Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-06-04
A Blight.
fortrinnl1

Elmer Throop at school and college
was a promising young man. After re-
cciving his education he went abroad
20 complete medical studies In Paris.
At his departure be was FUN OF hope.
life. vigur He returned changed
man. His exuherant spirits We're re
placed by a melancholy lie Stunned
social life and for several years Instead
90 prncticlng his profession ala moth
INK lie never will bee the man he
would have been because 81 an episode
that occurred 90 him while abroad.
Ia Paris Throop fell In with FLIP
Marchand. a man ten years older than
himself with whom he became init
mate. MarChand was not n medical
mnu. He appeared 20 be gentleman
OF means. hailing from the south OF
France. He and Throop usually dined
together az cafe and when not other
wise engaged visited places OF amuse-
ment Tn company. One evening after
Ihroop had beer out TO a social gather
Ing he called at Marchand's rooms In
an ecstasy over a woman he had met
there Mile. Annette Beauchemln.
What IL she llkeT" asked his friend.
Tai, fair hair light as a Swede's.
blue eyes. But all this Is nothing com
pared with an indescribable expression,
an expression that denotes n depth of
character to M her 90 be a queen"
Ihruop did not rest TIN he had called
upon Mile Beauchemln. His infatua-
ton did not cool ON the contrary. II
grew apace, FED by a mystery that
hung about the lady. Her name was
French. and she claimed 10 be a
FreuchwomRn. but she spoke the Ian
guage with an accent She explained
this 10y saying that she had lived much
IN other countries She was about
TROOPS age and lived alone with a
maid In an apartment whose furnish
iugs denoted that she was possessed OF
considerable means. What people she
knew were OF the best. but she knew
very few and did not seem 20 care 20
know more For one so well fitted 60
shine Ia society she seemed slngularly
averse to A. Indeed, Throop found II
Impossible 20 Induce her TO appear with
him In public
All this the young doctor communi.
Gated to his friend II fear something
wrong about her. he added, "and II
there Is ! shall be- wrecked man. for
feel that my very life Is dependent
upon her. ] lm gaining her affection
that I know but n there Is any OBJ
stacle TO marriage what VIII II DO
worth 10 mcT"
Il will give YOU a plan 10y which you
may lind ont all about her" said Mar
chand. If you can contriye 20 put II In
practice. A woman's history Is writ.
ten Ia her clothes. Get sight Of her
wardrobe. and YOU shall know all"
tn" Idea. az first secuted, took hold
Of Ihroop, aud one afternoon. having
called con Mile. Beauchemln when she
was not at home, he told her maid that
lie would wait for her to come In. The
maid was about 20 go out herself. but.
knowing Of TROOPS intimacy with her
mistress, lcft him in the apartments.
The temptation was too great ts be re-
sisted. lie went into the different
rooms aud Inspected the wardrobe.
The costumes varied A few were
rich. others ordinary, and there was
one that he thought should have be.
lpugcd tO "a peasant. What surprised
him was fur trimmings on most Of the
garments, uud fur wraps were IN album
dance But when he came upon n
mans suit with hat and boots, he was
astuuished. dismayed.
Returning 10 the living room. he
wrote with n feverlsh hand a few
words ON his card giving an excuse for
not waiting and hastily left the apart
meuts. From there he went straight
90 his friends rooms Marchand no
ticcd that there was something on his
mind. but waited ull he should e1.
press &C. The confidence did not come
at once, but Throop finally told the
whole story. asking at the finish:
What DO you think e meansP'
1T is mystery Indeed" replied
Murchand 'aul looks bad I would
advise you o. cut madem0l-elIe out OF
your heart Go home 90 America and
marry some One who docsnt need peas
ants dresses and mems suits And
now must leave you Tomorrow
expect Ia gp away from Paris. not o.
return Tor some time guudby."
1hroop was too intent upon the rev
clatlous and their possible consequences
o. himself % think much about bis
friends departure
The next morning ho arose and went
e. H cafo Tor breakfast After giving
his order hD lauaulIIs ~s-~--- . -