Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-07-31
Sir Ro1and's
Experience ~
By WILSON. n. MATTHEWS
Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Coz


Copyright, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
WHEN Sir Roland Chesterton an
w nounced his engagement to
Camille Rodays, 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
nouncement as a positive fact this
time.
Sir Roland. having just reached his
ma ority, was a handsome, reckless,
daredevil sort of a fellow, with an
income of 6 10000 sterling 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 a great row
in the young baronet's family. Lady
Chesterton, the mother of Sir Roland,
and the handsomest and haughtiest
woman in all England, became hys-
terical when a dear friend told her
the news. She actually took the boy
in her arms and in affectionate and
endearing terms entire ated him to re-
nounce this foolish love. The Ladies
Blanche and Eleanor, his elder sis
tiers, 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
q tour of the continent. He was gone
almost a 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.
It was shortly before midnight one
evening, as Sir Roland was preparing
to leave the club, that a letter was
handed to him by messenger boy.
The hand writing on the back of the
envelope caused him to turn death1y
pale, and with trembling fingers he
broke the seal.
"My Dear Roland" it ran. ''Come to
me as soon as you get this. L have
but little while to live, the doctor
told me yesterday. My long sickness
has made me horribly ugly, but I am
starved for just one smile from you.
am always at nome and can see you
any time
The next day at two o'clock he
went to see her and was Mortified at
her changed appearance. Her cheeks,
once oval and tinted with delicate
pink were now sunken and colorless:
great, dark rings encircled her eyes,
and deep, heavy lines that told of
| long suffering married the face that
was once famous for its beauty. The
eyes retained much of their former
brilliancy, the lips were still fresh
and pink, and the glorious locks OF
hair, as they lay in tangled disorder
on the white pillows, were still beau
| tiful as when first he met her. The
room. with the curtains all drawn
and the medicine bottles arranged in
| profusion about her. Camille seemed
really about to enter the portals OF
death. Sir Roland remained but a
| short while in the sick room and as
| he turned to go he met large
| brusque woman in the doorway wear
| ing the garb of a nurse, and who
| treated him in a surly fashion when
| he inquired after the patient. "The
| illness is her affair, not yours!" she
said, brushing past him. The next
day Sir Roland again visited the sick
room and found Camille trifie bet
ter. he eyes flashed with the ole
| ,brilliancy and in every way her man
ner was quite like the Camille OF
former days. Sir Roland passed 9
| most congeniaI hour in her company
| until the nurse came and In the same
brusque fashion dismissed him from
| the room. When he reached the stair
| way . bell rang in the lower hall.
'sI knew the doctor would come ant
| find you hsrei" cried the nurse. shak
/ ing her Est In Sir Roland's face. tn.
| next instant q fine. portly-lookinf
man entered the hallway. When tn.
nurse went upstairs to inform Ca
mile of the doctors arrival Sil
Roland seized the opportunity t.
make inquiries.
els laSemoise1le Camille danger
ously ili7 Or do you think she vii
lrseevsr1