Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-01
CHAPTER XVI. THE PREVIOUS AFFAIR.

Mrs. Chadwick had completed her toilet and now stood smiling in most friendly fashion at the reflection in the long oval mirror She addressed this reflection in melodious tones.
 Madam, you are really handsome: and let no false modesty whisper in your ear that you are not. Few women such firm flesh. such color. Thirty eight? It is nothing. It is but the halfway post: one has left youth be- hind, but one has not reached old age. Time must be very tolerant, for he has given you careful selection. v There were no years of storm and poverty, of violent passions; and if ave truly loved, it has been you, only you. You are too wise. and worldly ; to love any one but yourself. And yet, once you stood on the precipice of dark { eyes, pale skin, and melancholy wrinkles. And even now, if he were 7 to speak Enough! Enough Of this folly. I have something to &C., ] complsh tonight" She glded from the boudoir into the small but luxuri- ous drawing-room which had often been graced by the most notable men and women in the country. . Karloff threw aside the book of !. poems by De Banville, rose, and went Z forward to meet her < Madam, ,"-bending and brushing < her hand with his lips, Madam, you { grow handsomer every day. If were 40, now, I should fear for your single blessedness."
 !. "Or, if I were two-and-twenty, in- ] stead of eght-and-thirty, beginning to draw on her long white gloves. There was challenge in her smile
 Well, yes; if you were two-and- twenty"
 "There was time not long ago." she said, drawing his gaze as magnet draws needle, when the disparity in years was of no matter
 The count laughed. That was three oa years ago: and if my memory serves me. you smiled"
 Perhaps I was first to smile; that is all"
 q observe a mental reservation, "- owlishly.
 T will put it plainly. then. pre- ferred to smile over your protestations rather than see you laugh over the possibility and the folly of my loving you"
 "Then it was possible?"-with inter- est. -ff
 Everything is possible and often absurd"
 ''How do you know that I was not truly in love with you?"-narrowing his eyes"
 Tt is not explanatory; it can be given only one .name-instinct, which in women and animals is more fully s developed than in man. Besides, at that time you had not learned all about Colonel Annesley. whose guests We are to be this evening. Whoever would have imagined Karloff accepting the Inequalities of an Annesley? Count hath not thy rose a canker?"
 Madam" Karloff was drowning
 Count, you look like a paladin when you scowl but scowling never induces anything but wrinkles. That is why we women frown so seldom. We smile. But let us return to your query. Sup posing had accepted your declarations seriously: supposing you had offered me marriage in that burst of gratitude: supposing I had committed the folly of becoming a countess, what posi- ton should be in today"
 'I do not understand, d,'-perplexedly.
 "No?"-shrugging She held forth a eloved arm. Have you forgotten how gaIlantly you used to button my gloves?"
 "A thousand pardons! My mind was long supposition" He took the arm gracefully and proceeded to slip the pearl buttons through their holes (Have you ever buttoned the gloves of a handsome woman? I have. And there is a subtitle thrill about the pro- ceeding which ran not quite define Perhaps it is the nearness of physical beauty: perhaps il is the delicate scent ef flowers: perhaps it is the touch of the cool. firm flesh: perhaps it is just romancel The gaze which she bent upon his dark head was emotion al; yet there was not the slightest tremor of arm or fingers. It is possi- ble that she desired him to observe the s,eadiness Of her nerves. What did you mean" he asked
 What did mesn?--vsguely. Her thought had been elsewhere.
 'By that supposition.
 "Oh. I mean that my position. had I married you. would have been rather anomalous today" She extended the other arm. You are in love
 Tn love- He looked ID quickly,
 Decidedly. and had always doubted your ospaciiy for that senti- ] msnt-'
 And pray tell ne. with whom am ] in love-
 Come. Count. vOa and kno- earh other tco well 10 waste time in besting sbout the bushes do not blame you for loving her. only. say. + must not be.-
 ~NHs, not be- The counts voioe rcss a ksy.