The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-15
WOMAN Us. WOMAN.
Iron the Onlooker.l

She gave a little gasp and sat down.
The hotel porter discreetly looked the
other way; he was enjoying the little
scene greatly; the Mount Seymour no.
tel provided many of them. The girl
was young and pretty; the hand which
toyed with the letter before her was
studded with valuable rings, among
them a narrow one of gold. It was evil
dent that she was a wife. There was
no husband to greet her, though the car
with her luggage from the mail boat
was standing at the door. Alphonse had
had the pleasure of handing her the
letter; it had been given to him by
handsome, dark-eyed man only a few
hours before.
Monsieur le Captaine he say. Give
to de lady direct she come Helm, do
give"
The girl arose, her blue eyes dim with
tears; the susceptible Alphose was
overwhelmed
Marie she said to her maid, capt.
Molyneux has been ordered up to Pre-
toria; he only left today. Please see to
the boxes"
she crossed the hall toward the lift
and disappeared.
Many eyes had watched the little dra-
were all occupied; officers on sick leave,
men convalescent and men on their way
up to the front or back to old England
Women, too some grass windows, Few
real widows, many more with no special
concern in the war at all But it was
the war which had drawn them to Cape
Town-the war or rather. the soldiers
who were fighting. Where else but to
the Mount Seymour hotel should they
go2 Rank and fashion, joy and misery,
that fashionable and exorbitant hos
telry.
.Ahl a pretty woman, 'drawled young
Dennis. Of the-th Lancers-
who is she?" queried his compan-
ion.
John Beresford rose languidly from
his chair and satisfied his curiosity at
the porter's office.
It's Bob Molyneux's wife, he said to
his friend Fancy! One of my oldest
pals! | was so sick at having missed
him this morning. He left just before
L got here. All. there is Mrs de Ia
Fame; she's a pretty woman, if you like.
1 was introduced to her this morning by
old Vigors-"
He sprang to his feet and offered his
chair to a tall. graceful woman who
had entered the hall as he spoke.
She accepted it with a smile, and in
a moment the little group attracted all
eyes. Mrs. de la Fame was one of the
knowledged beauty, whose wonderful
eyes drew every man into her tolls. Her
husband was rollins in money; he was
reported to be a johannesburg million
aire; but the reports We're rather vague
It was sufficient for her admirers that
he spent his money like water, gave the
best dinners a man could wish to sit
down to, and did not scowl when other
men smiled at his wife.
What brings you down to Cape
~
Ia Fame. .'A1ajor NigOrs tells me your
regiment is in the thick of it just now
She raised her great violet eyes to the
young mans face as she spoke.
The implication underlying the word
stung him. He flushed, and tapped q
side pocket in his coat.
L have got a little bag here" he
said with meaning-''Which contains
well. a few papers of Importance"
OH" laughed Mrs. de la Fame. Il
see! You are one of Kitchener's mes
senger boys Rather satisfactory /
berth, isn't it, Capt. Beresford? No risk, |
no worry, no exertiOn."
John Beresford caught those violet |
eyes again full in his own. His heart |
beat faster He did not care to appear |
as one of no importance in this womens |
eyes. His mission demanded secrecy, /
yet for the moment his tongue ran |
away with him.
You are wrong, Mrs. de la Fame" he |
smiled in reply The papers would be I
a lot to Kruger or Botha!'
A sudden CLEAN came into the wo- |
mans eyes. John Beresford saw it, but |
thought nothing of it. The silken tolls
were already about him.
Come and lunch with me. Captain
Beresford, and you, too, Mr.. Dennis,
said Mrs de la Fame.
Two days passed away. Muriel
lTolyneux felt inexpressibly lonely. This
1ustling, frivolous atmosphere of hotel
Ter husband, she hated the laughter, the
music, above all. the society. She kept
lloof from it all Her husband was an
Intelligence officer; she knew well that
le was never sure from day to day
where he would sleep the following
light To ATTEMPT to follow him to the
ront was impossible.
Now Muriel, for all her great love for
Ter husband, was an enthusiastic little
patriot. This dreary, useless idlenesS to
which she was condemned taxed her
nerves to the uttermost. The quiet of
he gardens overlooking the sea APP
)ealed to her. After dinner on the third
ut alone and paced the gravel paths in
ngry Impotence with her fate. The
-ardens were empty. Her white dress
ooked ghost-like in the shadows
In a little summer house at the fur
hest limits of the garden, bitter tears
ose into her eyes as she thought of
Ter own incapacity, her own enforced
dleness- Suddenly a voice at her elbow
tartled her. Some one thrust note into
Ter hand, with the words: will you
i've me your answer tomorrow, or shall
wait for it now '' Taken unaWares,
nd anxious to hide the trace OF her re-
ent tears. AIuriel Stammered hastily,
yTOrOOrrOyV . No the d9V aftpr-s' and rhe