The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02


inine charms. They are The graces
Il OF weakness and the crimes OF
strength
With exceeding charm Of manner, re-
tanning all the perfection of physical at
traction, while still in the zenith of youth
and beauty, in honeyed tones of Bern
hardt flavor a woman may exclaim, "Oh,
I'm so nervous; just as nervous as /
can BET
Fancy these words in the mouth of a
man,
1t was an exclamation OF this sort that
made us all turn and look al pretty Mrs.
Sylvester, our hostess. We were sitting in
her luxurious dining room Through din
ner, with cooling ices and heating wines
trickling down our throats, we had dis
cussed one topic after another till at last
we had come to coffee and cigars and
story telling.
With gracious informality the ladies,
listening as women know how. still lin
gered with us. while each Of us, as men
will. told a tale-heayen pardon our
weakness bit distinguishing to its ra-
contour
1t was after one of these, little more
fearful than the others, that Mrs. Sylves-
ter had exclaimed drawing her pretty
shoulders together in mock terror, 'Oh,
I'm so nervous.
And it was Immediately upon hearing
this ejaculation that a gentleman who
till now had been silent, as though he
had nothing to say, or, as 1T now APP
peared as though he were waiting to say
something. leaned a little forw ard in his
chair.
He was grey haired, but his eyes bore
the brightness of youth. He was New
Yorker. distinctly the product of metro
polls. and physician of high standing.
1T was jus; such night as this be-
gan the physician during a lengthening
pause. We sat at dinner as we are sit
ting now; we were full of cur hosts
viands and wines. II wasn't in New York.
he went on. looking at a pretty brunette
who had fastened her big eyes upon him;
at was at little country house on the
shores of a picturesque lake. Al through
dinner we had talked Of scarcely anything
but burglsries.
a
in our hosts immediate neighborhood
within a few weeks. They had all been of
more or less similar character, definitely
indicating that they were the work of one
man.
IF he had confined his work to the
lower part of the house, to the silver de-
partment perhaps, the ladies would doubt
less have felt less trepidation, but in
every instance he had made his way some
how into my ladys chamber proper and
there possessed himself of her jewels and
whatever else she priced most highly. So
far in each instance he had escaped with
his booty.
Well. il he comes to our house he'll |
not escape exclaimed our host, small |
man, with a ferocious manner.
Our hostess Mrs. Benton-we will call |
her Mrs. Benton-was a charming woman,
blonde like yourself, madam" continued |
the physician, gallantly turning to Mrs.
Sylvester "on this occasion her blue eyes
dilated 10 their widest width. That's
Just like Fred, she cried. He doesn't
know what fear is. Oh, if any one should
comet Then she made use of your own
remark, madam" and the physician again
turned to Mrs. Sylvester: Heavens
she cried. I'm so nervous / shall lie
awake all night. / know / SHALL
Her husband smiled across the table at
her. an inexpressible superior, soothing
smile. the smile of man born to protect
the woman he had married. The Williams
life wouldn't be worth much he cried,
calmly shaking the ashes Off his cigar
=" Just lie perfectly still and no harm
will come to you advised one, apparently
more prudent than courageous.
"'Oh. / couldn't, / couldn't shuddered
the little woman; I should scream, /