Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-10
CHAPTER

"Hullo. old chap, Who would ever
have thought of seeing YOU here to-
night? What's brought you back TO CT
vilization again.
Ii was the night OF Christmas Eve.
and l was just entering the lobby of
st. James's Theatre
For the fraction of a moment l could
not remember where l had known the
man who addressed me so jovially. He
was rich mining king from Colorado.
named Harvey Farnham. whom had
met in Denver when had heen david
ling through America thrse or four
years ago.
How is it." said, rather curiously.
shat you remembered me, 'honoring
my draft on sight so to speak, 1t
must be four years since that very
jolly supper you gave me in Denver
one night, and fancy l have changed
considerably since then"
Farnhan smiled in his comical
American way, which was a humor-
Gus sentence in itself.
Well, l guess it's not so easy to for
get face like yours. You are a little
browner, your eyes rather keener per
haps, your head held a bit higher,
your shoulders broader and drawn
back more like a soldiers than ever;
but, so far as 1 can see, those are the
pnly changes
I've always eagerly followed your
noings, so far as one could follow
them In the newspapers, and 1 read
your African book with the greatest
interest; but somehow 1 never got TO
hear much personal gossip about you"
We sat down In the third or fourth
row OF the stalls and, as the orchestra
bad not yet come in, began to talk.
Farnham explained to me that he
had run over" to England on bust
ness. intending TO sell q certain mine
OF his which, though vastly profitable.
was the one thing in which he had lost
interest. The other mines in which
be was part owner were situated in his
own State, Colorado, while this partic-
ular one, the Miss Cunningham" was
In California, and he was tired of Jour
neying TO and fro
I've had a good OFFER" he said: Gin
deed, I'm visiting the house Of the man
who has made tia wonderful fellow
only one degree less interesting, per-
haps, than you. His name is Carson
Wildred. Did you ever hear of him?"
NO" 1 answered, though possibly
not 20 know Mr.. Carson Mildred was
to argue myself unknown.
He seems to have plenty of money"
explained Farnnam, land though he's
newcomer in London, has got in
with number OF good people. He has
two houses, one in Sloan street and
one on the Thames-a queer, lonely
old place near Purley Lock if YOU
know where that is. I'm staying out
there with him now, as IL happens,
though, 1 can't say I'm as fond of the
river as he Is at this season. But when
q Few papers and good round sum of
money have changed hands, couple
OF days or so from now, / shall bid
Wildred and England au revoir. I ex-
pect to sail for America at the end OF
the week, and jolly lucky l think my
self to have run up against you to-
uight'
AS he finished speaking the overture
which had now been on for some time,
ceased, and the curtain went up on a
very pretty bit of stage setting.
There was no 'curtain-raiser and the
first act was we'll constructed and in
teresting from the commencement. 1t
was delightful To me to feel as 1. did.
that was no longer blase OF town life.
or the mimic life OF the theatre, and /
was inclined to resent the Interruption.
when Farnham nudged me, whisper
ing:
AhtEe are Nllureu ana his friends
just coming into the stage box. BY
Jove! what a pretty grip
Two years had spent in Africa and
Egypt, and 1 had not seen many fair
faces during that time OF travel and
campaigning. / was in mood, there
fore to appreciate the delicate lowell
ness OF Englishwomen, but, even had
/ been surfeited with beauty, my eyes
would have fingered in a species OF
wonder on the girl just seating herself
IN corner OF the stage-box 1t is DOS
sible that / have seen other women as
beautiful, many more classicaliy per.
feet OF feature, but never have looked
upon face so radiant, so bewildering
The girl could not, 1 thought, have
been more than twenty, and every turn
OF the beautifully poised little head
every dimpling smile told that she
was full OF the joy of life.
CHAPTER III.
En- PEASANT, my eyes dwelt for an in
slant upon stout woman OF a certain