Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-09-02
Ss<Ss<Ts
||Old Gascoyne||
) BY Charles
) Lofin HfIdrefb {
Copyright. 1908 by Charles Lotin
Z Hildreth

s. r1SOIle III. Cullcu W1lIlOuI lIOuDlAuS
myself to get up from my seat.
The door opened with n slow, waver-
ing motion, and an odd looking person
age entered the room, made me a very
low bow and carefully closed the door
behind him. He was an old man, sew
enty at least. Judged. small Of stature
and feebler than his age would have
warranted. His knotted, bony hands
shook with the constant uncertain
movement which Is the result rather of
weak mentality than Of physical disa-
bility. his long, grizzled locks and
beard framed pale, cadaverous face,
out of which looked a pair Of large,
melancholy eyes in sidelong, Ndepre-
eating fashion which seemed habitual.
A dreadfully shaky, woebegone old
gentleman he certainly was, an object
to excite laughter or pity, according to
the mood Of the beholder.
was not In particularly expansive
frame of mind myself Mt the moment,
and 1t irritated me to see the old man
there, crooking his knees and wagging
his head with what he evidently In
tended should be the most conciliating
OF salutes.
We'll" said I sharply, what do you
wantT / thrust my hand into my
pocket In search Of q small coin.
Pardon me-" huskily interposed the
old man. comprehending my gesture.
''You mistake my errand. wish to
ask II you are the Hon. Egbest Gala
tin Senator GallatinT'
" am Senator Gallatin. What, them
"My-my mistress desires me to pre-
sent to you her card and requests the
favor of brief interview
took the slip of pasteboard from.
his trembling fingers and read, 'Mme.
Henriette Doncourt, Paris"
breathed more freely. Nine. Don
court of Paris was not likely to be one
of those leeches which hang upon the
Legislative body, called lobbyists" n
species I knew only too we'll
Mime. Doncourt would be greatly
obliged, SIR" continued the old man,
seeing that was studying the card
without reply, IF you would very kind
lily call upon her."
put aside my paper and. donning q
black coat, signif1ed to the old man, that
1 would follow him. With slow and
shutting steps he led me along the cor
rider and up three flights of stairs to
the fifth floor. The ancient fellow was
evidently very decrepit or very Ill.
With an impulse between pity and Inn
patience ! took his arm-how miserably
thin it was-and supported him with
the vigor of my more youthful muscles
Come. friend, said /. You are evil
IDENTIFY in bad health. Lean upon me,
and / will give you lift"
He turned his gray, cadaverous face
upon me with an expression of amaze.
"God bless you for kind hearted
young gentleman" he muttered. "Per.
haps ought to tell But, no; am
not to blame. No, no. What can dor
With these entgmatic phrases he
paused before a door and raped, A
woman's voice babe US enter, and
passed into handsome sitting room.
| A lady simply but exquisitely attired
in a morning robe Of rich texture arose
to welcome mo. During the second in
which stepped forward to accept her
offered hand received what might be
called Photographic impression Of
her. She was distinctly the most beau.
tiful woman had ever seen. She was
very tall, but her proportions were SC
perfect that her height was not ap
parent. The dress she wore outlined
and accentuated the magnificent SWEEP
i and curve of her noble figure. Every
movement she made. every gesture
was marked by certain sinuous grace
which might have been termed leonine
had it not been so exquisitely femi
nine.
Her face was In full keeping with hel
figure. The complexion was clear and
pale, with no trace Of color in the
cheeks, but of waxen, transparent
hue which suited well her dark auburn
hair, glimmering with hecks Of red
gold as she moved In the light Of the
morning sun stealing between the mar
row partings Of the window curtains
Her mouth would have been beautiful
but for certain firm compression
something hard and scornful, which
seemed not to belong to 1t naturally
Her eyes We're very large. steel gray
and wonderfully brilliant. Such wat
heaflet'e A'oncours " Z nrs' pei'ek
ner
II ID kiha OF you, SIT, slie saiu NJ
loW, lhus'cal zone, 70 grant a rev no
MENUS u your ''n'e ~ un e'i'ire stran Z
ger
IN what way can De OF assistance
10 you madamef ! ASKED seaung my
ser near her.
! haruiy know now 10 eAplaln my
SELL sald !he iauy, Win doWhcast eyer
ana BOSOM neaVlhg WIN emotlon. ger
naps hnu p 'es sl'eak lrahhiy
sne peht upon me the tull glory o.
her eyes. eueh eyes certainty hae
never seen before. = am american Ds
Dlr!n' sne Went on tnougn 1 ~ re,
III trance. AT the death Q. my nus
ouhu' M. Doneours' teso.seu 70 letutl
l 10 IUG country Oh INV DlIJQ. Dull 0OV