The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-17

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The colonel returned assent. and
presently came into the drawing-room
where he found his Wits awaiting him,
Claude shs began. hesltatingiyY
"'it's a dreadful thing To have to say,
but I'm Obliged to tell you-captsin LIZ
Marchant drinks"
"He locks IT," responded the colonel
briefly. and then stood lat attention, =
ready for further revelations.
''Ol, Claude" exclaimed I.olly. irrele.
vanity, II have never seen you drunk
Colonel Annesley stared.
"Of course not. What's that got II
do with it,"
ooh, | don't know And Mrs. An
nesley looked up, and then down merry.
ousiy, and finally. assuming her most
added: I'm only so glad n proud
Claude, that ! never have,'
The tall colonel hlushed and looked
extremely young. A stranger observins
him would have said he was evidently
ashamed of himself. Perhaps he was
He said nothing. however. and only
smiled dreanily.
Claude went on Mrs. Annesley
you must try and Keep this man sober
you must, really. Fancy II he were
people, and here.'
"Does he make scenes with hero in
qtired the colonel.
"Well she hasn't actually said 81
much, but | imagine I've does. Anyway
keep the wine and spirits out OF his
reach, because. you see, II he neye
knows when to stop"
Beast" muttered the colonel unde,
his breath.
His wife looked at him almost
humbly. eyes. he must be- she agreed
Poor little ~Idroana,'
The colonel did not echo this senti.
ment. He was playing with a smal
bullet hat was set az a charm on his
watch-chain Ca bullet that had a his.
tory and appeared stolidly unmoved.
"You understand. Claude. don't you?'
went on his wife. You are the host
and you mustn't be the one to sci
temptation in his way. Don't let him
have the chance to disgrace himself
The colonel looked perplexed. III
do my best" he said. CURLY. and turned
on his heel to leave the room.
''Claude,' called his wife. softly.
He came pack obediently.
You haven't got a flower in YOU
coat for dinner" she said. with Z
trembling little laugh. let me Civ
| you one"
Cf,u 4A>1- d. wall xs.n -a.EfYn1 hlax
som from a vase and fastened 1t in hi
~buttonhole. Under his clear skin thu
| blood swiftly Redeemed and rose TO tn.
very roots of his close-cropped brown
hair. He was blnahins again appar.
emily. and again he looked e~straordi.
narily young. A novel and peculiar
sense Of being petted and made much
of was IN him, but he was quite silent
He was too much astonished to speak.
''There!' said Mrs. Annesley, with q
coquettish look Of triumph as h fin
ished decorating him. Now you dc
me credit"
Surprise gave him a little catch in hi.
throat. He coughed nervously.
"Do 1?' he managed to say at last
"1-er-thank your And out he went
in a whirl of ama2eTsnr. She moan
while laughed and scolded herself fol
INDUCING in q sort Of side Irritation Will
her own husband.
'Poor Claude!" she mllrmured, re-
peating that favorite phrase which had
now become almost hackneyed. "Bui
he really is a gentleman"
The dinner that night went off sue.
cessfully. Captain lie Marchsnt made
hin1aelf most agreeable. and manag
to impress everybody more or less witt
the idea that he was really a charm
ing man. Even Mrs. Annesley decided
that he was mot go bad after ALL" and
that perhaps Idreana. always fn1agina-
tive. had unconsciouslv exaggerated his
failing" The colonel sat listening tc
him, like a good host. with polite and
! apparently absorbed attention. The
gentlemen who added the intellectuai
grace and splsndor of their presence t.
the table were chiefly young snbalterns
open admirers and followers OF Mrs
Annesley, who alternately BATTERED
them, laughed at them, Knocked them
neglected them, and drove them TO de.
spair. just as her hlimor suited her:
and on this particular occasion these
boys were rendered rather awkward
and bashful by the fairy-like loyelines-
of Mrs. Le Marchant.
Idreane, dressed in pure white, with
her gold hair knotted in a Greek twist,
and her tragic-sweet eyes. vas a won
I 4 A1f,.1 rsarh4 Go GtA naf1 CO fTf1g