Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11
CHAPTER II.
Concerning tho Color of Mems Hair.

It was q maxim Of my Uncle William
that no man should pass through Paris
without spending four-and-twenty hours
there. My uncle spoke out Of a ripe ex-
perience Of the world. and I honored his
advice by putting up for day and q night
at The Continental on my way to-the
Tyrol. I called on George Featherly at the
embassy and VIC had bit of dinner to-
gether at Durand's. and afterward dropped
in to the opera; and after that we had q
little supper, and after that we called on
Bertram Bertrand, versifier of some re-
pute and Paris correspondent to the Critic.
He had very comfortable little suite Of
rooms, and we found some pleasant fell
lows smoking and talking. 1t struck me,
however, that Bertram himself was absent
and in low spirits, and when everybody ex-
his moping preoccupation. He fenced with
me for a while, but at last, f1inging him
self on a sofa, he exclaimed:
Very well; have 1t your own way. I am
In Intentionally in 1ove!"
''Oh, you'll write the better poetry" said
I by way Of consola ton.
He ruffled his har with his hand and
smoked furiously. George Featherly, stand
ing with his back to the mantelpiece,
smiled unkindly.
Eff it's the old affair."" said he, you may
as well throw It up, Bert. She's leaving
Paris tomorrow"
mot that 1t would make any difference II
she stayed pursued the relentless George
boy!
1T would make It more interesting for
me-" ventured to observe 'if knew who
you were talking about"
.Antoinette Mauban," said George.
DE Mauban," growled Bertram.
"Oho!" said I, passing by the question Of
the de. You don't mean to say, Bert"
Cant you let me alone?"
Where's she going tor asked, for the
lady was something of celebrity. =
George jingled his money, smiled cruelty
at poor Bertram, and answered pleasantly:
Nobody knows. By the way, Bert,
met a great man at her house the other
night-at least, about a month ago. Did
you ever meet him-the Duke of Strelsau?"
Yes, did,. growled Bertram.
"An extremely accomplished man, I
thought him."
1t was not hard to see that Georges ref
erences to the duke were intended to ag-
gravate poor Bertrams sufferings so that
/ drew the inference that the duke had dis
tinguished Nine de Mauban by his atten-
tons. She was a widow, rich, handsome,
and, according to repute, ambitious. - It
was quite possible that she. as George put
it, was flying as high as a parsonage who
was everything he could be short of enjoy
ing strictly royal rank; for the duke was
the son of the late King of Ruritania by q
second and morganatlc marriage, end half
brother to the new king. He had been his
fathers favorite, and 1t had occasioned
some unfavorable comment when he had
been created duke, with title derived
from no less a city than the capital itself.
His mother had been Of good, but not ex-
allied birth.
Hes not in Paris now. is her" asked.
'Oh, no! He's gone back to be present
at the kings coronation; ceremony which,
should say, he'll not enjoy much. But.
Bert. old man, don't despair! He won't
marry the fair Antoinette-at least not
unless another Plan comes to nothing. still;
with laugh: Royal attentions are hard
to resist-you know that, don't you, Ru-
dolf?"
"Confound your said L; and. rising, I
left the hapless Bertram in Georges hands
and went home to bed
The next day George Featherly went with
me to the station, where took ticket for
Dresden.
"Going to see the pictures? asked
George, with grin.
George is an inveterate gossip. and had !
| told him that I was off to Ruritania the
| news would have been in London in three