The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-13
The Friendly Foe.
"a wierd story by Miss Coleridge- From
CoTnhill's. In Six Parts)
PART III.


later on, to take me home. I hope he
will not come till very late. indeed. il that
is all he cares fori He did not feel sure
that il was meet for me to go out for din
ner alone, even TO the house OF my god
mother, but he said that he did not want
TO disappoint you, and / think" she put
in candidly though very demurely. he
did not want 70 disappoint me. either. l
should have died Of Vexation, II had had
to stay at home"
The Princess laughed
THAT makes it serious. And seriously,
my love, YOU are quite right Unless one
is dead or diving. one should keep ones
dinner engagement. And. while think
of it" she added, addressing herself to
me, Il must positively engage you TO dine
with me tomorrow. I expect the Prime
Minister, and I can not be left alone TO
entertain him. Eight O'Clock, do you
hear? He will have 20 leave carry 50
mind you are in time"
ITO hear, is to obey. Unless 1 am dead
or dying, 1 will keep my dinner engage
ment."
Il think I am sure of you, then. You
never looked better in your life
Dinner is on the table, SAID the Frlh-
cess butler.
The ground floor of the hotel had been
alreay striking up when l, in company
with the other gentlemen of the party,
entered the room. My promised partner
was standing beside the Princess. busily
inscrfbing the names of various aspirants
on her card.
"Ouick, Quick" she cried There is
the music! Are you not longing TO De
OFF,"
Dancing varies inversely as the charac-
ter of the lady who dances. with her II
resembles nothing so much as flight. She
scarce!y seemed to touch the ground with
her feet, she was as light as one OF the
feathers on her cloak. The music mount
ed to my brain as we went whirling round
and round together l felt as thouSh /
were a spirit chasing another spirit l
forgot everything else, and when IL stop
ped 1 could not have told whether we had
been dancing hours or moments had
been in another state of existence.
"Ahi" she said, your step goes well
with mine"
How filled up the intervals when 1 was
not dacning with her 1 do not know.
Once. while we were standing together In
the recess formed by window. great
moth flew in and made for the lighted
candelabra over our heads. There was
quick change in her.
.Oh. save 1t, save it, she cried, clasp
ing her little hands together in wild dis
tress.
caught the creature in my handker-
chief and let it out again. when re-
turned to her she was pale and trem-
bling.
He is quite safe" I said. "Do not be
nnhannv, After all, what would 1t mat
ter if he did burn himself2 In proportion,
longer
shall" q,
NO. no." she said, I'VE live forever"
Her words sent a thrill of recollection
through me.
do WEI" 1 said, in gentler voice. If
YOU will tell me so, will believe it
.'Whv. YES. of course we do she said
'I never heard any one say that we dld
not. Shall we finish this dancer"
1t was the last opportunity that l had
of talking to her. 1 think 1 was engaged
in conversation with some one else when
later in the evening, 1 heard her plead
ing tones close behind me.
"Only one more! Oh, let me stay for
only one more!
In an instant she was at my side
81 must 60" she said II must nave
one more dance before l go. L DO not
know where my partner is
initiating sensation that she asked me on
lv because there was no one else at hand.
She broke away just when the delirium OF
enjoyment was at its height.
seNo Ionger!" she cried. Not a moment
more. That was perfect. Good night"
She made me a tricksy sign of adieu
with her fan, and tripped away; she could
hardly help dancing as she moved.
I stood bewildered for moment, then
rushed to the door that l might see her
as she passed to her carriage She was
leaning on her fathers arm as she went
down the steps. The link-man raised his
torch to guide them. and sudden glare
OF light showed me the features or the
Count. l drew long breath.
1T is as we'll that 1 am going to night
that man tomorrow" thought. IF not
he would inevitably have been my faith
er-in-law. In the first place, have not
enough to marry upon; in the second, we
should have made the little thing miser-
able between us"
The wind detached a fragment of her
swansdown cloak. stopped and picked
ii up.
Practically speaking. the disposition of
my time had been in no degree Influenced
by the Counts grotesque requirement l
had intended all along to stay at home IN
til eight O'Clock, to dine with the Prin-
| cess Y, to go to the dance. and TO visit
the dearest friend that had in the world
He was Dominican monk. OF great learn
ing and acuteness, resident In the Mon
astery Of s. Petrox, about half mile of
We were old schoolfellows, and, though
our ways OF life were very different. be
had never lost the ascendancy over me
ba a understood how
to gain.
He was busy reading when I entered his
cell: he laid his finger on his lips. to show
me that I must not interrupt him
| After a long pause he closed the great
volume reverently, and asked No wnat
I wanted at that time of night
Il want an immortal soul.
| "Curiousr' he remarked, pushing his
spectacles up on his forehead I have
/ lust began studying the question or the
soul"
"Wen. what is the result OF your inves-
| legations"
What would II avail were I to tell thee!
know your mind upon these subjects.
| THAT IS more than I know myself
! tnen-n1ore than I should ever have wish
! ed to know. but for q strange occurrence
I told him all the circumstances OF ny
! conversation with the Count, not mention
ing his name. OF course
You have helped ne az many o'fH'
cult pass before now" said Help ne
again. Pour out the contents OF THAI great
volume upon my head!
You VIII Re as wise es you were o.
fore. I know you. AMIGO ulio. YOU OWE
no teacher save experience
What Is the experience that can M Hf
- --Ef he
-o.a7 Tau ne that I may seek ~
( - - - -. - The world OF xto-