The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-07-29
CHRlSANTHE
Copyright. is4. BY Daily story Pub. Coz

/, SAW her first at the flower show.
I Chrysanthemums were everywhere.
streaked and pied and spattered. yell
low and bronze and purple and white
and red. prim and stately. and fiauni-
Ing. tousled. alluriag monstrosities.
watched her from behind a towering
array OF blossoms. white but for a red
streak down every petal.
She was style incarnate IN every
curve. with a great fluffy chrysanthe-
mum at her breast In spite OF her
slim. sprlte-;lke girl!shness was
aware Of something in her passionate.
luxurious. unbounded, a sort OF in
tense sympathy with the bouncing riot
Of the chrysanthemums.
Presently she came toward me with
a light in her eyes and hands out
stretched.
we should know each other. mon
sie-r, | am Mademoiselle Chrysanthe
Won't you come to see nse?' She gave
me her address. not repeating or try
Ing 10 impress il on my memory, but
IS II assured that | would remember.
My day is Thursday" And she eft
rom the room.
stood astounded l was toierably
familiar with the methods Of adven-
turesses but this person betrayed OBJ
vious wealth aud breeding Was she
some one ought 10 remember. l
knew she was not. yet her face had for
me some dim. haunting reminder Had
she mistaken ne FOR an acquaintance?
Why then her absurd nickname and
strange speech? "A clever adventur-
sss." reason tod me Yet ! went on
The appointed day 10 her house.
Il was on one Of the quieter. but in
tensely respectable and decidedly
smart streets. An imposing butler ad-
clltted me looked 10 see him change
countenance when I asked for Iade-
nolsene Chrysanthe. but he bowed i'm
passively and ushered me into a splen-
did and lavish drawing-room. Jardi-
uicres Of chrysanthemums stood about
and long mirror at one side repeated
their bizarre luxuries Of form and
tint
My hostess rlided in. Her yellow
house dress. adroitly garnished with
rufies and huttering ribbon ends. sim
mated a prim. demurely wild chrysan-
themum.
Il knew you would come" she said
giving me her hand You Will wan
20 see the conservatory. Not az home
James. Come. monsieur
The conservatory was immense anS
almost entirely devoted to chrysan
themums. she fitted about amonl
them. bending her dainty head. wit.
is black japanese coils stuck through
with LONG, twisted. amber pins.
Her fascination took violent hold OF
M her weird. exotic mingiing Of ex
,ravarant and exquisite But sh'
would tell me nothing OF her identity
cor would she let me reveal my own
NO. no. monsieur. This and this,
touching two splendid blooms. Nee
10 names Nor do We"
AsI neared the door AZ last 10 TAX
leave half-surocated with her witch
s-ies-"I love you," said. abruptly.
She Listened. silent. smiling. IN
moved caught her roughly about tn
waist.
Stop stop. VIII tA4A JANIS
Il Will come tomorrow" said
and left her.
on. the morrow found her in IN
lavish drawing-room. She had give
the place an accent OF royal. grac on
welcome by massing everywhere chry
santhemums Of every tore and hue Q
pursle. she herself was gowned !
sumpuous purple velvet. adorned wit
falls OF priceless lace. more matur'
ample and majestic presence than
haa dreamed she could be. | was pei
mitted TO stay long and talk on ever
tonic. but the forbidden ones Of he
identity and mine kissed her han
al parting.
The third time I went resolved
discover who she was and whether sh
recirrocated my passion no long
recognized myself was Wild abo'
her
found her rcbed n, ~ very gar
of passicn-alisten.ng red silk. barba
ically splendid. with wonderful garn