Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-08-14
A WINSOME
VILLAIN A&&
BY JOHN II. RAFTERY.

OF head, began TO dlctate MS own LETT
tiers, instead of leaving them to his
assistant. The chief clerk surpassed
even his own high standard of sartor-
ial splendor and curlsd the ends of his
mustache so high that the points
served hipeas "a sight" for the aim
ing of many glances of admiration.
The captain of the bellboys began to
throw out his chest and take on the
airs of grown man, the clarion tones
of "front" became music to the ears
of the buttons" for it required
sudden appearance within range of
Miss Barr's incompatible eyes. Even
the house detective, the stewart and
the door men lighted up, and as for
the male guests, they suddenly de-
veloped into continuous and most vol
luminous letter writer's.
Miss Barr was beauty, as anyone
could see. Her ht was auburn and
her eyes dark blue. The clerk insist
ed that they were royal purple" and
bet a box of cigars with bold travel
ing man that she would say so herself
if asked. He lost the wager, however,
for, when the saucy question was put
to her, she blushed beautifully, and
said: 81 never noticed sir" But, as
the inquisitor attempted TO push his
the girl turned back to
her typewriter and murmured: ANY
fway, there's no green in them" This
Innocent retort had the effect of
rebuff, and Miss Barr's popularity
went off a point" with the clerk. But
she could be very gracious without
stepping across the limitations of per-
feet deeeFpm, and her calm amiability
of disposition and habitual cheerful
ness of expression intrenched her pop
ularity without permitting familiar
ity,
Capt Hugh Baldwin, .. S. A., came
to the Buckingham to "recuperate"
after a period of detached service in
South America. He was tall, sun
burned, blond, good to look at and
distinguished, with all the frank gen
tility of soldier aad an officer. Of
all her customers Miss Barr had foupa
Capt. Baldwin the most interesting.
He was friendly without being obtru-
siye, gay without being silly and re-
Apectfui without being distant. The
1t beautyVnad found out a great
hy thingS about him in the course
- week, for he wrote to Mrs. Bald
Awin every day. He had assured her
at she didn't know how soon he'd
- home" because he was still star
I'm wen," etc. These seemingly un-
bed explanations gave Miss
n idea that the handsome cap
Romething of rogue, for she
seen fner example OF TO-
n :, 4 " God.
! ii iber of gay young men who
him seemed to indicate that
be what she vaguely sus-
+ zone OF the boys" Some
vrote letters to other women
& s. Baldwin, and, although
E Ire usually noncommittal and
lily sort that might well pass
jolly bachelor and his So
;, + equaintances, get Miss Barr
II that they were not the kind
II RS she would like her husband
! kriting if she were married.
thought the girl, che has chill
Lets see. He mentioned Amy,
Katherine and Baby Hugh,
<hph! l think he is pretty gay for a
yan of family" 1t was not till he be-
IAN the practice of leaving flowers and
bonbons on her desk that Helen awak-
ened to realization of Capt. Bald
wins possible villainy. Without re-
fleeing that his character, good or
sfsWd, should in no way interfere with
her peace of mind, she began to worry,
grieve and get pale. She knew that
his wife was urging him to come home,
and she was sure that his erumped-up
excuses were either frivolous or ut
terly untrue. Finally she asked him
to "piease stop giving her presents"
but try as she might she couldn't find
an excuse for mentioning his wife and
his duty toward his family. "I'm not
/ supposed to know anything about
| that" she thought, and yet she puz-
zled over the question whether his
candid display of his own duplicity
/. was not proof positive that he was a
4 shameless wretch, making love to an
Sunocent girl without even taking the
RFecaution to conceal his life obliga-
n tons.
And yet she could not suppress the
consciousness of pleasure in his pres
renee. He quit his gift giving and die
tAtgd more letters, which proved that
hisf wife was suspicious and had per-
haps accused him of infdelity Of some
kind. He never discussed the con-
tents of these letters with Helen, but
ratified away as 4 she we've mere ma
chine, and then changed the subject
TO Any of hundred delightful themes
of (which he seemed to be anxious to
he4 her talk. When at asst he seemed
.I.totdrift into a more serious frame OF
ind and habit, Miss Barr found her
unreasepably gratified. Her heart
{ n joyHll bound one day when
eaEd him tell 2 friend one Gay
y Nlaf he WAS ION the water wagon
but an access of virtuous anger selzeo
her that same evening, when, for the
first time, he came to her and asked
quite calmly and respectfully, II she
would go to the theater with him. she
made pitiful effort to freeze hlm
with her answer, but her eyes were
trimming before she could turn away
y and she said nothing. he walked away
land from the corner OF her downeasl
AEabe could see that he went init
i ~ Appy girl spent a sleepiess