Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-01-17
Twill You Walk Into My Parlor?'
tCopyright.)
By Ar,niees Barclay

"You really ought not to have told
me anything about II. Tom" demurred
little Mrs. Levage.
Little Mrs. Levarge looked a trife
disappointed. In spite Of her we'll
simulated indignation she felt all
pretty woman's interest In an afiaire
du coeur. Besides. she was very fond
OF her big nephew. Tom RufYord. and
liked him none the less because he
was In the habit OF confdins In her at
such times as the tender passion
moved him.
rs she very nice?" she smiled.
She's too delightful for words,
She has all the charms OF the most
charming women I've ever known.
and none of their defects. Just think.
Lame. A woman as beautiful as a
goddess. and who Isn't on the make
You don't find 'em nowadays. I've
known her for a month now. and.
would you believe II. I've only been
able to make her accept few flowers
"a couple OF sprays Of orchids. She
absolutely refuses to let me spend a
penny on her,"
1t sounds Just little suburban.
Tom"
Don't you make any mistake. You
know bit about dress and all that
sort OF thing. but you're not In II with
her. Lame. Her dresses, Never saw
anything so wonderful In my life. or
so many. She goes TO Kntchcnka's:
and what her bill there mus, be hcav.
en- only knows,"
Mrs. Levasc looked a, him afYee.
tionatciy.
DO be careful. Tom. dear" she I'm.
plorcd. she may be everything you
think. but You haven't been foolish
enough to write her any letters. have
you?"
Toms hesitation was sufNcient an.
swcr.
"oh. you silly mani" she cried.
only one. Liane-and short at
that" he protested.
Yes. know. Full OF idio,ic adm!S.
sions. The sort OF letter they scream
about In the divorce court. oh. Tom.
now could you be so fooiish!'
No need to distress yourself. my
dear girl" he assured her. she
rounded on me quite enough herself
abou, what she called the indiserc-
ton of II. Told me she tore the letter
up In little bits directly she'd read It.
So there's no harm done
WELL" said his little mentor. rs
she rose TO 20. you're old enough 10
look after yourself. I suppose. No.
u can't stop. My cicctric's walt.
Ing. and the current Is running out.
Tom shut the outer door OF the fiat.
picked up letter lying In the hall.
acd returned TO his pleasant sitting.
room. The little condolences of the
morning served to whct an already ar.
dent passion. II provided vis;as OF de-
iishtfui reflection. Tom Runord. In n
comfortable armchair. with the sprin.
sunshine Frightening all around him.
felt supremcly happy. One thing was
quito certain: Constance windham
returned his affection unscihshiy. She
was unhappy. and he had consolcd
her. Precious thought She asked
/ for nothing. could expect nothing
more. How much bettcr-how much
I purcr-this than the everyday court.
ship that implied material returns.
Tom had had one or two experiences
that ranked!
With sigh OF satisfaction he
opened the misunderstanding letter that
he had brought In. and began reading
II.
..slr:-purinr her visit here yesterday.
Mrs windham dropped a letter bearing
your name and address which begins:
My own constancel The sweet admis-
sion that you return my love hlls my
heart with tenderness. I adore you! For
I ms. he q
/ When am I to see you-hold your dear
hands in mine again"
/ II make no excuse for taking the only
means In my power to obtain n settlement
/ with Mrs. w!saham. Unless I receive.
/ by this afternoon. the sum OF Ei16,-5-o
which she owes me. shall be compelled
In scif-dcfcnse. to place your letter In
| the hands of the iady's husband. 1 am.
sir. obcdiently yours.
"LUcIE KATcHENKA."
What monstrous thing was this? A
trade trick. or a practical joke? But
the letter! The dreadful fact re.
mained that he had written it-only
two days ago! How had It got into
Katchenka's hands? Had not Con.
stance herself told him that she had
| destroyed It? oh, this must be some
Internal trick Of the dressmaker's.
Besides. how could any woman-even
Constance-owes such a sum as seven.
teen hundred pounds for costumes?
He dashed out, jumped into a cab
and In a quarter of an hour was with
her. Without preamble he came to
the point.
DO you owe Katchenka seventeen
hundred and odd pounds? Tell me
quickly" he asked. breathiessly.
The lady drew herself up. by wha,
right do you intrude into my private
concerns?" she replied. haughtily.
Don't be angry with me. Con
stance" he implored. II understand