The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-22
BY AGNE,S SL7RBRLDGE.,

he knows. thereu be a scandal in the
aristocratic ranks Of st. sebastian's."
And he dared to admontsh me!
That very night brought an invitation
to help receive the guests at q recep-
ton the mayor and his wife were giving
for the Count de Beauyais, together with
note asking me to dine with them the
same evening Dinners and receptions
| followed In quick succession, and the
| counts stay was prolonged from the two
weeks he had at first planned into two
months, during which time he was a fire.
| quent caller at my house.
| you must not be misled by his ex-
travagant admiration" Mrs. Parsons adj
monished me, for these foreigners know
not the meaning OF the word reserve. I
| always accept their homage in the spirit
it Is. given, knowing they will pass on
to the next flower and like any other
butterfly, sip diligently all the honey they
find there. It's all in the way Of the
world" And so accepted the counts
devotion, lightly and not ungratefully.
For few weeks matters at the club
| ran with uncommon smoothness. there
being no outward friction and few criti-
cisms that reached my ears. But the
president Of a large city club has a value,
in the business world, as I was destined
| to learn. And therein lay my first dan
ger. Within a week after the brilliant
"gentlemen's night Of the Nota Benes,
the card OF q strange gentleman was
brought up to me at an early hour one
| morning.
He said his message was an important
one. ma am," announced the maid. If it
doesn't happen to be convenient for you
to see him now, he will call again.
VERY WELL" I responded. with feel
ing that the thing might as we'll be over
with at once. "Tell him will be down
directly" Then f1uffed my hair and
got into becoming Jacket and descended
the stairway. A tall. good-looking man
was in the drawing and came for
ward as I entered.
rs this Mrs. Henning?'' he asked.
1.-THE president Of the famous Nota Bene
club?" = -
replied graciously that the name and
| the office were mine. ~ - Il.
''Yes?" and he made a deep bow. IT
have read much about you in the papers.
My name is not familiar to you-of course
not, but I represent Florine, the great
photographer" He stopped and gasped
with delight. Florine's photographs were
famous, indeed, and cost good many
dollars apiece. ~
HE, too. has read about you, and has
seen your pictures in the Sunday papers,"
he began automatically. "At least, he
bids me say he has seen what the Sun
day papers presume to put out for pic
lures Of you. He would be glad, madam
The would esteem it privilege, If you
would consent to pose for him. OF course,
there would be no expense to you.''
"You-he is really very good" I muir
Injured quite as If accustomed to ba
sought out by portrait artists for my
Iheal1tv HR11t-'
HE will be greatly disappointed II you
do not consent" urged the man. Ellis
| heart is really set on taking some thor
oily good pictures of you. Pardon me for
saying it. but really, madam, it is a
shame for those parodies on your looks to
be going about. OF course, you could have
as many for your own use you desired.
Florine only wishes the portrait for his
studio-to add to his collection or beau
tiful Chicago women"
when does he want me to Gomez"
asked cautiously, for I would not seem
eager, tho at heart was flattered beyond
all bounds at this recognition Of my
! beauty IT am a very busy woman"
'"Set your own time, madam" was the
reply. "Florine will accommodate his
time and his other patrons to your con-
i venience."
|, With a show Of reluctance, set day
! the following week, for 1t will not do to
let people feel that they are doing you a
favor. But when he departed l allowed
! myself q little dance around the room
me? Johnaphene Henning? The wife OF
a. grocer? The little bashful Kansas
, maiden? What will they all say? Altho
for that matter, none Of them shall ever
know that, did not pay a. round price
- for my pictures" .;
Just as was going forth an hour later
= to a committee meeting, I met another
> caller in the hall.
"Only moment Of your time," he said
al IT represent the publishing house o.
Blank Brothers, who are getting out the
:. finest book on Modern Women that has
$ ever been published OF course yo'
: must be represented in 1t. May no
take your name and have your picture
}. "a fine one, for ,the book?'
IT am just going OUT answered icily
9 for it pleased my dignity to be reserved
), at that moment; II have not momen
= to spare. Perhaps" added with an &C
d cess Of graciousness, as the young mai
:. turned to pick UP his hat, perhaps yo'
r would call again-this evening, or to
e morrow at 10? I am about 10 nav
g some pictures done by Florire,' with
g careless air, as If this was common &c
n currence-"and I might be able to CIV
you one later
y He thanked mo and promised to cal
n next morning-and hurried to the com
mittee meeting. On my way nome
l. stopped at an exclusive tailoring estab
n lishnent, where the new shirt-waists l.
the window attracted my attention. Here
too, was known.
- ..Is not this the president OF the Not
IS Bene club?" asked one OF the proprletors
= who CHANGED to be standing near as ex
e ARMED the waists. IT thought so. wa