The Princeton union., 1905-03-16

standing by the empty fireslace, a
manly, upright figure, one who was
not very clever, not brilliant at all,
somewhat slow in his speech, but sure,
deadly sure, in the honesty of his pur-
pose.
Karl Steinmetz looked at him and
smiled openly, with the quaint air of
resignation that was his.
"You have never seen her, ehY' in
CURED Paul.
Steinmetz paused, then he told lie,
good one, we'll told, deliberately
s'No.'
1--WE are going to the opera, box F2
IF you come in I shall have pleasure
III Introducing You. The sooner you
know each other the better. I am sure
you will approve"
II think you ought to marry money!
"Why?"
SteinmetZ laughed
"Oh," he answered, "because every
body does who can! There is Catrina
Lanovitch-an estate as big as yours,
adjoining yours; q great Russian fam
lily, a good girl who is willing.''
Paul laughed, a good wholesome
laugh
You are inclined to exaggerate my
manifold and obvious qualifications"
he said. "Catrina is a very nice girl,
but I do not think she would marry
me even if 1 asked her,
(Which you do not intend to do.'
"Certainly not'
'Ihen you will make an enemy Of
her, said Steirmetz quietly. "It may
be inconvenient, but that cannot be
helped. \ woman scorned, you know.
Shakespeare OF the Bible, always mix
them up. No, Paul, Catrina Lanovitch
is a dangerous enemy. She has been
making love to you these last four
years, and you would have seen it if
you had not been fool! 1 am afraid,
my good Paul, you are a fool, God
bless you for itr'
Il think you are wrong,' said Paul
rather curtly; mot about me being a
fool, but about Catrina Lanovitch. If
you are right, however, it only makes
me dislike her instead Of being perfect
ly Indifferent to her.
His honest face flushed up finely, and
he turned away to look at the clock
again.
II hate your way of talking about
women, Steinmetz,'' he said. you're
cynical old beast, you know
Heaven forbid, my dear prince! I
admire all women-they are so clever,
so innocent, SO pure minded. Do not
your English novels prove it, your Eng
lish stage, your newspapers, so high
toned? Who supports the novelist, the
playwright, the actor, who but your
English ladies:''
Better than being cooks, like your
German ladies'" retorted Paul stoutly.
"Better than being cooks.'
II doubt it! I very much doubt it,
my friend. At what time shall I pre-
sent myself at box F2 this evening?'
''About Gas soon as you like
So Paul Howard Alexis sailed forth
to seek the hand of the lady of his
choice, and as he left his own door that
lady was receiving Claude de Chaux-
vile in her drawing room. The two
had not met for some weeks-not in
deed since Eta had told the French
man that she could not marry him.
Her invitation to dine, couched in the
usual friendly words, had been the first
move in that game commonly called
"bluff." Claude de ChauXville's ac-
ceptance of the same had been the
second move. And these two persons,
who were not afraid Of each other,
shook hands with a pleasant smile Of
greeting. while Paul hurried toward
them through the busy streets =
cam I forgiven-that am invited to
dinner?" asked De Chauxville imper-
turbably when the servant had left
them alone.
Forgiven for what?" she asked at
length in that preoccupied tone of voice
which tells wise men that only ques-
tions of dress will be considered.
De ChauXville shrugged his shoul-
ders in his graceful Gallo way.
"Mon DieuY' he exclaimed "For a
crime which requires no excuse and no
explanation other than mirror
She looked up at him innocently.
"a mirror?''
"Yours. Have you forgiven me for
Adll111S III iON Z Will yOu. IL Is, l. all
told, crime that women sometimes
condone."
''It was no crime" she said. She
had heard the wheels Of Paurs car
riage ut was misfortune. Please
let us forget that it ever happened"
De Chauxville twirled his neat mus
tache, looking keenly at her the while.
'You forget he said. But Twill
remember"
She did not answer, but turned with
smile to greet Paul.
II think you know each other,'' she
said gracefully when she had shaken
hands, and the two men bowed. They
were foreigners, be it understood.
There were three languages in which
they could understand each other with
equal ease =
where is Maggie?'' exclaimed Mrs
Scarborough. "She is always late.''
"When l am here" reflected De
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