The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-03-22
THE ROMANCE OF
THE WHITE CURL
By A. n. Kreeker.

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Frederic Yale was like Cesar, for he
came, he saw, he conquered, and with this
achievement he did himself credit, even
although his triumph pertained not to
the farthermost parts of Gaul, but to a
commonplace boarding house, where he
tarried during his sojourn In q certain
inland town.
This boarding house was by nature n
weary wilderness-in the drawing room
overgrown with weedy gossip and at ia
BILE, under the surveillance of the propri-
etress, revealing barren stretches of 81
lence. But from the moment of Frederic
Yale's arrival 1t all blossomed as the
rose. Merely his presence wrought a
metamorphosis, for he sat at the table
like king and looked as handsome as
Adonis and in manner showed himself
q veritable William of Orange, caressing
and familiar, yet civilly dignified.
He talked, too, delightfully."-. Evidently
a man of wide travel, Interestingly and
picturesquely he interspersed into his
conversation sundry anecdotes and recol-
lections of many lands. Although far
from proving the old fashioned literary
conversationalist in monologue, he evinc-
ed cozy chattiness with every one indi-
vidually. 1t was sports with the youn-
ger fellows, business and cigars with the
men, matinees with the young ladies,
cards and books and news with their
mammas, while even with the silver hair
cd dowager in the corner it dwelt with
enlivening loquacity upon her maladies,
hor vopnipicoannos nd tho co prioaS ~ ho
climate.
As a browning luster, however, over
and above all his accomplishments and
graces, the newcomer attracted attention
as a man of secrets. For who does not
find an alluring guest in the unraveling
of the ominously limited, unknown by
cones intertwined about the heart of q
stranger? And of such a stranger!
Frederic Yale was mysterious in two
particulars, principally because Of the
perfect whiteness' Of the abundant hair
curling about his youthful face, while q
poignant subordinate interest attached
to handsomely gemmed locket, delicate
ly and diminutively feminine in outline,
which dangled from his watch guard as O
charm.
Those who had scrutinized the trinket
most carefully reported that one side
was embossed with a miniature Of a
young woman's face, framed in a re-
splendently plumaged hat. But this
pointing to an affair of the heart, there
were those Of the household who would
fain discredit.
For soft innuendoes were already afloat
Of an alliance between Mr.. Yale and an
engaging sylph of the boarding house,
who had whispered to the dowagers her
opinion Of him. Her confidant. relishing
the gentleman's advances upon herself,
had promised her most mastery tactics
In behalf of the girl. who, inexperienced
in matrimonial campaigning, would GER
tainly never have essayed the subjugation
Of so rich an empire as he unless aided
by the counsels of some veteran comman-
do, such as the aged lady.
As women are proverbial romancers, Il
goes without saying that the locket and
the snowy curls and the incipient In
! trigue became pet themes Of CONVERSE
ton around the fashion plates and the
embroidery of the household. But with
equal zest were they discussed in the
smoking room, at the billiard tables,
while among the few Juveniles suffered
by the Iandlady they provoked an excite
ment which made their poor mother quiv-
er lest in some unguarded moment they
should execute their resolutions Of APP
preaching Mr.. Yale on the topic. She
told them it might vex him, evoking Sc
we're reproofs before others. although
there lurked within her the suspicion that
he was, after all, too sweet tempered
ever to become incensed at small Offend
ers. ff-.
Gradually. however, it became appar-
,ent that all the house were harboring
similar designs to those of the children
and that all shared on their own account
the mothers expectations Of leniency In
case their queries should prove unwel-
come to Mr.. Yale.
For some days they had hoped that his
general communicativeness respecting his
experiences as a traveller would lead to
a voluntary disclosure Of the mystery;
but, none taking place and the time Of
his stay being limited. they determined
to wait no longer upon his pleasure lest
he should some day leave and his secret
20 with him. they being none the wiser.
So whenever the gentleman was alb
sent the others fell to plotting for some
way of ferreting out the mystery, II pos
sible, without laying themselves open to
reproach. The chosen plan provided that
at the close of some dinner a certain
member Of the company should begin an
entertaining, exciting and prolonged tale;
that the ladies should propose to with
draw to the reception room to hear its
conclusion; that this story should lead to
a general desire for each one present to
relate the most thrilling adventure to
which he or she had ever been n party;
that the lights should be snugly lowered
as an additional decoy, and that II Yale
did not readily deliver himself of his his
tory divers little tactful. persuasive hints
should be thrown out, with a view to
coaxing it from him. Then, II at last
they nettled or aggrieved the gentleman,
they would rely upon his customary good
humor for a happy issue out Of their
tribulations.
Little need had they, however, for any
articles beyond the first story, which
was perpetrated during a certain dinners
final cupfuls Of coffee. for at this UMPIRE
tentious caravansary the coffee appeared
In continuous performance.
No sooner did the hazardous quality Of
the first recitaps incidents come to light
than Mr.. Yale, the cynosure Of all eyes,
assumed an aspect Of signal and miser-
able abstraction. All, he let his fingers
ripple up through his terrible white hair,
and, eureka, they fondled that strange,
beautiful little locket!
Only a few impatient minutes later, In
the murky glimmer of the drawing room,
his laurel crowned listeners were usher
ed into the presence of the sphinx.
1t was a sweetheart affair. At his first
words the sylph's breast was depleted Of
| al hone. He said that ssv0ral vaAss