Middletown transcript., 1907-05-18
rooNrrsUrD FROM LAST WEEK.

narrow stairway and into her.
apartment. She took of her coat
and hat and gloves in the dim
light that filtered through the
windows. Then she lay down
upon the couch, and for the first
time since she disappeared
from a world in which no Van
derveck had ever been pitied or
patronized she cried softly.
Meanwhile the French woman
who condescended to minister
to the palates of the Belmore fam
lily, when that family was not
globetrotting, was hurryingiback
toward Fifth Avenue as fast as
two hundred pounds of flesh and
embarrassing shortness OF breath
would allow. She must see Wat
kins. She must tell him the
news.
AS the fat little woman turned
into the avenue a man came
down the steps of a big brick
house and paused for moment
to light his cigar.
Francoise, skurrying Watkins
ward, was yet not blind to the
merits of other masculinity. Her
glance took in the tall, immacu-
lately clad figure appreciatively.
1t was a portly tigure-a figure
,coquetting with embonpoint yet
lingering on the hither side
of discretion's boun dary-line.
There are men who, exude
prosperity at the pores, and
Dudley Broughton's prosperity,
while not aggressive, was subtly
and inextinguishably self-asser'
tive. He had been born to the
material good things and he had
not thrown away his birthright.
Possibly he had allowed it to
assume undue proportion in his
scheme of life; yet the man was
no sensuallst-merely self absorb
ed and self indulgent, after the
manner of men for whom life has
been made comfortable.
Francoise, looking at the hand
some, Indifferent face, illumined
by the lighted match, gave a dra-
matte start. This was her
day of sensations; and, being
French, she appreciated it. Why
turn ones back upon Heaven
sent opportunity? If he did not
care to know no harm would be
done. If he had heart-this
Monsieur Broughton who had
seemed the favored one in the
days when the old house on
Washington Square held its own
and the servants hall buzzed with
gossip about the mistress and her
admirers-he would rejoice.
Mademoiselle had commanded
that no one should be told. Oh,
la, la! If one did only what was
commanded the world would be
of a slowness.
"Monsieur."
Dudley Broughton took his
cigar from his lips and lifted his
hat slightly.
FRANCHISE spurred her courage.
"Monsieur would not remem.
bert is not to be expected
but in the old days he was grac-
-ious enough to praise my sole aw
Vin blanc"
"Francoise, p" he said. II m AXE
you my homage. There is no other
cook in New York who could
equal it."
A smile flashed into the mans
face. "Francoise, you were with
the Vandervecks. | remember
you perfectly. I remember the
the sole, too. / begged to be
presented to YOU"
s'Yes, Monsieur F; and Miss
Vanderveck sent for me. All,
Monsieur,it is because of her that
I have spoken to you. Iapologize,
but when the heart speaks one
does the thing impulsive. Me,
Monsieur; I am all heart" O
She pressed chubby hand
against her breast.
Dudley Broughton's placid face
had sharpened slightly.
"What do you know of her ?"
he asked.
The shrewd little French wo-
man heard the ring of interest in
his voice and mentally applauded
herself.
ST have but just left her. Mon
sieur."
"Here In New York ?"
''Of a surety, Monsieur"
"She is living here?
"Since the first Of the MONTH"
''But where? How ?"
He pulled himself up suddenly.
One is not a boy at fifty, and one
does not make a confdant of a
stranger whom one meets on the