New-York tribune., 1904-09-03
II Financial Catastrophe.
BY JOHN y. RAPHAEL.

Harry Farquharson thought he met her In
the Rue Royale that he had never seen the
pretty Mrs. Urquhart looking so pretty. lie had
gone over with Il party OF friends some days
before TO spend week In Paris; the friends had
been called back across the Channel unexpected
ly and he had been alone in Paris for twenty
four hours and was beginning to find his own
company tho most uninteresting company in the
world. And now 20 meet Irene UrQuhart OF all
people.
Il don't know that ought to-" was her an
swer TO his appeal that she would have look
at the Salon with him and lunch at the Ambas-
sadeurs in tine Champs Elysees afterward. but
still az We are strangers In foreign land. We
may be unconventional for once. take it," And
Harry Farquharson mad the self possession TO
restrain the obvious rejoinder which leapt 10
his lips that 1t only rested with small WORD OF
three letters the pretty Widows part to give
the world no scope for scandal II they two
should be met together anywhere I've had
the thing upon my mind so many months. ne
said to himself that an hour more won't hurt
and I'll propose over the stra"berries ana
cream
He didn't; ana the story am telling ls the
reason
The two spent delightful hour in the Salon
talking little OF the pictures and a great deal
on that most pregnant Of topics. old memories
of their respective childhoods: for long oerore
Irene Matheson had become the wife OF the rich
Mr.. Urquhart she and Harry Farquharson had
been playInates and child lovers even
And now for luncheon" said Farquharson
looking at his watch. They strolied down the
broad staircase OF the Grand Palais out into the
Elysian Fields. the name of which Farquharson
mentally declared had never been so Wen de-
served IL was that day, ana Ciiihoe9 tlS
pretty wooden staircase to the Ambassaoeurs
balcony.
They found a table In corner. when just as
Faro,Iharson had begun studying the bill or rare
Mrs IJrauhart gave a little cry of. dismay
''Oh, I forgot TO buy an illustrated catalogue
she said, land want one TO take back with me
to London"
Faruuharson laughed. That's not particular
~ difficult." he said. 'Chasseur Ahd WiIet, WEI
the man in the gold braided UNIFORM appeareu
ne sent him off for one.
ant as he did so a quick look of annoyance
passed over his face Wnen ne met MIS- - uipu ~.
hart he had been on his way up 10 the Sreoil
Iyonnais 20 cash a check. To buy the cata-
logue he had taken a twenty franc piece from
his 1y,i stcoat pocket and realized that all lhe
,nor., there besides IL was Just smaller
coin Less than 80 francs TO pay for luncheon.
and luncheon with a lady. toe The position was :
certainly an awkward one. however Win q
little "a re II might be aged. and for the first
time in his life Farquharson sought out those
items on the bill of fare kely ost 10 1e
able annoyance at the obsequious murhiur OF
the naitre d'hotel.
For FORMS sake he consulted his companion.
bu, everything she chose was, for one reason OF
another put aside. and the poor man ieit nor
rIbly annoyed as he hesan 10 reai.ze th,.t .,e
luncheon was shaping anything but cheapiy
And then just as the salmon trout with the
sauce was Scrted-oHe must
trout with green sauce in the Champs Eiysrss
s,,.r the Salon, Farquharson rejected ruefuiiy
the chasseur came back with the catalogues
.Monsieur." he explained. " has not SAID whicn
"a dialogue wanted, so he had purchased botn
~ them the BeauS Arts and the Artistes fran
cais" Farquharson lost his temper, and 10 MS
guests assonishment harangued the wretcned
chasseur violently on his foolshness and waste
Of money and finally dismissed him without the
smallest tip
Mrs UrQuhart felt herself wondering wnether
ia rou hareon had recently had money losses.
,rbix anger at an extra expenditure of a frame
ar tyvoI and that before lady seemed so utterly
ri5cul6us Or had her old friend become mean
&c he grew older as SO many rich men often do?
Sba Wondered nnd was silent, and her host.
whose thoughts were all upon the comparative
lengths OF the bill and OF his purse. was silent
also The little luncheon party was by no III ans
merry SO far. .
And wheu the ran In the black apron Drought