Evening journal., 1909-06-14
SPOILINGABACHELOR
torisinaLl

She was old enough not to need q chap /
eron, yet young enough to enjoy the /
prominence given her by her wealth. a |
beauty that was in its prime and great
sprightliness. She at once became the |
fayorite Of society and lived in some |
one Of her several residences in town
and country. Men flocked to her in un-
told numbers. but what is easily gain
ed is not valued, and she would have |
none Of them. Several Of her suitors
were men Of prominence who could |
have advanced the young widow IN a
way not to be attained by wealth |
alone, but the trouble was they wero
to be had for the asking There was no
sport in a chase where hundred hunt
ers were firing at her on sight She pre-
ferred to turn huntress and bring down
the game herself.
Among the young men Of her ac-
quaintance was Paul Debonair, whose
father had died and left his son sew
eral hundred thousand dollars. Paul
spent all the income. but resolutely re-
Trained from touching a cent Of his
principal. Pleasure was his object.
More money than he had he would not
have valued. lie had enough to give
him what he wanted and not enough 10
bother him by attending TO 1t. He
would never marry. In short. he was
determined to get the most out Of life
In the way that seemed most desirable
to him-that is, as a man Of the world
One evening he went to a ball. An.
gelica was there, surrounded by n
crowd Of men elbowing one another to
get near her. If she moved from one
room to another within a few minutes
every one OF those men was TO be
found in the room TO which she had
gone. II she went back, they went
back. Paul Debonair looked at this
spectacle with disgust. He danced in
the same set with Angelica, but every
time it became his part to take her
hand TO swing he would pretend to
bave made a mistake and swing some
one else.
"Great heavens, Paul." said one of
bis friends, "do you know whom you
are snubbing? That's the young Wild
ow Ballou, worth millions"
Il don't care If she is the Widow
Croesus." said Paul in a tone loud
enough to be heard by the widow her.
self, "and worth billions"
Paul Debonair had sounded the death
knell to his independence Angelica
sent one Of her circle of attendants to
bring him to her and introduce him.
He consented, but II his object was TO
avoid rudeness he might as well have
declined, for his brusqueness and in
difference were objectionable. Angelica
had noticed while he danced that Terp-
sichore was one of his idols. He aban-
doned himself to the motion and the
music as one in a heavenly dream.
Quick to see a weak point she re-
solved to attack him through this love.
She asked him TO dance. He had the
effrontery to decline on the ground
that he did not know how to dance.
But it was not long after this that
Angelica give ball herself. She had
given out through her friends that she
felt very much hurt at the treatment
Debonair had given her, that she had
been surprised that any man should
] .
but that she would give him an oppor-
tunity to redeem himself. These re-
marks were intended for Paul's ears,
and when he received an invitation to
her ball he decided at lenst to accept
II.
There being no orchestra at hand ca
pahle of playing dance music as An
gellca wished it played, she imported
one, and when Paul entered the ball
room he heard veluptuous sounds that
tingled in the tips Of his toes. He went
directly to the hostess. who smiled
upon him and said:
II have been saving my first dance
for you. Mr. Debonair. l am hostess
here and my word is law. You arC
commanded to dance with me-"
In another moment Debonair was
gliding over a waXed floor with 9
dream OF loveliness in his arms. The
soft strains, the beautiful face so neal
his own, the liquid eyes fastened al
ways upon his, were an irresistible in
cantation. Then, too. he was dancing
with one who was. like himself. borr
dancer. They passedobanks OF flowers
and mOmentarlly caught their perfume
They sailed around water springinf
from fountain. and as the tiny drop.
( fell they sarg a song Of love. But al
Z Paul Debonair saw was a beautiful
= face, a swelling bosom. a pair Of darh
eyes.
Paul Debonalr realized that he was
being SHARED. Matrimony had been q
horror TO him. and this only possible
outcome to the widows witchery ap
palled him. He left on the next steam
er for Europe. Angelica followed him
One evening while he was at a ball a
the American embassy at Rome ths
orchestra struck up the waltz to which
he had danced with the Widow Ballou
He was standing in a dream of thai
one dangerous dance of his life wher
suddenly an arm was laid upon his
shoulder. His own passed involuntarily
around a waist. and he was whirleC
away. Again he was in the tolls Of thu
witch.
When they rested. the game hat
been played to finish and the widow
had won. Paul Debcnair had surren
k dered while they whirled. She led hin
s captive back to America. and th'
= haunts that had known him knew hin
no more. Every one said what a pit,
e 10 spoil so delightful a bachelor b,
s making a married man OF him.
r. EWENTnOT IN AnAHC