Evening journal., 1899-03-11
t MR.. PARKER

TT WAS during the period when, at
certain German baths, the visitors
were of all nationalities. Such are the
baths where the tedium of the cure is
enlivened by the various games Of
chance. At the particular time of
which ! write Homburg was crowded.
aud. although the season could scarce
ly be said fairly to have begun. Il was
rumored aud believed (eveu upon the
authority Of the newspapers) that
Count r., an italian nobcman, had
lost the whole Of his inheritance. some
where In the neighborhood Of a million
lire. But the count kept his head, and
so regained the greater part of his for
tune, which had been won from him
by a French actress TO whom he was
devoted. He married the actress, and
thus got his revenge.
Among the visitors to Ilomburg, a
young married couple, Mr.. and Mrs.
Parker-who, according TO the register.
were direct from London - attracted
great attention. Mr.. Parker was n man
of remarkably elegant manners. He
was tall, well built, blond, in short
splendid representative of the English
gentleman. He had large, dreamy blue
eyes, and a remarkably fine set of teeth,
most of which he displayed when his
lips parted in o smile. From which
it will be gathered that his mouth was
not small.
Mrs Parker, on the occasion of her
first appearance on the promenade, had
attracted the attention, the surprise,
and, It must be confessed. the envy
Of the rest of the ladies. They main
tanned, in opposition TO the men, that
all the credit for Mrs. Parker's appear
ance should be given TO the wonder
ful skill of English tailors, who could
transform such a figure as Mrs. Parker
evidently naturally possessed into that
of a Juno. Mr. Parker. on the other
hand $50, at least, the ladies' main
tained). was so splendidly developed
that he did not need TO depend on the
art and skill cf his tailor. Those ladies'
who had seen Mrs Parker bathing told
/ wonderful stories Of her marvellous red
brown hair, which hung in profusion
below her waist. and which, when dry
ing In the sun, shone like FURNISHED
/ gold The fact that the lady had a
small mole on her neck was no longer
a secret after the third day of her stay
at Homburg.
Mr.. Parker had the greatest contempt
for gambling, in which he could not
be tempted to indulge, and he took no
interest in the gambling table, while
he attracted attention by the regularity
with which lie devoted himself 10 pis-
tol practice IN the southern part of the
hotel grounds. By the second day oil
the visitors had heard wonderful stories
of his marvellous skin.
Mr.. Parker confessed TO two weak
nesses - elephant hunting and
philanthropy. To the former he was
SO devoted that he passed a part Of
each year in India. His philanthropi'
undertakings found employment fol
him during the winter. He spoke o
an orphanage which he had foundedanC
endowed at Hamarby, county of York
England, and made no secret of the fac
that it was his pet life scheme to fur
ther its interests. To that end he de
voted much time and a considerable
part Of his fortune. when speaking q
the matter he " as inclined to underrat'
the sacrifices he made, and he treate,
as trihing the money which be devoted
to the development Of the orphanage
His daily pistol practice he contin
ued without interruption. II did no
, ineommode him in the least when th'
Z visitors crowded around TO witness hi
5 skill. OF their applause he took no no
, lice, nor did he allow himself TO b
drawn into anything approaching al
exhibition.
A certain trifing service which
young baron had the opportunity o
3 rendering 10 Mrs. Parker gave tn
a youthful nobleman the chance Of max
e ing the acquaintance Of the beautiful
= Englishwoman. Three weeks before
The baron In question has arrived II
p Homburg, accompanied by his mother
r The object of his visit was TO restor
e his health, which had been completed.
+ undermined by his fast life. III
+ mother. a prematurely aged woman
: was absolutely devoted 10 her boy, ant
I showed her devotion most touchingly
I but the son had by. no means agree
n uble time. In the first place the diver
e sions in Homburg were not, according
= 10 his ideas, numerous, and besides
5 .nder the watchful eye of a dotiul
j mother, he found himself considerabl
n trammeled. lie had managed on th
d quiet TO play a little, and that with sue
i cess, and in a quarter Of an hour he ha
" won q sum which to such a young feI
5. low was a small fortune. Only Mrs
Il Parker. to whom at the second mee'
f ing he had, boylike. opened his hear
4 knew how much he had won. TIL
T whole affair was carefully Kept secrS
/. from the mother.
j. The baron was most devoted 10 hi
i attention 10 Mrs. Parker, and Shove
quite plainly that he had fallen a six
tim 10 her charms. The lady hersel
who took not the slightest interest
= her husbands pistol shooting, accepte
:, the advances of the baron very readil.
L She was seen with him a great deal, an
II his elegant Ollendort English SCENE
- 20 afford her much pleasure. As 81
: was rarely seen with her husband, Ii