Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-24
XIV.
A Fine Lover.

some news OF him nIterS through Inc Oiplo-
matte circles of half a dozen capitals to
Washington. The latest heard of him, he
was at Port Arthur 1t was evident that
Russia valued his personal address too
highly to exile him because of his failure
in Washington. Had he threatened or gone
about noisily, we should all have forgotten
him completely. AS it is, the memory of
him today is as vivid as his actual presence
Thus, / give him what dramatists call an
agreeable exit.
was in the Baltimore and Potomac sta
ton the morning after that linforgettable
might at Senator Blanks house. l had gone
there to see about the departure of night
trains preparatory to making a flying trip
10 New York, and was leaving the station
when a gloved hand touched me on
the arm. The hand belonged to Mrs.
Chadwick. She was dressed in the conven-
uonal travelling gray, and but for the dark
lines under her eyes she would have made
a picture for any man to admire. She look
ed tired, very tired, as women look who
have not slept well.
Good morning Mr. Orator" she said,
saluting me with smile:
You are going away? l asked, shaking
her hand cordially.
Way, way. awayi / am leaving for
Nice, where l expect to spend the winter. I
had intended to remain in Washington till
the holidays; but plead guilty to a rowing
disposition, and / frequently change my
mind"
"Woman's most charming prerogative,"
said /, calamity.
How little l dreamed that 1 was testing
with woman whose heart was breaking,
and Eumbed with terrible pain!
Her maid came up to announce that
the state room, and that the train was
about to draw out of the station. Mrs.
Chadwick and / babe each other goodbye
Two years passed before l saw her again.
- Il nd RI
pack case and have the thing off my
mind. Tramping restlessly up and down
before my bachelor apartment house dis
cerned M'sieu Thames. His face was pale
and troubled, but the angle of his jaw told
me that he had determined upon something
or other.
"Har' I said railingly He wore de-
Gently respectable suit of ready-made
clothes. Lost your job and want me to
give you a recommendation?
II want few words with you, Chuck.
and no fooling. Don't say that you can't
spare the time. You We simply got to-
with whom am 1 to talk. James, the
groom. or Warburton, the gentleman?''
''You are to talk with the man whose
sister you are to marry.
/ became curious, naturally. mo police
affair."
mo, it's not the police. I can very well
go to a lawyer, but i desire absolute
secrecy. Let US go up to your rooms at
once"
1 led the way. 1 was beginning to desire
to know what all this meant.
Has anybody recognized you?" asked,
unlocking the door to my apartment
No; and shouldn't care hang if they
had"
..Ohom
warburton flung himself into a chair
and lighted a cigar. He pulled 1t rapidly.
while 1 got together my shaving and
toilet sets.
start her up" said L
Chuck, when my father died he left
nearly a quarter of million IN hVe per
cents; that is to say, Jack, Nancy and L
were given a yearly income of about
forty-five hundred. Nancy's portion and
mine are still in bonds which do not ma
ture till 1900. Jack has made several bad
Investments. and about half of his Is
gone; but his wife has plenty, so his
losses do not trouble him. Now, l have
been rather frugal during the past seven
years / have lived entirely upon my
army pay. 1 must have something like
twenty-five thousand living in the bank
in New York. On Monday, between three
and four o'clock, Col. Annesley will be-
come practically a beggar, pauper
What" My shaving mug slipped from
my hand and crashed to the floor, where
it lay in hundred pieces.
Yes. He and his daughter Will not
have a roof of their own; all gone, every
stick and stone Don't ask me any ques-
tions only do as l ask of you. He took
out his check book and filled out two
blanks These he handed to me. ''The
Union Bank, to the credit OF Col Annes-
ley
/ looked at the check. Twenty thousand
doIlars?' l gasped.
.SThe Union Bank has this day discounted
the colonePs note. 1t falls due on Monday.
In order to meet it he will have to sell
what is left of the Virginian estate and ms
fine horses. The interest Will De lhcohslo-
cradle"
what began, but he interrupted me-
Il shall not answer single question The
check for three thousand is for the purchase
of the horses, which VIII be put on sale
Saturday morning. They are easily worth
this amount. Through whatever agency
you please, buy these horses for me- but
not in my name. AS for the note, cash my
check first and present the currency for the
note No one will know anything about it
then. You cannot trace money"
Good Lord. Bob you are crazy! You
are giving away a fortune" demonstrated
1T is my own. and my capital remains
untouched"
Have you told her that you love her?
Does she know who you are?' L was very
much excited.
"No."-sadly. "I haven't told her that 1
love her She does not know who | am.
What is more, l never want her to know.
i have thrown my arms roughly aroma
her, thinking her to be Nancy, and have
kissed her. Some reparation is due her
On Monday ! shall pack up quietly and re-
turn TO the west"
"Annesley beggared? What in heavens
name does tHlS all mean. was Cou-
founded.
Some day, Chuck. when you have en-
tered the family properly as my sister $
husband, perhaps l may confide in you. At
present the secret isn't mine. Let 1t suf-
fee that through peculiar circumstances tie
father of the girl | love is ruined. l am
not doing this for any theatrical play, graf
b itude and all that rot,'-with half smile
IL admire and respect Col. Annesley; love
his daughter, hopeIessly enough. l have
never been of much use to any one. other
7 persons troubles never worried me to any
extent: 1 was happy go-lucky, careless ana
thoughtless. True, never passed beggar
without dropping a coin into his cup. But
often this act was the result of a good din
ner and a special vintage. The twenty
thousand will keep the colonefs home, the
house his child was born in and her mother
before her i am doing this crazy thing, as
you call It, because it is going to make me
rather happy. 1 shall disappear Monday.
They may or they may not suspect who has
I come to their aid. They may even trace
/ the thing to you; but you viii be honor
/ bound to reveal nothing. When you have
/ taken up the note mail it to Annesley You
will find Count Karloffs name ON IT,
"Karloff?' / was in utter darkness
Yes Annesley borrowed twenty thou
sand of him on three months note. Both
men are well known at the Union Bank.
Karloff having a temporary large deposit