The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08
LOVE IN A CLOUD"
A Boston Story With Happy Ending
\ FOR TIE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.

| WRITTEN FOR TIE SUNDAY RT1PUBIIc-
hrlo Bates has written clever little
story OF Love in a Cloud" a story Of Bos-
| ton society. Hfoughton. Mi:fiin & Cob
Love In 4, Cloud was the title Of a very
successful anonymous novel that had Gr-
pcared that season, and all literary Boston
| was talking about 1t. May Calthcrpc. an
enthusiastic young hsiress. rather I'M
sophisticated. wrote TO the author express
ing her admiration. They correspondent.
and arranged to meet at Mrs Hsrbinger's
tea. There is pretty and well-bred com
plicatIon. with t. foreign Count thrown In.
May calthorpe is not the heroine Of the
story. and Alice Endicott is. She Is the i'm
p-cuuious niece " riCh and TnaSterfuI
maiden aunt. who wants her - marry the
Count Miss Went.ilc. the aunt. does not
know that the Count IS a gentleman Of
some reputation It's gambler and duelisi,
ana that worthy is fearful that she will
find him out. He wants her money, and
will take her niece IN order to get it, Alice
IS not agreeable. however
The story is further complicated by the
presence cf an extremely clever middle
aged widow Mrs. Neslisage. and her - n.
Jack Jack NegliEagc il a society man. gay.
attractive. and a good fellow" but without
means. He is fin love with Alice, but as
she says, not enough 20 make MIN give up
life of ease, and go TO work MISS
Wentsile is opposed to their marriage she
does not approve Of Jack Nesligase- The
course of true love dos not run smooth,
but Jack has a clever and an UNUSUAL
mother. and she helps him out very ef-
fectUalIy-
Ii is toward the close OF the story that
her opportunity arrives, The situation Is
this: Alice had positively refnsed to become
engaged to the Count, and MISS Ncn'siIe
4, E..rc 81 nm
had even minated II 20 him, but 1t seerr+I
rather a nose Of the old lady's, and Alice
Gid not take II seriously. Mrs Negigago
had at last been able to become .hBaseo
to a man who had been devoted to h"r for
years and who was "a cousin OF Miss Went
sile. y Mrs. Croydon now appears. arse.
oycrdreeeed woman. who writes books, ana
whose divorced husband had had an en-
counter with the Count. Mrs NesliGaSe.
Alica and the Count are IN Miss Went
sizes d-awlng-roorn. taking afternoon tea,
when Mrs. Croydon Is announced IL should
be remarked. parenthetically, that MIS-
Croydon Is from Chicago.
When Mrs Croydon WAS ushsred into tho
Wentsila house that day she drew h1ck
when she saw the Count, and remarked
that she would call again. when that 'as-
sassin' was not there. Then 1t came out
that the Count had challenged Mrs. Croy-
don's divorced husband TO fight a duel Mrs.
Neglig1sc. endeavorinG TO pour o'l ON me
troubled waters let Miss Wentsile suspect
that she knew all about the affair.
Miss Wentsile turned with sudden se-
verify TO Mrs.. NeSligase.
Louisa she demanded. do you know
anything about this affair!
"'Of course was the easy answer. Ev
eryboIy in Boston knew about it but you
The Count put his tea cup on the man
telpiece. He had lost the jauntiness of his
air. t;It NJ. still dignttit-i-
- .-t WAS one affasre ihonneur.' he said.
But why was not told of this? asked
Miss Neutsile sharply.
YOU: Mrs. Croydon retorted with ex-
citoment. Everybody supposed
MIS-. Scglic2se rose quickly.
Really she said. lnterrupting the
speaker L must have another cup Of tea
THE interruption STOPPED Mrs. CrOydon's
remark. and Miss Wentsile did not press
for it's conclusion.
Count the spinster asked turning 10
that gentleman who lowered above her
tall and lowering. have you ever fought a
duel"
The Count shrugged his shoulders.
IAN Shinbowski ees hommes dhonneur'
She made him frigid bow.
4 have the honor to BID you good-day,'
she said. with manner SO perfect that
the absurdity o. the situation vanished.
The Count drew himself up proudly
Then he In his turn bowed profoundly.
You do eet too much TO me honor he
said, with a dignity which was worthy OF
his family. Ladies. votre serviteur.'
He made his exit in n manner 10 be adj
mired Mrs. Croydon feigned to shrink
aside as he passed her. but Mrs. Negligage
looked at her with SO open a laugh at mis-
performance that confusion overcame the
dame Of buEles and she moved forward dis
concerted. She had not yet gained a Feat,
when Miss WentsiIe faced her with all her
most unrestrained fashion.
L shouldn't think. Mrs. Croydon. that
you. with the stain of a divorce court on
you. Were In a position to threw stones at
Count Shimbowski. He has dons porhius,