Charlevoix county herald., 1906-10-27

tinental,' you know"
He had heard that she was staying
at the Gordon House, but Dame Ru
NOR is uncertain authority.
I'm case you forget, ] shall write
il on your card" she continued with a
tone of coquetry. Perhaps you
would like Mile. Dupont's autograph.
Ihave 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 Faircourts 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 went
10 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,
the first time. A slight frown gathered
between his hrows. But the girl WIS
not to be daunted now.
Mr.. Faircourt, allow me to present
Mr.. Parker" she said quietly.
Both men acknowledged the intro
duction somewhat stiffiy. The situa-
ton was strained
We must hurry; the folks will be
worried" the girl continued. 'Au re-
voir, Monsieur" she murmured softly.
She did not glance at his face as
she spoke. His eyes, however, were
averted. He 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 hec eau re-
voir" slightly inadequate.
John Faircourt stood as one stun
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 dream.
It was only as gay group came
laughing and talking into the lobby
that he fully realized the situation.
Five or six men surrounded flashily
dressed actress and banded jokes
with her.
II wager a diamond sunburst, IL is
SO" he heard one eXclaim. Another
shouted, Good boy, the go>srnor must
have struck it rich in Texas"
I'll take you up on it," laughing
feminine voice replied. At this, all
the men laughed loudly.
What is the fair Dupont's' stake?"
asked one
"A kiss. I'll have 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 bold
glance, but I'll win," she added, with
a laugh in which all the men joined.
These We're the parting words that
Faircourt heard as the door closed.
They sufficed to bring him back to
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 artifciality. She was
not the woman he had worshiped 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 stranger / knew
you had not heard of my strange like
ness to Mile. Dupont, SO l yielded to
my love of a practical joke. Eliza.
beth Farnley.''
1t 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, il possible, it should not be
"good-by."
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