The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-07-30
Sir RO1and'S
Experience "
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Copyright, 1908 by Daily Story Pub. CO..
NIHEN Sir Roland Chesterton an
w nounced his engagement to
Camille Rodays, a popular French ac-
tress, English society was Mortified,
while the French elite merely
shrugged their shoulders and said:
''Ah Dieu!" Then the reported en-
gagement was declared false and
again Dame Rumor circulated the an
nouucement as a positive fact this
time.
Sir Roland, having just reached his
ma iority, was a handsome, reckless,
daredevil sort of fellow, with an
income of 100000 sterling a year.
One day at the club, when in one
of his reckless moods, he publicly
announced the engagement. AS a
matter of fact it caused great row
in the young barOnet's family. Lady
Cbesterton, the mother of Sir Roland,
and the handsomest and haughtiest
woman in all England, became hys-
terical when dear" friend told her
the news. She actually took the boy
in her arms and in atfectionate and
endearing terms e1treated him to re-
nounce this foolish love. The Ladies
Blanche and Eleanor, his elder sis
ters went on their knees to him; his
cousin. who came next in succession
to the title and estates. asked him
to abdicate: his fellow clubmen sim
ply laughed at him; but Sir Roland
remained obdurate-for little
while.
Then very unexpectedly came the
announcement that the marriage
was indefinitely" postponed, and Sir
Roland suddenly determined to make
a tour of the continent. He was gone
almost year when one morning he
returned as mysteriously as he had
departed. He was received with open
arms by all members of the baron
etcy. for they were thoroughly con
WINGED that his infatuatiOn for pretty
Camille was gone.
1t was shortly before midnight one
evening, as Sir Roland was preparing
to leave the club, that a letter wa:
handed to him by a messenger boy
The hand writing on the back of the
envelope caused him to turn deathly
pale. and with trembling fingers hi
broke the seal.
MY Dear Roland" it ran. Come t,
me as soon as you get this. | hav'
but little while to live, the docto
told me yesterday. My long sickness
has made me horribly ugly, but | an
starved for Just one smile from you
am always at nome and can see yo'
any time"
The next day at two o'clock h
went to see her and was Mortified a
her changed appearance. Her cheek:
once oval and tinted with delicat
pink. were now sunken and colorless
great. dark rings encircled her eye:
and deep. heavy lines that told G
long suffering marred the face tina
was once famous for its beauty. Th
ewes retained much of their fOrme
brilliancy, the lips were still fires
and pink. and the glorious. locks {
hair, as they lay in tangled disorde
on the white pillows, We're still beal
tiful as when first he met her. I'll
room. with the curtains all draw
profusion about her. Camille SCENE
really about to enter the portals I
death. Sir Roland remained but
short while in the sick room and
he turned to go he met larg
brusuue woman in the doorway wea
ing the garb of a nurse, and wi
treated him in suriy fashion wht
he inquired after the patient, "Tl
illness is her affair, not yours" 81
said, brushing past him. The ne
day Sir Roland again visited the sl'
room and found Camille a trifie be
ter. he eyes flashed with the o
brilliancy and in every way her ma
ner was quite like the Ca lille
former days. Sir Roland passed
most congenial hour in her compa-
until the nurse came and in the SAL
brusoue fashion dismissed him fro
the room. When he reached the sta
way a bell rang in the lower hall.
II knew the doctor would come a
find YOU here!" cried the nurse. shf
ing her fist in Sir Roland's face. L
next Instant a fine. portly-looki
man entered the hallway. When
nurse went upstairs to inform
mile of the doctors arrival
Roland seized the opportunity
make inquiries.
us Mademoiselle Camille dang
ously i'll? Or do you think she v
re:overP