
thought that because my revenge was
long in coming [ had forgotten. Bar
raud never forgets. l have waited
long for an opportunity, but now
You see that?' he said, breaking on
suddenly. 1t was a revolver, and
looked apprehensive1y at the polished
barrel. Shall tell you what I pro-
nose to do with it? But let me con-
graduate you before l do. You sang
well this afternoon, exceedingly we'll
for the last time.
"The emphasis he threw into the last
words confirmed my worst suspicious,
and heard my heart beat faster. Bit
terly l cursed the headstrong foolish
ness which had placed me in his grasp.
I looked round the room. I was caught
like a rat in trap There was appar-
emily only one exit, and he sat guard
ing that and toying carelessly with the
revolver. I waited in trepidation for
him to resume.
"It is now 5:35. At $50 or soon
after you ought to be at the theatre;
lis not that so? But you will not be