The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-07
CHRISANTHE.
ny LAURA L. HINKLEY.
copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub

LAURA As
Copyright 1904 By Daily story Pub.
saw her irst at the flower show.
Chrysanthemums were everywhere,
streaked and pied and spattered. yell
low and bronze and purple and white
and red, prtm and stately, and Haunt
ing. toueled, aliuring monstrosities. ]
watched her from behind q towering
array OF blossoms, white but for red
streak down every petal.
she was style incarnate in every
curve, with = great duffy chrysanthe-
mum at her breast. In spite Of her
slim, sprite-like girlishness l was
aware OF something in her passionate,
luxurious, nnbounded. sort of intense
sympathy with the bouncing riot Of
the ehrysanthemums
Presently she came toward me with
q Light in her eyes and hands OUT
stretched.
aWs should know each other. mon
sieurl am Mademoiseile Chrysanthe.
Won't gen come to see me7' She gave
me her address, not repeating or try
ing to impress 1t on my memory. but
AZ u assured that ! would remember.
my day is Thursday" And she left
from the room.
stood astounded, I was tolerabiy
familiar with the methods of adven-
turesses, but this person betrayed OBJ
vious wealth and breeding. Was she
some one I ought to remember /
knew she was not; yet her face had for
me some dim. haunting reminder. Had
she mistaken me for an acquaintance
Why then her absurd nickname and
strange speech? "A clever adventur-
essr reason told me- Yet went on the
appointed day to her house.
It was on one Of the auieter, but in
tensely respectable and decidedly smart
streets. An imposing butler admitted
me- / looked to see him change coun-
tenance when asked for Madeinoiselle
Chrysanthes but he bowed impassively
and nshered me int q splendid and
lavish drawing room. Jardinieres OF
rhFysanthemums stood about and a
long mirror at one side repeated their
bizarre luxuries OF form and tint
Ny hostess glided in. Her yellow
house dress. adroitly garnished with
rufiIes and huttering ribbon ends. sim
uiated . prim, demurely wild chrysan-
themnm-
Il knew you would come" she said,
giving me her hand. You win want to
see the conservatory. Not at home,
James. Come, monsieur
The conservatory was immense and
almost entirely devoted to chrysanthe-
NUNS She fitted about among them,
bending her dainty head with its black
Japanese coils stuck through with long,
twisted. amber pins.
Her fascination took violent hold on
me. her weird, exotic mlngling OF ex-
travagant and exquisite. But she
would tell me nothing OF her Identity,
nor would she let me reveal my own.
mo. no, monsieur. This and this"
touching two splendid blooms. need
no names. Nor do we"
As neared the door at last to take
leave. half-suffocated with her witch
srias-"I love your I said abruptly.
She listened, silent. smiling. unmov-
ed. I caught her roughly about the
waist.
Stop stopi / will call Jamesw
II will come Tomorrow" said and
left her.
On the morrow 1 found her In the
lavish drawing-rpom. She had given
the place an accent of royal, gracious
welcome by massing everywhere chry-
santhemums OF every tone and hue of
purple. She herself was gowned In
Eumptuous purple velvet adorned with
falls Of priceless lace, a more mature,
ample and majestic presence than /
had dreamed she could be. I was per-
topic. hut the forbidden ones OF her
identity ana mine. I kissed her hand
at parting.
The third time I went resolved to
discover who she was and whether she
Teciproeated nay passion. / no longer
recognized myself. / was wild about
her.
found her robed In the very garb
Of MISUNDERSTANDING red silk. barbar-
icaIly splendid. with wonderful garni-
ture OF rubles and diamonds. About the
room, here and there, a single crimson
chrysanthemum echoed the note OF her
poignant personality. Awhile she elud-
ed me, 1.-THE and slender as flame; but
at last my pleading touched her
Il believe you do love mer' she cried
Her superb bosom sweiled against its
jeweled barrier.
Il love you more than iifeI Whoever
and whatever you are. love your
she gave herself to my arms and
my lips had their will.
-But you don't know who I amp
she laughed, escaping.
"you are my wife to be! have told