Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-11

some"
'Oh. go 90. You're as tpe a looking
chap as there is in New York But this
man Worth has the looks OF lady
killer. He's been eying Kitty. but II
doesn't go. Hang II. can't see why
she won't marry me now"
You must have patience"
"Or more money. Can't O'Mally ten
4 good story. thoughT'
1 Yes. but ! should hate 10 turn him
loose IN my wine cellars. imagine
he will praise anything good TO drink
: but water"
Merrihew roared.
Wen. here's your station, Dan.
Shall see you tomorrow"
"Eight-tbirty In the park Nothing
like a horse for a headache"
HHlard arrived home tired and
sleepy. but as he saw a letter on the
stand In the hall bis drowsiness passed
quickly. There was no other blue en-
velope like H. She now had his house
address; she was interested enough 10
look IL up. she did not follow his lead
and write In Italian; she wrote IN Eng
lisb-crisp English too. Again there
was neither beginning nor ending. But
this was letter. There was something
here OF the woman. something TO read
and read again:
had told the maid TO burn your letter,
but she left Il on the floor where / mad
thrown IL. and came across Il this
morning. Il looked rather pathetic. So
4 am writing you against my better judy
ment Yes, / know your name. 1 find
that am well acquainted with people
you know am a woman who often sur
renders to the impulse OF the moment.
may or may not answer any future letter
from you. You write very good Italian
but II VIII surprise you 30 learn that 4 de-
test all things that are Italian Once I
loved them we'll Why should you wish TO
know meE Our ways are as dfverrpnt as
the two poles. Happy because / sinE7
lhcre are some things over which We
can sing or laugh. but OF which We can
not speak without crying. Happy or un-
happy. what can this matter 10 you7 To
you shall always remain the ladv An
the tog Are you rich. young. tslented7
4 care not In the least Perhaps II annuses
mo 20 add 10 your confusion Find me-
thlnk not. Misguided energyl
Hillard put the letter away. extip-
guished the lights aud passed up 10
his room. This was a direct Challenge.
He would accept L. This time he
would use no personal To tell her that
a letter awaited her She should make
the inquiries herself And from the
mail clerk he would obtain a descrip-
ton OF the elusive Nine. Angot Next
morning he rode 10 the park with
Merrihew. Again he saw the yelled
lady on the Sanford black. Out OF
normal curiosity be telephoncd the
stables and made Inquiries. The reply
was short No one az the stables knew
the lady. but she rode the horse on
proper authority.
That night he wrote:
shall keep on writing tin you cease TO
reply. Let me be frank with you. 4 am
bored SO are you The pleasure you de-
rive IN keeping up this mystery engages
you You bad mo 10 find you. 4 accept
the challenge You must understand az
once that IL Is the mystery that interests
me. IL is the unknown that attracts me
am mentally painting you IN all sorts
OF radiant colors You defy the TO ind
you There n nothing 50 reliable as the
unexpected. nothing 90 desperately un-
certain as a thing assured. 1 warn you
that shall lay all manner OF traps. way
lay your messengers. bride them / snail
hnd out where you live The rest viii De
simple.
She replied:
have no desire 20 alleviate vour CON
tessed boredom. Your persistence would
De praiscworthy n well directed Waters
wear away stone, the wind crurnbles the
marble. but a woman o. not moved ttI
she wishes 10 be. never thought that 4
should dabble in an intrigue OF this sort
and am surprised AT the amusement Il
AFFORDS me. 9 really owe you some graft
tuue- The Few ] have met who know you
tel me that you are a nice young man"
Every man has some portion or self
love. SO his next effort was pas
sionate denial that be was nice"
W hen should be meet herr The post
man brought him a letter which con
tained one word-Nimmer. He sent
her four pages. a frank and witty de
scripJion OF himself and his friends.
On the day she received this letter
cablegram came TO her from the far
Mediterranean. Whatever il contained
had the effect TO cause all restraint 10
disappear from the tone OF her letters
Ihey became charming. and more and
more Hillard found himself loving a
voice. All his watching. all his traps.
came 10 no successful end. She was
too clever for him. lie sought the mail
department or the great newspaper:
the clerk couldn't remember. there
were SO many calling for mail. Leg
ters passed 20 and fro daily aow. but
always she declared that II was i'm
possible for them 10 meet No. IL was
out or the question 10 dine with him In
restaurant IL was equally out OF
the question 10 cook dinner where
she hVed. as she and her maid dined
at small restaurant near by. Finally
he proposed TO bring the dinner all
cooked from the club. Two days went
by without sign: then the blue letter
came.
surrender. The most fatal thing IN
ne Is curiosity. IL has the power TO lead
Us INTO all manner or trouble And / nave
my snare OF curiosity. Remember. YOU
never would have found me 4 NAV dvvau
IN garnet. ! may be hideous. uerbans