The Washington times., 1906-10-07
DOUBLE

as-as you used to describe meat the
reception. Good nigAt! Good night"
He once more violated the Brassheld
traditions; he simply raised her hand
10 his lips and kissed il. To do more
he reit would spoil an. Sine went in,
more nearly happy than at any time
since his return, but soreiy puzzled.
81 shah never understand him. she
thought
Mrs. Major Pumphrey. standing in
line with Miss Scarlet and Mrs.
Pumphrey-s sister from Wisconsin;
a procession of people coming In by
twos and threes, and steercd BY at
tendants into rooms for dofiing wraps;
chain or de-Wrappcd human beings
circulating past The receiving line and
listening 10 Mrs. Pumphrey's assur-
ances that she was delighted 10 well
come them that she might have the
pleasure OF introducing them 10 her
slster-and OF course tney knew Miss
Scarlet. m italian harper who played
ceaselessiy among palms. "A punch
bowl presided over by Flossie Smith
and Mrs Alvordi melange OF black
coats. pretty froCks and white arms
and shoulders. a glare OF lights. a hum
like "A hives-in short. "a reception.
such was the function to which Flor
Ian made his way. waiting until he
could arrive concomitantly with the
Waldrou carriage so that he might
hand the ladies therefrom, and receive
from his divinity a Httle. uncertain
pressure OF the hauC. Then came his
respects 20 Mrs. Pdmphrey Amidon
started as he recognized I'm the bright
haired second pers)n I'm line his fairy
Of the bliustrade
so delighted TO see Won here. Mr..
RrassfeldI' said Mrs PumphTey. 1T
gives me the opportunity OF presenting
YOU to-why. Daisy where's your
auntie gomez She was here just
now
"She was called away for few mo-
meuts." said Miss Scarlet Yes ] be
lleye Mr.. BrassheId and I have met
this with an lcv bow-"and please
Mr. Cox. don't go, until 7 have told
YOU the end OF the story And she
went on vivaclously chatting 70 Billy
Cox. who had moored himself as close
TO her MS the tide 0S guests sweeping
by her would permit Which current
swept MT Amjdon OF ward as ne was
ln the act OF assuri1r his hostess OF
his sense Of loss IN her sisters abb
sence-Unu an eddy left him IN
quiet corner where he found absorb
ing occupation IN trying 10 imagine
again as vlvidlv as possible that pres
sure OF the hand Was Il meant as sn
evidence OF affection or did her foot
slip. so that she cluug 90 his hand
10 prevent a faU2 This question seem
od OF the most trausceudent import
ance 20 him. and he debated Il mem
tally all the evening. as he talked the
set conversation Of such an occasion
Tie knew no one; but every one knew
him. vet he had no difficulty IN getting
on. because there was no sense IN any
~ the conversation. He could answer
all the remarks regarding hts new
role Of political leader without com
mirtng himself TO anything serious.
Bright eyes flashed meaning and soul
ful elaucas into hts. as sweet lips said
things which lie could answer quite
Hs wei as 70 the context or the con.
versation had been as familiar 20 him
rs it was supposed 20 be Plautudes
EeueralitIes. inanit!es; and inanlties
ulatudes and generaIltes in reply
Amidon looked the part Of Brassheld
perfectly. and on occasions Of this sort
90 look the part ia quite enough
He found Elizabeth again. surround
ed bv a circle Of admirers-men and
womeu-an oasis Of Intelligence Il
seemed 20 him as he listened IN a
desert Of twaddle She smiled al him
with her ewes. as he looked AZ her
- Z
won 70 a place by her side, the tide
was sent flooding into a large room
where. tt was announced, Prof. Blath-
erwlcz and Madame Ie Claire we're do
ing feats Of oacultlsm.
"Laties ant sheutIemCn"-lt was the
professor who spoke, you are az lip
ertv. Of course. to adopt any teory
vich seems 20 vow Euot To nKgshla'n
desc phenomena. Madame 10 Claire
offers none Ven she hass produced 10
phenomena. she 'qs-she Iss all IN, II
Gey. seem TO YOU 70 be de work. or It's
empodieG spirits, fery well-Eoot,
Sometimes it seems so To her II you
rekard letchertemaln as a sufficient
working hypo'esis, Wy. letchertema'n
goes. and upon dat hypotesis We VIII
continue TO work de miracles ant de
public Id Iss kvlte De same TO Ma
dame ie Claire. T. iss only fair % say.
howefer. dat she hass refer vet de-
tectrd herself IN any fraut. Bud she
offers no egEsblanation; she chust
giles desc tests for your gonsltera-
ton"
A ripple OF laughter and a buzz Of
interested comment ran through the
room.
"But how was it possible FOR her %
get her hands loose" said one.
4 assure YOU" sa ID Mrs. Meyer. she
of the Parsifal impressions, and the
wife Of the Hebrew leader or the Cen
tile mob who went down the line" for
NcCorkle the night before the eau
Cuse=, At assure YOU that what she
told me was unknown not only 90
every one else but 10 me also; but IL
turned out true. It's uncannyr
IT'S humbug.' said the bass voice
n DIT. Brown. and until you show me
the source Of this occult energy L
shah SO contend. Animal magnetism
and slcight-of-handa What do YOU
think, Mrs. Hunter"
Amidou looked across and saw-Mrs.
Hunter. of Hazelhurst. 1t was she
and her daughter from whom he had
bashfully flown 10 The tlffct just be-
fore he aBghted from the train at Elm
Springs Junction AS he Looked al her