The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-05-05
The PeacemakSr.


! lhlHlIS Hbktls are pIONClDtdlt anu ~
hash remarked by those in a posi-
,ti8r 10 know that they are freely
ayailed e. Anyway this was true al
! the Wilmant.c. whore select coterle
of the smart set were domicilod at q
price per week which enabled the
landlord to lose shocking sums at the
| racetracks.
The starting point was Invariably
the hour Or two after dinner, when the
guests idlcd In the great rarlors, lis
tened to the orchestra and filed each
other with envy at their new gowns
and jewels. 1t was here tat Boards.
~ first noted wat a deucedly fine
woman Mrs Drayton was, Be 1t said,
however. that he noted 1t only casual
ly, and In the most discreet manner.
But it came to be quite habit for him
to hang over her chair for few mo-
ments each evening and indulge in a
few gallantries. II caused no com
ment, however, rs Beardsly was well
known 10 be thoroughly in love with
his wfe--a most ridiculous thing for
a man who had been married three
years and was living a the Wilnantic.
But then AIRS. Beardsly was remark
ably pretty woman, with her blue eyes
and golden hair. and the other men
did not wonder al all So ii was rec
ognized that Beardsly's attentions 70
Mrs Drayton were wholly innocent
and inspired entirely by social and
friendly impulse. And then. of course,
everybody at the Wilmantic under.
stood that all men admire dashing
and handsome and sparkling women
and are entitled, even compelled. to
give expression to such admiration.
But after a time a change was no
ticed In the character Of Beardsly's
devotion to the dark widow, and the
gossips--for there were gossips.
strange to say, at the Wilmantic-be-
gan to look knowingly and shake their
heads and sniff the air as though they
had caught the scent of a new scan
dal Mrs. DraytOn herself noted the
change in Beardsly's attitude first Of
all, and was somewhat battered some
what puzzled and tri1e alarmed.
He sought her side every evening
after dinner and remained there until
the company dispersed for the opera,
the receptions or the ball. And his at
tentions changed He'no longer looked
into her eyes with mild gallantry, but
with a burning admiration which sent
the blood 10 her cheeks-as expert
enced and well-controlled as was her
heart. And his words changed from
trte and meaningless pleasantries to
expressions through whose veil she
could see the threat OF pursuit.
Mrs. Drayton was not woman to
dodge such an issue or to fear it. In
fact, it was game in which she was
thoroughly experienced Had it been
Chalmers or Phelps or Mcintosh she
would have understood it and wei.
coined the contest. But Beardsly-it
puzzled her and made her a trifie
afraid, He grew persistent and man.
aged 10 get to her side at box parties
and dinners and automobile parties
and all sorts Of places. The gossips
began to watch them more closely
and "a whisper ~IShe guessed, however
with her womans instinct, that there
was more TO the situation than a mere
passion Of a man for a woman. So
she purred and waited and watched;
She was exceedingly discreet. and
v hile not repelling BeardsIy In the
least, sent him away from her time
after time when she saw that the eyes
of the gossips were upon them and
that the situation threatened to be-
come compromising But she did II
all with such adroltness that Beardsly
instead Of being offended was the
more fascinated.
The crisis came one evening when |
peardsly leaned over her chair and !
some things to her which |
were unmistakable.
A slight flush came to Mrs. Dray.
tons face.
you are a married man. Mr.. |
Beardsly." she said with some dig |
nifty
yes, but" Beardsly began /
feroe!y. But his voice died away, and /
he did not finish the sentence.
Mrs. Drayton waited patiently. She /
knew the hour had come.
Beardsly stood silent for a moment, |
then said in a clear. self controlled |
voice:
"Her interest Is elsewhere; ] am a
mere incident with her. | have tho /
light also 10 form other attachments /
Mrs. Drayion smiled inscrutably |
After all n was not her charms whict /
attracted Beardsly. but the repulsior 1
D. another woman which drew him tc /
sr side. Not so fattering to me- 4
sic thought grimly. But rather more
creditable to him"
Then with the adroitness OF a clevei /
r oman she drew him out-not By 4
questions. of course. but by opporiuni
lies for him to talk. And ne told hel
rs trouble-the trouble she hat
known all along she would learn even
.hally. She let him do it despite tbs
fact that the eyeglasses Of a d0zer
b: the worst Of the gosslps were upoI
Iiem.
L seemed that some weeks previous
y he had arrived home at an unusual
y early hour ard had stepped quickly
through his own room. throwing of
rs overcoat and hat, and entering bis