Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-16
Chapter XXI.

noted again ana again now muCH nc
improved in looks. in bearing, In that In
effable something that proclaims familiarity
with the ways of the world. l praised him
for 1t, and we had really pleasant, domes-
tic reunion. The children had grown and
improved wonderfully during his year OF
absence and well. had not deteriorated:
for the modern woman understands the art
of keeping young. and / was scarcely
thirty.
The dove of peace did not hover long
over our abode. however, for the very next
mornings mail brought a letter to Joseph
Henning. Esq" 49,
''Who the deuce knows 1 am at homer
he said as he slit open the envelope with
his knife. Il hurried directly to the mousse
from the train. and nobody at the once,
even, knew of my arrival Besides, never
have letters come to the house.
But q direful change came over his race
as he read the letter. He laid 1t beside
his plate and a portentous calm relgheo
for fully five minutes. Then:
Are you president Of the Nota Bene
Club?" lie asked in suppressed tone.
felt 1t wise to admit that l was.
''And how long since. may inquire!
Il was elected last January, joe, ana
made my tones as conciliatory as l knew
You have attended faithfully to all club
duties?" his voice was smoother than ever
why. yes, l answered, deceived for the
moment II did not propose to have the
club record diminished under my manage
Il should say you had succeeded admira-
bly," he observed in the same non-commit-
tai voice. when did the count come TO
town? That is, when did you first meet
him.
why, Joe? What do you mean?" ask
ed innocently enough
Read that" and he tossed me the letter
Mr.. Joseph Henning: Dear Sir 1t began.
"You have come home none too soon II
she occupied only the private position or
your wife the members OF the Nota bene
Club would not trouble themselves nor you;
but as she Is president of one of the nnest
women's clubs In this state. we are hoping
you may break UP the intimacy that exists
between your wife and the Count de Beau
vais We feel that the present state OF
things is a disgrace to the club. and some
of us are looking confidently to you for a
change in the n private life OF M the REeslaen'
What does it mean?" he demanded IN
voice that frightened me, although 1t was
low and controlled. No wonder my nus
band had built up a business that support
ed branches in three European capitals as
well as here, If this was his method OF
going at difficulty.
situations. There is no intimacy between
Count de Beauvais and myself. Neither Is
the club in the least disturbed over my az
fairs. Why, every one says | have had the
most brilliant reign of any of its presi-
dents.'
They seem to have come to a brilliant
pass now" he observed sarcastically. You
seem to be very popular with one person at
least"
Il am popular. in spite of what they say
I insisted. You should see what the
new spapers have said about me-" l stop
ped, recalling suddenly the committee meet
ing of the previous day.
Joe picked up the morning paper he had
beer reading when 1 entered the breakfast
room. II have seen what the newspapers
are now saying about you-at least one
newspaper; it matters little what has been
said in the past" He handed me the paper
and l read.
THE executive board of the Nota Bene
met in solemn conclave yesterday the
item read in the department Seen and
Heard" 1T Is rumored that sensational
developments are to be expected. Several
anonymous letters have been received by
the older leading members which refer to
scandalous going in which their highest
officer and the Count Ge Beauvais are in
volved. Every one knows that the two
spent the month OF August at a well-known
summer residence in the east though why
the club members should make capital OF
that is not revealed, especially as several
well-known Chicago people. including a
famous divine. were of the same party. It
looks like much ado about nothing sui,
the shoe episode is not yet forgotten-
Much ado about nothing. That is just
what it is" said laying down the paper.
HAS the count been attentive TO you
during my absence?' he asked.
We'll no; nor exactly that" l hesitated
"He has called a number of times, and nat
urallV have been invited out al great
deal as my set has taken him up from the
beginning But there has been no ground
for such nonsensical talk. Why as far as
that goes Philip Haven has been here more
than the count. And you Always aIIoWeu
that you know"
Tame cat.' he muttered contemptuously.
Come. Johnnie and l suddenly realized
how very much pleasanter 1t was TO be ad-
dressed as Madame Jacqueminot in a ten
der voice than to be called Johnnie in
this imperious fashion,. Comet Make
clean breast of it.
Really Joe dear. there is nothing to tell
you II the count admires me. 1t is only as
q foreigner studying American institutions
You said last night that you saw no hand-
somer woman in Paris than your Wife You
can't blame other men for thinking so. We
are not young Kansas folks any longer. just
setting up housekeeping. We are people of
wealth, and-and yes. / Will say it-of posi-
ton You have made the money, joe and,
10 be candid, have made the position. Isn't
Il SOP
"Thats about the size of it, he con-
ceded.
And so we must look at these things as
people OF the world do l went on oracular-
ly. surely, you are not going to let an
anonymous Ntter spoil everything
Were you and the count together this
summer-and where but at Parsons estab-
lishment?'
Not for a moment. Joe. There were
fourteen other Chicago people there at the
same time, SAID.
And some one of them bears you a
erudge" he said softening visibly.
L took advantage of the situation and
soon wheedled him into good temper again;
although noticed that he folded the letter
up carefully and bestowed 1t In an inner
pocket Il shall see about the item in Seen
and Heard he said finally, and trace
the anonymous letter writer. BY heaven!
This is coming back to the freedom OF the
American press with n vengeance.
/ sought out Mrs. Parsons before noon.
showed her the newspaper and told her OF
the ANONYMOUS letter.
"All of which explains the chilly atmos-
phere OF the meeting yesterday. she OBJ
served when l finished my excited speech.
zone person with penchant for writing
Anonymous letters can do more harm In
club than a whole armed rebellion. We've
never had one before in the Nota Bene
ranks. but now there seems to be regular
epidemic OF them Evidently II Is new
conner She looked at me narrowly and
waited.
oh. don't believe 1t is she!' l cried,
taking In her meaning by some occult
method.
shes inordinately jealous of you" pur-
sued my friend. Both OF the preacher and
the count ! detest the woman"
But knew not whom else to suspect un-
less u might be my sworn enemy-the one
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