The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-02-24

If Claude de Chauxville was discon-
certed he certainly did not show IT.
His was face eminently calculated to
might be passing through his mind.
OF an even white complexion. verging
on pastiness, he was handsome In q
certain statuesque way. His features
were always composed and digni1ed.
His hair, thin and straight. was never
out Of order, but ever smooth and
sleek upon his high, narrow brow.
mot necessarily" he said in cold.
even tones. "Mrs. Sydney Bambor-
ough does not habitually take into her
confidence all who happen to dine at
the same table as herself. Your conf.
dental woman is usually a liar"
Steinmetz was filling his pipe. This
man had the evil habit of smoking
wooden pipe after cigar.
my very dear De Chauxville," he
said. without looking up. "your epi-
grams are lost on me. know most of
them. 1 have heard them before If
you have anything to tell me about
Mrs. Sydney scarborough for heavens
sake tell it to me quite plainly. like
plain dishes and unvarnished stories
l am a German, you know-that is to
say, a person with dull palate and a
thick head"
De Chauxville laughed again in an
Unconditional way.
,'YOu alter little" he said. "Your
plainness Of speech takes me back to
Petersburg. Yes. / admit that Mrs.
Sydney Marlborough rather interested
me. But l assume too much. That is
no reason why she should interest
you"
"She does not, my good friend, but
you do. 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. ~
II am not ladies' man." he added
gruffly. "The good God has not shaped
me, that way. am too fat. Has Mrs.
Sydney scarborough fallen in love
with me-? Has some imprudent person
shown her my photograph? hope not.
Heaven forbidv'
He pulled steadily at his pipe and
glanced quickly at De Chauxville
through the smoke.
NO." answered the Frenchman quite
gravely. Frenchmen, by the way. do
not admit that one may be too middle
aged Oh too stout for love- But she is
OH good terms with the prince"
(which prince?"
"Pavlo." -
The Frenchman snapped out the
word, watching the others benevolent
countenance. Steinmetz. continued to
smoke placidly and contentedly.
"My MASTER" he said at length. Il
suppose that some day he will marry"
DE Chauxville shrugged his Shout
ders. He touched the button Of the
electric bell and when the servant APP
peared ordered coffee The servant
brought the coffee, which he drank
thoughtfully.
"And why not Mrs. Sydney Bambor-
ough?" asked Steinmetz suddenly.
why not, indeedT' replied De
Chauxville. 1T is no affair of mine.
A wise, man reduces his affairs to
minimum and his interest in the af-
fairs of his neighbor to less. But /
thought it would interest you.
Thanks"
The tone of the big man in the arm
chair was not dry. Karl Steinmetz
knew better than to indulge III that
pastime. Dryness is apt to parch the
fount of responsiveness.
WHO was Sydney scarborough, at
any rate?" De Chauxville asked.
$50 far as L remember" answered
Steinmetz. The was something In the
diplomatic service"
Eyes, but what?''
'Nfy dear friend, you had better ask
his widow when next you sit beside her
at dinner"
How do you know that sat beside
her at dinner?' @ go
Il did not know it," replied Stein
metz, with quiet smile which left De
Chauxville in doubt as to whether he
was very stupid or exceedingly clever.
"She seems to be very well off"
said the Frenchman. 49,
II am glad, as she is going to marry
my master"
De Chauxville laughed almost awk-
wardly, and for fraction of second
he changed countenance under Stein
metz's quiet eyes.
zone can never know whom .wo-
man intends to marry" he said care
lessly, "even if they can themselves,
which doubt But | do not under
stand how it is that she Is so much
better, or appears to be. since the
death of her husband"
"Ah, she is much better OF, or appears
to be, since the death of her husband"
said the stout man in his slow Ger
manic way.
yes"
De Chauxville rose, stretched himself
and yawned. Men are not always. be
it understood, on their best behavior
at their club.