The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-10-26

ternoon. ! am stopping at the Con
tinental. you know
He had heard that she was staying
at the Gordon House but Dame Ru-
NOR Is uncertain authority.
In case YOU forget, | shall write
ii On your card she continued with a
tone of Coquetry, Perhaps you
would like Mile, Dupont's autograph.
lhave been told formerly that It was a
much valued possession. Your pencil.
! please
August Parker rushed in at that
moment, dripping with rain, his hand
some evening clothes ruined and his
temper IN not much better condition,
Thomas has at last arrived. Miss
Farnley, he burst forth, utterly ignor.
ing Faircourt's presence. After hunt.
ing all over town for him, or some
other carriage, ! met him at the cor.
ner, driving leisurely along. He said
that Nancy fell down and SO he wen
to the stable for another horse. The
scoundrel! to keep YOU waiting this
long, and all alone, too"
Either the girls slight smile, or the
calm ensuing after his storm of words,
caused Parker to notice Faircourt for
the first time, A slight frown gathered
between his brows. But the girl was
not to be dauntcd now.
MT Faircourt, allow me to present
Mr. pprLar ~ cha gniI ~u,,I,tly
Both men acknowledged the intro
duction somewhat stifly. The situa'
ton was strained.
I'VE must hurry, the folks will be
worried the girl continued. 'Au re.
yoir, Monsieur" she murmured softly.
She did not glance Al his face as
she spoke. His eyes, however, were
avertcd. lie seemed not to hear the
whispered farewell. But the girl did
not soon forget the tall, erect figure,
standing motionless In the brightly
lighted lobby. She felt her "au re-
yolr" slightly inadequate.
John F%aircourt stood as m Btun-
ned. He heard the door close after
them, he heard the creaking of the Ice
under their feet and the horses slip
ping as the carriage started, but all
as In a dream.
1t was only as a gay group came
laughing and talking into the lobby
that he fully realized the situation.
Five or six men surrounded a flashily
dressed actress and banded jokes
with her.
i wager a diamond sunburst. II Ia
so" he heard me eXclaim. Another
shouted, Good boy, the governor must
have struck II rich in Texas"
I'm take o up on It." a laughing
feminine voice replied. AT this, all
the men laughed loudly.
What is the fair Dupont's' stalker"
asked one.
"A kiss. III have a kiss or nothing"
cried the one who had made the bet.
All the men clapped him on the back
and urged him on.
ITS a co." she cried. with a bold
glance, but I'll win" she added. with
a laugh In which all the men Joined.
These were the parting words that
TT2birc"s an,B seard IA as brIny him hin" baaicaEs"Go
earth with a thud.
The fair Dupont" Of the wager was
Mile. Dupont, the beautiful French
actress he had worshiped from afar.
He recognized the red gold hair, the
fair, painted skin, the carmined lips
and graceful form. The voice, too.
with Its slight accent called up the
Camille Of the play.
But all were robbed Of the glamor
the stage had lent them, all stood out
boldly In their a%rtiiciality. She was
not the woman he had worshlped from
afar.
He clenched his fist suddenly and
his fingers crushed the card that lay
within, forgotten until now--the card
that other one had given him. He
smoothed out the crumpled paste.
board and read the written words:
Can you forgive a girl whose love
Of adventure overpowered her sense
of propriety and kindness? When
you said you were a stranger | knew
you had not heard Of my strange like
ness to Mile. Dupont, 80 ] yielded to
my love of a practical Joke. Eliza.
beth Farnley.'
IT was written very fine and on both
sides of the small card.
Faircourt felt strangely dazed. He
turned abruptly and went out into the
driving rain. The only ray Of hope in
the whole confusion was the Eau re.
voir, monsieur and he determined
that, II possible, It should not be
~"good.byl"
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