Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-10-13
CHAPTER X.


Tuxedo, and the town, or that part of
it circling in carefully barred orbit,
talked of her. The papers seized on her
as something new and printed pictures
of her as beauty, libelous things in
which she looked dropsical or murder
Gus or only harmlessty mad. Mrs. Err
lesson kept the reporters well informed,
fumed over the newspaper abortions OF
her darling went with her everywhere,
to noon breakfasts, to dances ending at
dawn, and in asides took pills to stay
her heart.
Every one knew that Smedley Joyce,
who had met Olga in London, had been
her sponsor in the best society. In his
sisters box aS the opera she had made
her first appearance in New York. He
had got invitations for her, given
luncheon in her honor, and at lis rooms
on Fifth avenue, at tea where raJah
in marvellous turban winked his bril-
liant eyes, David Temple saw her again.
There are some men one cannot disas-
sociate from the names upon their visit
ing cards. Smedley Joyce was one of
these Smedley, even to his intimates,
seemed an inpertinence and Mr.. Joyce
commonplace. He was his full name,
from the glittering apex of his bald
crown to the toe of his equally glitter
ing boot. If he could, he would have
been lighter, younger and with the
lungs of football half back, but just
Ps he was people deferred to him. Hope
lessly devoted to a single life, his cult,
however, was feminine beauty, and the
woman he admired became the fashion
The personality of Smedley Joyce per-
vaded New York. He was permanent
fad; his vogue was unquestioned, like
the Thanksgiving turkey and the horse
show.
In the fragrance and dusk of his beau
tiful rooms he seized David's hand in
greeting and gave it the fashionable up
ward jerk.
"Ah, you did get up to see US, yen
dreadfully busy mani You'd make Us
forget you il that were possible" And
David found himself passed on to make
room for the next conner.
He declined tea from the matrons re-
ceiving and kept near the door. He had
come in only for few moments to see
the rajah and talk with him. AS he
stood there, his big shoulders and keen
face showing clearly above those sur
rounding him, he looked across the
whispering, constantly changing crowd
for the famous Hindoo.
Close by the big, yawning leaves Of
palms screening the either players he
saw him. The lean brown profile with
the huge crimson turban above was
bending over some one. 1t was Olga.
When the crowd parted, David saw her
plainly.
She was on low seat beside pink
lamp, her mother, now chatting at a
little distance, having early seen the
advantage of the rosy light She was in
velvet and furs, her lips under deli
cate veil lazily smiling. A hat with a
brim, and big one, Swallowed her eyes
and gave them deeper mystery. Her
pose was regal, gentle. The upward
glances given to the rajah were lazy,
provoking. Her delicate lips were hu-
mid with a childish sensuousness.
No wonder David and dozen other
men who watched her came to the same
decision-she was beautiful, loving,
gentle, true. She seemed the sort of
woman men SO frequently choose as a
wife and never as comrade; a help
less, fascinating, fastidious creature
whose eyes express the words: "Tell
me, dear, just what to do. You know
so much better than l." not woman
of original opinions on anything un-
der the sun; as conventional in
thought as in the way she wore her
hair; not tailor made, independent or
athletic; one whose gowns were always
marvels to mems eyes, fragrant mys-
teries of lace and ribbons; woman to
love ease and cushions and never re-
member an address, to COO to a baby,
crave needlework and dabble in charity,
altogether a seductive contrast to the
restless spirit of mans business life.
Her physical radiance came upon
David for the second time with the
power of summons. He had frequent
ly thought of her since the previous
meeting. No one who once saw Olga
ever quite forgot her. Side by side with
the fancy of what Elaine might have
been her lovely face, rare in type, took
its place.
He made his way to her and she gave
him her hand, sinking back in a lazy
attitude. The rajah was forgotten by
him, and they talked of many things, of
trifes mostly, but Olga had a way of
making light talk enhancing. Her
speech was pretty and her laziness
wrapped listener with sense of mag
netic quiet
Growing more serious, she questioned
David about The Citizen, of Anne's po-
sition in the Office and spoke in an at
tractively feminine way of the mystery
attending the making of newspaper.
Elbow can Anne do it?" she said,
smoothing her muff, her trustful eyes