The Glenwood post., 1907-02-02
Copyright, 1905. by Bobbs-Merrill Col
CHAPTER /.

ture. one does not nave to scale It's
beetling parapets or assault its Scarps
and frowning bastio-s; neither is one
obliged to force with clamor and blar-
ing trumpets and glittering sorgets
the drawbridge and portcullis. Rather
the pathway lies through one of those
many little doors, obscure. yet easily
accessible, latchless and boltless, to
which the average person gives no
particular attention, and yet which in
variably lead to the very heart of this
Castle Delectable. The whimsical
chatelaine of this enchanted keep is
shy goddess. Circumspection has no
part in her affairs, nor caution, nor
practically; nor does her eye linger
upon the dullard and the blunderer.
Imagination solves the secret riddle,
and wit is the guide that leads the
seeker through the winding, bewilder-
ing labyrinths.
And there is something in being
idle, too!
If l had not gone idly into Mou-
qun's cellar for dinner that night,
should have missed the most engaging
adventure that ever fell to my lot. 1t
is second nature for me to be guided
by impulse rather than by reason;
reason is always so square-toed and
impulse is always so alluring. You
will find that nearly all the great
captains were and are creatures of
impulse; nothing brilliant is ever
achieved by calculation. All this is
not to say that l am a great captain;
it is offered only to inform you that
l am often impulsive.
A Times, four days old; and if l
hadn't fallen upon it to pass the
tVenty-odd minutes between my order
and the service of it, shouldn't have
made the acquaintance of the police
in that pretty little suburb over in
New Jersey; nor should ! have met
the enchanting Blue Domino; nor
would fate have written kismet. The
clairvoyant never has any fun in this
| cycle; he has no surprises.
/ had been away from New York
for several weeks, and had returned
only that afternoon. Thus, the spirit
of unrest acquired by travel was still
upon me. 1t was nearly holiday week,
| and those congenial friends l might
| have called upon, to while away the
evening, were either busily occupied
with shopping or were out of town;
and l determined not to go to the club
| and be bored by some Indifferent bill
| lizard player. | would dine quietly,
| listen to some light music, and then
| go to the theater. l was searching
the theatrical amusements, when the
| society column indifferently attacked
my eye. do not know why it is, but
l have wholesome contempt for the
so-called society columns of the daily
| newspaper in New York. Mayhap it
| is because l do not belong.
/ read this paragraph with shrug,
and that one with smirk. l was in
no manner surprised at the announce
ment that Miss High Culture was 60
ing to wed the Duke of Imr ccune; l
had always been certain this girl
would do some such fool thing. That
Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds was giving fare
| well dinner at the Waldorf, prior to
her departure to Europe, interested
my curiosity not in the least degree.
It would be all the same to me if she
never came back. None of the wishy-
washy tittletattle interested me, in
| fact There was only one little six
| line paragraph that really caught me.
| On Friday night Chat is to say, the
night of my adventures in Blankshire) +,
the Hunt Club was to give a charity
masquerade dance. This grasped my
adventurous spirit by the throat and
| refused to let go.
The atmosphere surrounding the
paragraph was spirituous with en-
chantment There was a genuine
novelty about this dance. Two packs
of playing cards had been sent out as
| tickets; one pack to the ladies and
one to the gentlemen. Charming idea,
| wasn't it? These cards were to be
shown at the door, together with ten
dollars, but were to be retained by
the recipients till two o'clock (supper
| time), at which moment everybody
| was to unmask and take his partner,
| who held the corresponding card, in to
supper. Its newness strongly appealed
to me. l found myself reading the
paragraph over and over.
By Jove, what an Inspiration!
l knew the Blankshire Hunt Club,
| with its colonial architecture, it's great
ball room, It's quaint fireplaces, its
stables and sheds, and the fame of its
chef. 1t was one of those great coun-
try clubs that keep open house the
year round. 1t stood back from the
sea about four miles and was within
fve miles of the village. There was
q fine course inland, a cross-country
going Of not less than twenty miles,
. shooting-box, and excellent golf
links. In the winter it was cozy; in
| the simmer it was ideal
Twas intimately acquainted with the