Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-24

CHAPTER XIV.
a FINE LOVER.

q run llitt 10 llUlt some news or MN
filters through the diplomatic circles
OF half dozen capitals 70 Washington
The latest I heard OF him. ne was az
Port Arthur. It was evident that Rus
STA valued his personal address too
highly to exile him because OF his fail
ure IN Washington. Had he threat
ened or gone about noisily. we should
all have forgotten him completely As
Il is, the memory OF him to-day is as
vivid as his actual presence. Thus. 1
give him what dramatists call an
agreeable exit
was in the Baltimore and Potomac
station the morning after that unfor-
getable night az Senator Blanks house
I had gone there 90 see about the &c
parture OF night trains preparatory 90
making iying trip 90 New York. and
was leaving the station when a gloved
hand touched mo ON the arm. Tho
hand belonged 10 Mrs Chadwick. She
was dressed in the conventional travel
ing gray. and but for the dark lines
under her eyes she would have made a
picture for any man 90 admire She
looked tired. vcrv tired as women look
who have not slept well
Good morning Mr.. Orator." sho
said. saluting me with a smile
you are going awav?" asked
shaking her hand cordially.
WAY. way away, 7 am leaving
for Nice. where 7 intend TO spend the
winter had intended 20 remain In
Washington tin the holidays: but
plead guilty 20 a rowing disposition.
and I frequently change my mind"
'WOman's most charming preroaa-
tive" said 7 calamity.
What a mask the human countenance
Isl How little 7 dreamed that ] was
testing with a woman whose heart
was breaking. and numbed with ter
rihle pain,
Her maid came MP 90 announce that
everything was ready for her reception
in the statn-room and that the train
was about to draw out OF the station.
Mrs Chadviei and 7 bade each other
good-hv. Two years passed before 7
saw her arain
At eleven o'clock 7 returned 20 my
rooms TO pack a case and have the
thing or INV mind T-amrinc restless
r. ur and down before my bachelor
apartment house discerned Msieu
Thames Uis face was male and trou-
bled but the a0rle of his Jaw told
me that Dc he'd determined upon
somethinc OF other
"Ha,' ! said r7uinclv. Tie wore a
dccently resnerf9hle suit of ready-made
clothes. "Loet roTr fob and want me
TO give YOU q re-ommendaton?
81 want few words with you.
Chuck. and no foo,ing. Don't say that
YOU can't spare the time You've sim
ply got TO-"
with whom am 20 talk. James.
the groom. or Warburton. the gentle
man."
'You arc Co talk with the man whose
sister you are 90 marry"
7 became curious. naturally. mo
police AFFAIR.""
''No. fits not the police. I can verv
well go 70 a lawyer. but I desire ABB
solute secrecy Let as 30 up TO your
rooms at once"
I led the way. was beginning TO
desire TO know what all this meant.
HAS anybody recognized your" I
asked. unlocking the door 10 my apart
ment
''No; and I shouldn't care a hang II
they had"
"Ohol"
Warburton flung himself into a chair
and lighted a cigar He puffed IL rap
idly, while I got together my shaving
and toilet sets
start her up" said I.
Chuck. when my father died he
left nearly a quarter OF a million in
five per cents; that IS to say. Jack,
Nancy and I were given a yearly in
come Of about $4,000. Nancys portion
and mine are still In bonds which do
not mature till 1900 Jack has made
several bad investments. and about
half Of his Is gone. but his wife has
plenty. so his losses do not trouble
him Now, I have been rather frugal
during the past seven years. ! have
lived entirely upon my army pay.
must have something like $40 00O ly-
ing IN the bank In New York On Mon
day. between three and four o'clock,
Col Annesley will become practically
a beggar. pauper."
''What?" Ny shaving mug slipped
from my hand and crashed to the floor,
where II lay in hundred pieces.
yes. He and his daughter will not
have a roof OF their own: all gone,
every stick and stone. Don't ask any
questions; only do as ask OF you"
He took out his check-book and filled
out two blanks. These he handed TO
me. The large one I went you to
place in the Union bank, to the credit
OF Col. Annesley."
] looked at the check. Twenty
thousand dollars?" I gasped.
The Union bank has this day dis
counted the colonel's note. II falls
due on Monday. In order to meet II.
he will have to sell what Is left OF
the Virginia estate and his fine horses.
The interest viii be inconsiderable."