The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-02-24

LIE lauSueO again III al
Unconditional way.
You alter little he said. Your
%plainness of speech takes me back to
Petersburg. Yes, l admit that Mrs.
Sydney scarborough rather interested
ne. But l assume too much. That is
40 reason why she should interest
you
She does not, my good friend, but
You do. l am all attention"
DO you know anything of herr
asked De Chauxville perfunctorily, not
as a man who expects an answer or in
tends to believe that which he may be
about to hear.
Nothing"
You are likely to know more:"
Karl Steinmetz shrugged his heavy
shoulders and shook his head doubt
fully.
Il am not a ladies' man. he added
grufay. The good God has not shaped
me that way. l am too at Has MIS-.
Sydney scarborough fallen in love
with me: Has some imprudent person
shown her my photograph: l hope not
Heaven forbid"
he pulled steadily at his pipe and
glanced quickly at De Chauxville
through the smoke.
NO" answered the Frenchman quite
grayeiy. Frenchmen, by the way, do
not admit that one may be too middle
aged or too stout for love. But she is
on good terms with the prince"
Which p%rince:'
"Pavlo."
The Frenchman snapped out the
word, watching the others benevolent
countenance. SteinmetZ continued to
smoke placidly and c~ontentedly.
My MASTER" he said at length. Il
suppose that some day he will marry"
De Chauxyille shrugged his shoul-
ders. He touched the button Of the
electric bell and when the servant ap-
peared ordered coffee. The servant
brought the coffee, which he drank
houghtfully.
"And why not Mrs. Sydney Bambor-
ough?' asked Steinmetz suddenly.
Why not, indeed:t' replied De
Chauxyille. 1T is no affair of mine.
A wise man reduces his affairs to a
minimum and his interest in the at
fairs OF his neighbor to less. But I
thought it would interest you"
Thanks"
The o N of the big man il the arm
chair was not dry. Karl Steinmetz
knew better than to indulge in that
pastime. Dryness is apt to parch the
fount OF responsiveness.
Who was Sydney scarborough, at
any rate: De Chau1rille asked.
so far as l remember" answered
Steinmetz, The was something in the
diplomatic service"
Yes, but WHAT
My dear friend, you had better ask
his widow when mex you sit beside her
at dinner
"How do you know that l sat beside
her at dinnerE
Il did not know it." replied Stein
metz, with a quiet smile which left De
Chauxville in doubt as to whether he
was very stupid or exceedingly clever.
She seems to be very we'll off,
said the Frenchman.
Il am glad, as she is going to marry
my MASTER
De Chauxville laughed almost awk.
Wardly, and for a fraction of a second
ne changed c~ountenance under Stein.
NETS quiet eyes.
"One can know whom q vo
mar intends TO marry" he said car
iessly, even if they can themselves
which doubt. But l do NOT under
stand how ii is that she is so much
better, or appears to be, since rh,
death OF her husband"
"Ah, she is much better off. or appear,
to be, since the death of her husband
said the stout man in his slow Ger
manic way.
Yes"
De Chauxville rose, stretched himsel
and yawned- Men are not always. b,
IT understood, on their best behayio,
at their club.
Good night he said shortly.
Good night, my very dear friend"
After the Frenchman had left. Kar
Steinmetz remained quite motionles,
and expressionless in his chair unit
such time as he concluded that D,
Chauxviile was tired Of watching hin
through the glass door. Then he slow