The Democratic advocate., 1908-02-21
uNsTER Md FRIDAY AFTERNOON FEBRUARY 21 1908.

attracted particular attention, Tor Mrs.
Martyr, the wife of Western cattle king,
had only recently broken into the social
ring, and as her footing was still a trife
insecure, her balls and dinners were made
as lavish and ostentatious as possible. She
had just corraled French count who had
recently landed, and already in host of
papers his name had been coupled with
that of her daughter, Amy Martyr. A
Sunday supplement had made special
feature Of printing both their portraits in
terlaced with forget-me- nots, and adorned
with the query, "Will there be another
foreign marriage?'' Mrs Martyr was in
ecstasies.
From where she sat Kitty recognized
her instantly, and so, apparently, did
many of the onlookers. The Count was a
rather distinguished man, sallow and lean,
with dark, hslf-shut eyes and curled mus
tache; but it was at Amy Martyr that
Kitty looked longest, for in spite of the
girls very evident beauty, there was none
of the hardness of the social climber in her
face, as there was in her mothers. She
seemed totally unconscious of the sensation
she was creating.
A woman in front of Kitty nudged her
companion. 'Lookp' she said in French,
LA belle American sitting by Count Felix
Bordeaux, that gutter rat of all the sew
ers of Paris Ma fol But they are a
strange people, these Americans They
open their hearts and homes to him without
question, and at once the newspapers say
he is engaged to the daughter of madame
'Tis ten years since | have seen the Count
and he has not changed the merest trihe.
n little more yellow as to skin; Il little
more dyed as to mustaches! But that is
all. And | remember seeing madame, his
wife, as we'll That was when she was
young, for she has been in an asylum in
Brussels these many, many years. Eth
| have no doubt her keepers are kinder to
her than was her husband, the Count, who
never breathes her name and takes all
these rich Americans can Offer imposing
ON their bounty. Yet news will travel.
1t will come out. His time is short You
shall see And then-what scandal T.
Kitty clutched her note book with shak-
ing fingers. She had her scoop at last !
The thrill of the discovery reused her like
a call to battle. Every instinct was in
stantly alert. She fingered in the hope
that the two French women would say
more, and as she waited planned her course.
Her first idea had been to rush to the
Office with the news; her next, to slft the
evidence-to gather all she could, to make
an attack on American society, brilliant,
bitter, scathing. Then the thought as
sailed her that if she stopped to gather
details some other paper might get the
news Of the Count craft and deceit.
Well, it was all gamble, anyway, and
she must win With a rush, all her old
time dash and vigor came back to her.
Her cheeks and eyes blazed with excite
ment, and her feet seemed scarcely to touch
the humdrum earth. She threw all her
strength into the task and felt that she
could hardly eator sleep till it was finished.
All the next day her luck held good
She had no difficulty in interviewing the
Count, and he, suspecting nothing, was
perfectly willing to give views on New
York. 1.-The Views of a Titled French
Bachelor" Kitty told him she meant to
call them As he talked she watched his
ferret like face, yellow white as old ivory.
l. olp,iroA ho aoiH
But, yes They we're so beautiful This
with bow to Kitty.
"Tll accept that on its face value, she
laughed; land | might add that some Of
my countrywomen are also clever -
On her way to the Office of the DAILY
Planet" Kitty dropped in at Mrs. Jack
Rushton for cup of tea. Mrs. Rush
ton posed as an author and had fondness
for professional people, so at her afternoons
one met not only social lights, but various
celebrities. 1t was a place, too, where
one was likely to hear the latest gossip,
and it was for this that Kitty went I'm
mediately on her arrival the talk turned to
Count Bordeaux.
'tWhat a wonderful schemer Mrs. Mar
tyn is, said Mrs Rushton from her place
at the tea table. cit was a great stroke
to capture the Count for Amy, wasn't it ?
They met him in Rome last year. I've
never heard of him before, and he's rather
/ fancy. Gone lump or
two, Miss Carton? always forget y l
suppose Amy's engagement will soon be
announced. And what blow it will be
for poor Bruce Rayburn They say he's
madly in love with her, and has fairly
haunted the,-Ah, here Georsie Vane !
George, my dear, we We just been talking
about the Count and Amy"
eyes p said Miss Vane, tugging at
her long gloves. "One sees them together
everywhere. It's rather hard on Bruce
Rayburn, isn't it2 But l suppose he saw
it coming, for he's gone West.
Then it was true Kitty felt that she
could not go to the Office just yet; she must
have time to think, and after leaving Mrs.
Rushton she sought the refuge of her own
room 1t was twilight and fire burned
in the tiny CRATE. By this Kitty crouched,
staring into the flames Although it had
been month since she had last seen Bruce
Rayburn back of everything there had
always been the hope that he was merely
piqued, and that he would surely return
to her. And now Kitty slipped photo
graph of Amy Martyr from portfolio
nearby and looked at it, but without re-
sentiment.
"You aren't in it, Kitty Carton she
said to herself, 'sand, what more, you
never were You only knew him three
months, and in all that time he never said
a word of love to you; yet you had to set
to work building air castles and letting
your fancy run riot. But, remember,
whatever happens, you have your scoopP'
All, but had she Though Amy Mar
tyn was not directly mentioned, her name
would inevitably be dragged into it as soon
as peoples tongues were set to wagging.
III IL 4 T