The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-06-11

Lou aro LuuOCAd, ouPPOo0, ooAA
Miss Dubarle, affably.
eyes," said the child, "I'm Eudo-
cha. And who are your"
II am Miss Dubarle," said the
heiress, graciously. "You have heard
your mamma tell about Miss Dubarle,
haven't you?"
oh, yes," said Eudocia, her small,
fishy eyes lighting up. you're the
old maid that mamma says is SO out
Out"
"Out of health?"
"No; some very big word"
"Outrageous?' suggested Miss Du-
barle, somewhat discounted. /
"No-not that-outlandish! And
you're going to die and leave me oil
your money and then were to travelin
Europe. But papa says he don't see
but what you're going to hold On for
ever. What is it you are holding on
to, Miss Dubarle?"
"Hem!" said Miss Dubarle. $50
your mammals kind enough to con-
slider me outlandish, is she?"
Mammals going to invite you to
visit u.s." went on the unwisely COM
municative Eudocia, "when the Fitz-
Roy Fortesques are gone. She says
she don't want them to be shocked
with your Noah's ark ways. I had
Noah's ark once" added the enfant
terrible, with a dog in it and Shem,
Ham and Japhet."
II dare say" said Miss Dubarle,
checking q strong inclination to laugh,
although she felt herself growing pur-
pie in the face with indignation. II
think I won't wait any longer, Eu-
docia; good-by.'
And Miss Dubarle shook the dust
of the Secor Brooks mansion off her
feet.
"a pretty hypocrite's nest I should
have got into there!" she said, half
aloud, as she entered the vehicle she
had been wise enough to bid wait.
"Janet Heath, with all her faults, was
at least frank and truthful enough.
Drive to twenty-seven Bachelor
Square, coachman!"
Twenty.seven Bachelor Square was
q tall, brownstone building, full Of
studios, Offices and sets of chambers,
and Miss Dubarle was well-nigh out
of breath before she reached q door at
the very top, on which card, neatly
tackled, bore the inscription, "Herbert
Smythe, Artist"
She beat brisk tattoo on the panels
with the handle Of her sun umbrella,
and voice answered:
"Come in.'
But to her amazement, the occupant
Of the apartment, instead of a young
artist in a black velvet painting robe,
was q grim female, sitting very up
right on q gothic chair, with tattered
gloves and bonnet bent on the side.
''Is Mr.. Smythe in?" asked Miss
Dubarle.
"No," answered the stony female;
che amt. But il you're wise you'll
sit down, like me, and wait until he
does come in. I s'pose you've come
after your bill?"
"Have you?" asked Miss Dubarle,
taking the first part Of the hint, by
depositing herself on sofa.
"Yes-for the seventh time. He
owes everybody.-Smythe does. I'm
his laundress, but you can ask the
landlord and tie wine merchant, and
the tailor and the halter, and"
"Then," CURLY observed Miss Du-
barle, II should think you were all
great fools for trusting him!"
$50 we be-" said the woman, grim
ly; land I amt denyin' of that, but
you see he's kept us on the string all
along with stories of his rich cousin,
Miss Dubarle, as hos made her will in
his favor, and is goin' to leave him no
end of money"
"Oh!" said Miss Dubarle, rubbing
her nose vehemently with the end of
the sun.umbrella handle.
"He says" added the unconscious
traitress, "that she's as old as Me-
thusaleh, and can't live but a few
days, anyhow; but I, for one, don't
believe word of it. But you amt
agoin' be you?"
eyes," said Miss Dubarle, rising.
'Please to give him this card when he
comes in and tell him, if you like, the
little conversation we have had"
And she was nearly downstairs be-
fore the laundress, fitting on a pair of
silver bowed spectacles, had read the
two words inscribed upon the card:
"Miss Dubarle."
The heiress was very silent during
her drive back to the hotel. Perhaps
she was engaged in rendering the
funeral rites on her dear departed de-
fusion! All that she said to herself
was contained in one sentence:
III don't like being made fool Of, /"
she mentally enunciated, "and I be.
lieve I've come very near it."
Janet Heath sat by the fire in the