Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-05-29

her eyes In that bright. gay city OF Paris,
where life is all festivity and death seems
impossible.
Sir Hubert had laden her with pres
cnts; he had taken her TO the best shops
in Paris; he had layished hundreds Of
pounds on her dresses. She had satins
and velvets and furs, laces and silks
that many a duchess might have enyied;
she had jewels and ornaments; he never
seemed tired Of buying for her; he sell
dom came home without q valuable gift
OF some Kind.
AS she passed along the streets people
would turn again and again to look at
that wondrous face. As she drove through
the Bois dc Boulogne every man who
passed her wondered who she was.
LA belle Anglaise," they called her,
and many hundreds Of inquiries were
made as to who LA belle Anglaise' was.
Her history seemed simple enough; she
was Mrs Leigh. and she lived with her
husband. an English millionaire. it was
commonly supposed, at the Hotel de
Bourbon. close to the Tuileries, one OF
the finest hotels in Paris That was all
that the most curious could learn about
her The lovely Mrs. Leigh was fond
of balls, fond OF the opera. enjoyed driv-
ing out had splendid taste in dress, and
was altogether the loveliest woman in
Paris.
After some quiet observation they be-
gan to perceive that, although Mr.. aud
| Mrs. Leigh went to nearly every public
ball. they were never at private ones.
That although the carriage Of LA belle
! Angaise was always surrounded by
gentlemen, she had no lady friends.
Among their visitors no ladies came. The
pretty silver card basket was filled with
cards, all belonging to gentlemen. One
day she said to Sir Hubert:
You know a great many gentlemen in
Paris Hubert. but no ladies. How is it
that you have no lady friends"
| 1T seems to me the most natural thing
| in the world Irene. do not know that
| cared much about the society OF ladies',
| until | saw you"
She interrupted him.
| Major Camden. who was driving with
you yesterday, said that his sisters were
| staying near here. | wish you would in
| troduce me to them
He looked away from her, slightly con
fused
You would not care for them" he
said. They are very tiresome-qllte old
| maids"
IL should not mind" she replied you
| do not know how strange ii seems always
to be with gentlemen, and TO see no la
dies"
| You cannot be lonely, Irene, when
you have me-" he said, gently.
mo, 1t is not that. | am not lonely,
not at all; how could be with you, HUI
bert? 1t is something quite different.
| Perhaps | want to discus the latest fash
| ions, or the prettiest bonnet. You could
not talk about those little matters, could
you. Hubert
II will talk about anything in the world
that pleases you" he replied; but il
were in your place would try not to
know the Misses Camden-they are both
proud aud disagreeable. Make yourself
happy with me, my darling; never mind
either the spinsters, matrons or maids;
think of me, and of no one else
They were sitting together one morning
when the English mails came in; there
were several letters Sir Hubert read
through quickly and laid aside
Il am not in the humor for letters this
morning. he said; NOR for my news
papers.
Irene answered laughingly:
That means You are lazy and want me
To read to you
MY clever little darling, you have
guessed the exact truth" he replied. Il
am lazy. and, above all, | should like the
dearest voice in the world to read to me
all that is most amusing in the news
papers"
| II understand" she replied.
1t was wonderful to see how quickly
she attended to all his wants. Another
few minutes. and the most beautiful
woman in Paris sat by him, one white
hand lingering in the dark curls of his
hair, the other holding the paper from
which she read to him. There were sew
eral amusing paragraphs, several tdbits
Of the weeks scandal, which were all a
lead letter to her, then she said
I'VE are informed that the Earl Ge-
-ant, with his lovely and accomplished
laughter, the Lady Lira Gerant, intend
spending the next few weeks in Paris
She read the words clearly and distinct
"; to her they were the same as any
other; then she was startled by low
cry from his lips.
I'll did not hear, Irene. Read that
to me again. Earl what--who? Read
il again"
Irene read it slowly, carefully, word
for word.
Before she had quite finished he had
risen from his comfortable lounging
chair
What is the matter, Hulbert?" she
asked, gently,
"Do not read sny more, Irene. Either
! | am irritable this morning, or am not
: well; | cannot tell which"
) "Iou are never irritable" she answered
: Are YOU going out. Hubert, and going
alone, too?"
He bent down and kissed her.
; Il shall not be long my darling. am
going out on business, or | would take
fou."
? lie was absent some time When he
returned the sun had set and the hote1
e lamps were lighted. He went to hei
r room, where she was dressing for dinner
you will make me play truant again il
= you give me such warm welcome home
: Irene he said.
1 She was so delighted to see him. Fl,