The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-26
II ( Z E s c APE


Nice In the early patt OF the winter.
She WAS there with am enervatcd aunt.
He was there on mere pleasure and
had given her To understand that he
had fled from "A dollhouse atmosphere
Of tiresome adulation in London To
hattie his soul in pure sunshine. lie
had talked culture and personalities in
perfect proportion. lie had been charm
ing. had worn striped linen. polluted
beard ana a smile OF fascinating IA.
t.sue. lie had dclugcl her with cNpen-
sive flowers. At first these q wers had
come with Il mere card \ little later
the card was often iuclo~cd .n "a sealed
envelope aird covered with some Su.-
gestive little quotation from the French
ur German poets.
Sull later the flowers had come with
out word. bearing their own message.
and when hc noted a spray or two I'm
her dress De would perhaps steady his
eyes on hers for moment hold her
hand the fraction 81 "a second too ng
for mere convention or ton her in
Thousand worthless ways that she WAS
charming woman iu his eyes and that
b" know She knew IT, Nul never a hint
nr Si-n of his enlargement To- that Miss
irrtor~, Il WIS iucomprchrus Die. un.
-pcakahlc.
IL lic haa not mentioned hy chaa-e
that Mrs Haven ON WAS hi~ Hunf. ir ,n
acr rinru from Nice >hr ban nri iai.,n
runranUS frnu',ic fo cultivate Mn.
lIavcrton AND l,ad l,r ta,k ON e. A~n
Toy Eilou. She might hive dawdird in
her FOOLS paradise Go thc day of h's
. Wcdd ing announcement
How she would tear him with hcr
weapons of svovn and disgust. She
would make him feel lii,c crr
Tho hottest words seemed insufficient
punishment whom She Thought what
suffering he might havc caused her D.
was the mcr,St chance that she hal
NOT lost her ncart to him the mercsf
chance. Why did the face 100 tLc glass
witch a~ ~hr said thatt She would say
it again and say it out loud 1t Was thr
purc~t piece of iuck that she had NOT
fallen in love with Ashhy Elaon To
had done hiS h.~t. ~. WIS brute.
Yes. Doc was. she didn't care. he was
How hidsonS r'd e,riii~ could make
one i"ek, They iooS 600 thc poetry ou,
~ white cheeks Why hand she been
tAc fool to choose her p.uk SILK for fo.
n.-ht: Aud what wouil 10 matter 30
Sd" Wore -rceu baizct Hateful world,
Ii was packed at The Hay,rions'
Eleven O'Clock. aud be was not there
She danced q great d,al
Half pas, N. and he was no, there
She sat out "a great deal.
Hair past u. and he was rol There
She WAS getting too tired 10 Su,..r.
Shc must go home now.
Good night. Mrs IIavcrton de
i hshtiul evening"" Yes. she was feeling
a little tired. Good night once mon,
and ont on To tlr staircase
Mcrcifui powers, There he came
slowly. po>Scs~cdlv- the old way
Quick. What WAS she going to say so
the very nrst-oh. whats
Miss Fcardon. an unexpected pleas
urcr'
wave seemed 90 wash over her
brain. She took his prorcrcd hand. and
her ewes fell for one second. Then sin.
looked up with brilliant society smile
Her old resolutions lay about her in
ruins. \ completely different set az
emotions had taken possession ct her
unc"nsciousiy. uuquc~tionin-ly
All. you are back in the vortex. Mr..
Eldon--th dear old vortex
Yes. \ faint suspicion OF avk-
warlness spoiled his usually perfect
manner. Yes, I am just de retour
How Kind OF people % -ive these little f
soirces at this time of the year. whom .
there is positively no other way Of get.
ling warm
And am uneraiefui enough to be
running away now. There is 80 much
going on. isn't thcrc:"
But You will give me Il few word.
before YOU 20. Come downstairs and
let US drink TO the memory Of dear old
Nicei And have news"
Your engagement. and | was forget
ting my congratulations" He took
breath. How objectionable OF me. but
really 50 many of my friends have
taken the fatal step just lately I'm get
ting quite confused. Is your fancee
here"
NO, unfortuna tely"
All, my misfortune. am sure. Well.
1t leaves me something 10 look forward
10. Good night. Mr. Eldon, and my
wishes for your future happiness.
There's my chapcron. / must fly"
She waved a fri, olous hand. There
was look Of surprised disappointment
on his charming face. And yet he gave
another deep si-A Of relief as he turned
into the ballroom.
wonderful luck, But somehow I
thought she'd take it differently" said /
he to himself.
And she drove home Only when she
got TO her own room and remembered
lust what she had meant to say and
just what she had said did she see the
humor of il, and thereupon she cried.
Thackeray's Reply.
1hacseray was not humOrist in