The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-27

about the mouth. = His head was reared
nigh in thessair now. his step firmer his
eyes clear and alert and quite free from
the nervous twitchng that had spoiled
them before. Why, even his SMILE that
no i'll living, no debauchery had seemed
ever to touch took on a tenderer sem
blance, sweeter charm. All he was
man! .:-.5. ..>
AS for the drink, he showed a. strength,
that amazed me. No man who has for
years habitually drunk large quantities of
any alcoholic liquor can suddenly leave it
quite off without becoming a nervous
wreck, but I think that Denis, at this
time, did as nearly without drink Of any
sort as a, man might do, When we sat at
a cafe he no longer, called for absinthe.
but took brandy or whisky in water and
very little of it, and at meals he used the
wine most sparing]y. Sometimes in his
studio, after siege Of racking nerves that
was all too evident. he would take a single
glass of absinthe, but quite openly And
II think he never trusted himself to take it
! when alone I have seen many a pucky
tight against besettng vices, but never
! one so plueky ais this. ">* =
But it was Colonel Won Altdorf whose
appearance and conduct were, during
these days. most Of mystery to me- He
had fallen into a perverse l1umor that puz-
zled US all. He had longNfits of abstrac-.
ton from which he would rouse himself
| to growl an answer to some ones repeated
iquestion. He often. spoke of having
missed much happiness in his way through
life. and of how a single man was at best
a poor thing and Incomplete: Also he
took to reading certain volumes of poetry
which Denis had about the studio, and /
Ethlnk~ he memorized some of the verses
| for he would read a space. then look up
and move his lips as if repeating the
lines. - :, "5.. Il .s ~ . s. &:
: on
Won Altdorf. I spoke to Denis of it, but
Denis had no eyes for other mems affairs
! just then, he was busy with his own
T. let him alone, lad said Denis. .TIes
probably in love. They often act that
way--when they take it late in life :.
But for the love Of ,heaven"'.' cried,
| with whom?" So, a2;,ssS &
| d ''.The concierge suggested Denis @ :
I l sspoke also of the phenomenon to
Miss Jessica Mannering upon wllomI took
frequent occasion to call. Miss Manner
| ing was at first moved to extreme rnirth.a
| Then after a little she sighed and smiled
| and touched the keys of the piano before.
which she was sitting, in the big. gloomy.
! stone -arched chamber that Mackenzie
! had transformed into a sort of drawing
room. And she sang under her breath a
little snatch Of song, Love in my bosom
I like a bee - Gss&
! 1T would be a great pity, said Miss
I q plly Oi#SOlOnel Won
Altdorf should fall in love with some one
who-W1o wasn't worthy Of him, didn't
| understand him, would be cruel or cold
to him i There aren't many men like Col
| Won Altdorf = Y r s. $ 5ss 3*.s.tEEs.
That's true, by Jove,'' said i warmly
| Won Aitdorf's S one Of the best! But say.
| why In the world dose he want to fail in
love, at his age?
" His age!,, cried Miss Manering.. 1 with
more heat than /: thought necessary
/ You speak, as If he were 20! Men are
] mere boys till 4O.' she declared unkindly.
"Oh, are they though? y said I. II sup4
1 pose I'm expected tosbe crushed. All, well.
shall be 40 some day And now, per-
:thaps, YOU will tell me with whom Won Alt
/ dorf can be in love? I'm quite at a loss
granting thatsh is in love. Personally
: !, fancy it's indigestion. Dennis suggests
/ the concierge b Ssff3 -f
4 ou and Mr.. Mallory are such wits =
observed Miss Manering scathinglys 8 Just
because a. nansof 10 or, - # !.
!. Forty two said + brutally taf
.gpnducts himself 90 continued Miss
i Mannering, s.'in a properly serious man