Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-13
XIV.
An Ordeal or Two.

v.ty down nth street that afternoon and
i; Was in front of fashionable apartment
house that | met him. He was seated on
his box, the whip at the proper angle, and
his eyes riveted on his pairs ears 1t was
the first time l had seen him since the day
of tie episode at the police station. He
was growing thin. He did not me, and
lie did not even notice me till / stopped and
the sound of my heels on the walk ceased.
Arms akimbo. l surveyed him.
''Well?" 1 began. l admit tfat the smile
/ offered him was deal like that winch d
cat offers "A cOTneTed mouse.
He turned his head. / shall not repeat the
word lie muttered. 1t was very improper,
tough they often refer to 1t in the SaDUath
schools, always in a hushed breath, now
ever. as though to full-voice 1t would only
far The flames still higher.
What have you to say for yourselt?' L
went
Nothing for myself, but for you move
on and let me alone. or when L get the OPP
portunity. Chuck, I'll punch your head
glasses or no glasses.
''Erother-n-law or no brother-in-iaw.'
&C buck VII you go on?"-hoarsely. Il
mean it..
saw that he did. You don't look very
happy for a man who has cracked so ire
eadouS n joke
"NIll you go along?'
Not till l get good and ready. James.
I've told too many lies on your account al
ready not to make myself a present of of
any idea of the imposture?''
He did not answer.
How did you like waiting in Scott Circle
tie other n,ght?"
sim no answer have half an idea that
he was making ready to leap from his box
He ran his fingers up and down the lines
/ could see that he mad through ana
through; but l enjoyed the scene neverthe-
less. He deserved a little roasting on the
gridiron.
Il am given to understand" l continued.
''tl:at YOU act as butler. besides. and pass
the soup around the table.
Silence Then l heard door close ana
saw Il look of despair grow on his face. L
turned and saw Miss Annesley and Mrs.
Chadwick coming down the steps
''Why. how do you do, Mr.. Henderson?
Mrs. Chadwick"
II have already had the pleasure of meet
ing this famous young orator. purred Mrs.
Chadwick. giving me her hand. She was a
fashionable. not to say brilliant, int1igante.
/ knew her to have been concerned 1ndi-
rectly with half dozen big lobby schemes.
She was rather wealthy. But she was seen
everywhere, and everywhere was admired.
She was as completely at home abroad as
here in Washington. She was a widow,
perhaps thirty-eight. handsome and fasci-
mating a delightful raconteur. and had the
remarkable reputation of never indulging in
scandal She was the repository of more
secrets than | should care to discover
I recall one night at a state function
when she sat between the French ambas-
SadOr ana lIldi WHY tHIIdiIIdil, LII IluiiS
Chang She discoursed wines in French
with the ambassador and Immediately
turned to the Chinaman and recited Con-
fucius in the original Chinese Where she
had ever found time to study Chinese is a
mystery to every one. The incident made
her quite famous that winter. Brains are
always tolerated in Washington, and If
properly directed. push person good
deal further than wealth or pedigree. Wash
ington forgiyes everything but stupidity.
Not until recently did l learn that at
one time karloff had been very attentive
to her. His great knowledge of American
politics doubtless came to him through her.
Where are you bound?' asked Miss An
nesley.
I'm on the way to the War Department"
Plenty Of room: jump in and shall
drop you there. James drive to the War
Department"
Ordinarily 1 should have declined. as 1
generally prefer TO walk; but in this in
stance it would be superfiuous to say that
I was delighted to accept the invitation l
secretly Rugged myself as l thought of the
driver.
How is Miss Warburton?" asked Miss
Annesley, as she settled back among the
cushions.
beautiful as ever" 1 replied. smiling
happily.
speaking to Mrs. Chadwick. who looked at
me with polite inquiry. One of the most
charming girls in the land, and as good as
she is beautiful. Mr.. Henderson Is the
most fortunate OF young
so 1 admit. She was greatly disap-
pointed that you did not meet her younger
brother" First shot at the groom
II did expect to meet him, but / under
stand that he has gone hunting eXpe-
dition. Whom does he resemble?'
Neither Nancy nor Jack | said. He's
a good-looking beggar. though, only you
can't depend upon him for FIVE minutes at
a time. Hadn't seen the family in more
than two years. Spends one night at home.
and is off again. no one knows where.
Some persons like him. but / like man
with more stability. Not but what he has his
good points; but he is Il born vagabond His
brother expects to get him a berth at vi
emma and is working rather successfully to-
ward that end" | wondered how this bit of
news affected the groom,
"A diplOmat?' said Mrs. Chadwick. That
Is the life for young man with brains. Is
he a good lingu 81 o.
Capital, Speaks French. German and
Spanish. besides | don't know how many
Indian sign languages" Now l was pat
ting the groom on the back l sat facing
the ladies. 50 it was impossible to see the
expression on his face. l kept up this ban
ter till we arrived at the department.
bade the lad es gopd-day. | do not recol-
iect when enjoyed ten minutes more thor
oughly
An hour in the shopping district. that is
to say. up and down PENNSYLVANIA avenue,
where everybody who was anybody was
similarly occupied. shopping. nearly took
the spine out of our jehu. Everywhere he
Imagined ne saw Nancy And half a dozen
times he saw persons whom he knew, per-
sons ne had dined with in New York PEI
sons he had met abroad. But true to hui
man nature. they were looking toward
higher things than groom in livery When
there was no more room for bundles the
women started for Mrs. Chadwicks apart
ments
Said Mrs. Chadwick in French: Where,
in the name of uncommon things, did you
find such handsome groom
Il was rather lucky" replied Miss Annes-
ley in the same tongue. Don't YOU see
something familia, about him."
Warburton shudJared
Familiar? What do you mean?"
1t is the groom who ran away with US. "
Heavens. nO!' Mrs Chadwick raised hel
lorgnette. Whatever possessed your
Mischief, as much as anything"
but the risk
Il am not afraid There was something
about him that appeared very much like
q mystery, and you know how / adore mys
teries"
And this is the fellow we saw in the
police court, sitting among those light O
1oyes?' Mrs. Chadwick could not fully ex.
press her surprise
Il can't analyze the impulse which
prompted me to pay his fine and engag,
him"
And after that affair at the carriag,
door, Where is your pride?"
ITO tell the truth. believe lie did max
L