Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-06-04

of twenty hours to find his way to the
hearts Of the cavalry officers in quar-
ters at Vitry- sur-M Marne, to discuss with
them the certainty Of a glorious re-
vanche for France, to reduce the colo
mel to tears of pure affabihty and to
borrow the best horse in the squadron
for the journey to Kami's studio is a
mystery that only special correspond
ents can unravel
Il beg your pardon" said he. 1T
seems an absurd question to ask. but
the fact is that / don't know her by
any other name. Is there any young
lady here that is called Maisie?''
Il am Maisie," was the answer from
the depths of great sun hat
II ought to introduce myself" he
said as the horse capered in the blind
ing white dust. my name is Torpen-
how. Dick Heldar is my best friend,
and -and-the fact Is that he has gone
blind"
"Blindw said Maisie stupidity. 'He
can De DIlnQ.
''He has been stone blind for nearly
two MONTHS"
Maisie lifted up her face and it was
pearly white. "No! No! Not blind!
won't have him blindI'
"Would you care to see for yourself?'
said Torpenhow.
'NoW-at onceY'
"Oh, no! The Paris train doesn't go
through this place till tonight. There
will be ample time'
did Mr.. Heldar send you to me-"
Certainly not. Dick wouldn't do that
sort of thing. He's sitting in his studio
turning over some letters that he can't
read because he's blind"
There was sound of choking from
the sun hat. Maisie bowed her head
and went into the cottage, where the
red haired girl was on sofa complain
ing of headache.
"Dick's blind" said Maisie, taking
her breath quickly as she steadied her.
self against chair back. "My Dicks
blindr'
"Whati" The girl was on the sofa no
longer.
Fs"A man has come from England to
Tell me. He hasn't written to me for
six weeks
"Are you going to him?"
II must think"
'9Think! should go back to London
and see him, and l should kiss his eyes
and kiss them and kiss them until they
got well again! If you don't go shall.
Oh, what am / talking about? You
wicked little idiot! Go to him at once.
Col"
Torpenhow's neck was blistering, but
he preserved smile of infinite pa
tience as Maisie appeared bareheaded
in the sunshine.
II am coming" said she, her eyes on
the ground.
'You will be at Vitry station, then, at
this evening" This was an order de-
Kyered by one who was used to being
obeyed. Maisie said nothing, but she
felt grateful that there was no chance
of disputing with this big man who
tOOA CFCAJ lA44AS3 1OA anu LldA-
aged a sQuealing horse with one hand.
She returned to the red haired girl, who
was weeping bitterly, and between
tears, kisses-very few of those-men-
thol, packing, and an interview with
Kami, the snitry afternoon wore away.
Thought might come afterward. Her
present duty was to go to Dick-Dick,
who owned the wondrous friend and
sat in the dark playing with her un-
opened letters.
"But what will you do?' she said to
her companion.
81? oh, shall stay here and-fnish
your Meiancolia," she said. smiling
pitifully. write to me afterward."
That night there ran a legend
through Vitry sur Marne of a mad Eng
lishman, doubtless suffering from sun
stroke, who had drunk all the officers
Of the garrison under the table, had
borrowed a horse from the lines and
had then and there eloped after the
English custom with one of those more
than mad English girls who drew pic
lures down there under the care of that
good M. Kami.
"They are very droll," said Suzanne
to the conscript in the moonlight by
the studio wall. "She walked always
with those big eyes that saw nothing,
and yet she kisses me on both cheeks
as though she were my sister, and
gives me-See-10 francs"
The conscript levied a contribution
on both gifts, for he prided himself on
being good soldier.
Torpenhow spoke very little to Mai
sic during the journey to Calais, but
he was very careful to attend to all her
wants, to get her compartment en-
tfrely to herself and to leave her alone.
He was amazed at the ease with which
the matter had been accomplished.
''The safest thing would be to let her
think things out. By Dicks showing
when he was off his head-she must
have ordered him about very thorough
". Wonder how she likes being under
orders"
Maisie never told. She sat in the
CAnply O1tCA WIN AACA
eyes shut that she might realize the
sensation of blindness. 1t was an order
that she should return to London swift
ly and she found herself at last almost
beginning to enjoy the situation. This
was better than looking after trunks
and a red haired friend who never
seemed to take any interest in her sur
roundings. But there seemed to be a
feeling in the air that she, Maisie, Of
all people, was in disgrace.
Therefore she justified her conduct to
herself with great success till Torpen-
how came up to her on the steamer
and without preface began to tell the
story of Dicks blindness. suppressing
a few details, but dwelling at length on
the miseries of his delirium. He stopped
before he reached the end, as though
ne had lost interest in the subject, and