The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-13
(Continued.)

courSe!'
I She helped herself daintily to a
portion of the white meat of the
fowl. "Yes,' she went on, as
though speaking to herself, ION the
whole, rather like him. Yet what
fool! All, such droll IDIOT
How so. madam" l eXpostu-
! lated. Il thought | was doing very
] we'll"
yet you can not guess how to
Z persuade me?"
NO; how could that be-"
Always one gains by offering
4 some equivalent, value for value
{ especially with women. monsieur
1 She went on as though to her.
4 self. Come, now, / fancy him! He
is handsome. he is discreet, he has
courage, he is not usual. he is not
curious; but ah, mon Dieu. what a
& fool"
Admit me to be fool, madam,
since it is true; but tell me in my
1 folly what equivalent l can offer
one who has everything in the
k world-wealth, taste. culture, edu
/ cation, wit, learning, beauty
10 on. Excellent.
! "Who has everything as against
I my nothing. What value, MADAME"
why, gentle idiot, to get an
answer ask question, always"
II have asked it."
But you can not guess that |
j might ask one? So. then, one
answer for another, we might do
what you Americans call some bust
ness-eh? VIII you answer my
question:
ASK it, then"
Were you married-that other
night?"
So, then, she was woman after
all. and curious. ! pulled myself
into control and looked her fair iii
the face.
Madam, said, look at my face
and read your answer"
She looked, searching me, while
every nerve of me tingled; but at
last she shook her head No she
head. "A truce, then, madam. Let
sighed. Il can not yet say.
/ raised my kerchief over my
us leave the one question against
the other for a time
Excellent, I shall get my an
swer first, in that case, and for
nothing
How 500"
81 shall only watch you. AS we
are here now, l were a fool. worse
than you, if | could not tell whether
or not you are married. None the
less, | commend you, l admire you,
because you do not tell me. If you
are not, you are disappointed. If
you are, you are eager.
Il am in any case delighted that
can interest madam
'Ah, but you do. have not been
interested, for so long. All, the
great heavens, how fat was Mr..
Pakenham, how thin was MIR. Cal
houn! But you-come, Monsieur,
the night is long. Tell me of your
self. | have never. before known a
81 savage"
Value for value only, Madam!
Will you tell me in turn OF your
5 SELF"
! / saw her dark eyes study me
once more At last she spoke again.
Z AT least" she said. cit would be
rather vulgar if l did not explain
Z some of the things which become
( your right to know when l ask you
10 come into this home, as into my
: other home in Washington"
in heavens name, how many OF
these homes have you, then? Are
1 they all alike?'
Five only, now" she replied, in
4 the most matter-of-fact manner in
+ the world, and, of course, all
Z quite alike"
1 In Paris, in Vienna, in London,
she answered. You see this one,
you see them all. They serve, they
+ suffice. This little scheme it has
I pleased me to reproduce in some of
4 the capitals of the world. 1t is at
& least as we'll chosen as the taste
3 of the Prince of Orleans, son of
4 Louis Philippe, could advise"
& This with no change Of express
s sion. ! drew long breath.
She went on as though / had
spoken. my friend" she said, do
not despise me too early. There is
abundant time Before you judge,
let the testimony be heard"
81 am not your Judge, madam,
but it will be long before | shall
think a harsh thought of you. Tell
me what a woman may. Do not tell
me what a secret agent may not.
ask no promises and make none.
! You are very beautiful. You have
wealth. / call you madam You
are married."
Il was married at ISL"
"At Is! And your husband died?"
''He disappeared
"Your own country was Austrian"
Call me anything but Austrian
4 left my country because / saw
4 there only oppression and lack of
q hope. No, am Hungarian"
Il should guess then, perhaps,
81 you went to PARISH
"Of course" she said, "of course!
4 of course! In time reasons existed
y why | should not return to my
& home. / had some little fortune,
4 some singular experiences, some
4 ambitions of my own. What ] did,
i did. AT least, ] saw the best and
worst Of Europe"
Il have heard vaguely of some
such things. madam" | said. II
know that In Europe they have still
n the fight which we sought to settle
e when we left that country for this
one"
= She nodded. $50, then, at last"
she went on, still young, having
learned something and having now
those means of carrying on my
studies which required. came
10 this last of the countries, Amer
lea. where, II anywhere, hope for
mankind remains. Washington has