The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-25
CHAPTER XIII.
Polydore's Dual Character.

HAT could POlydOre and his
M wife want at HoIyoke, a
v place that offered anything
but pleasure-a busy city
where each factory was like a small
town, and all its human swarm bound
nnysteiousIy by one soul, which is the
soul Of the crushing force Of production
to excess?
What could these two pleasure-seeking
creatures want in a cheerIess city in
the depth Of winter? 7 did not hatter
myself that It was to see me. had not
seen my son for a year. I was struck
by the change in him. He carried his
excessive happiness on his beaminE
face. He was handsome, distinguished
and his bearing had assumed d certain
haughtlneSs that amazed me- As to
LuCte, she was more beautiful than ever.
The luxury with which she was surround
ed seemed TO lend a greater charm TO her
power Of fascination Their mutual
happiness had only one little drawback.
and they did not t-y to hide IL. 7 had
not made a mistake-it was an appeal to
had come 10 make.
1--WE are perfectly happy except for
one thing" LuCie said. signing. Living
IS so much more expensive IN America
than in France The dollars melt in the
fingers here more quickly than the sous
in Paris"
"One hundred thousand dollars for you
two ought to be enough" said iron
ically. That Is 10000 francs income for
anyone who knows how to count"
What Is 10000 francs?" she said,
dreamily. her large eyes looking straight
ahead as though in an UnfathOma bic
dream.
She got up and went up to Polydore
and embraced him and said, affection
atelv:
with Teddy. Of course. 7 do not mind
poverty. But, Charles, YOU do not
spend all your income and often
wonder why You recognize Teddy as
Your son If YOU make him so unhappy"
Have you already made a little
speech like that 10 Mr.. Kingsley I
asked.
with Mr.. Kingsley it IS not the
same" said the frivolous beauty HE
owes me a debt of gratitude Il Is a
compensation that Is due to me. He
And besides. that man hasn't a heart
while YOU, Charles"
Polydore bent his head in approval Of
what the girl said The lovely little
demon was able to mold IN her fraiI,
slim fingers all his IDEAS
7 thought II better policy to nip their
homes in the bud. and I said. in a de-
cided tone:
Don't nourish any vain hopes Of get
ting any more money from me with
and If yOu have only come TO see me
TOT that YOU may as well 20 back nom
where YOU came"
Lucle got UP quickly from the sofa
where she was sitting She threw me a
look which seemed to change her fair
face entirely. For a mOment'she looked
Mucous She touched POlydOre on the
arm as he sat looking embarrassed and
almost ashamed and said:
Come along, Teddy, we won't stay
a rot IN
This hole was my home. where L
was their kind and meek host but not
meek enough to be an imbecLe.
They gave me to understand that
evening after dinner that they would
be leaving the next day. It is needless
to say that 1 ielt relieved. 1 had told
Polydore how unhappy Evelyne was,
and he had seemed perfectly indifferent
FROM his manner one would have
thought that Eveiync was a stranger TO
him He was Indifferent TO everything
and everybody but his wife.
He said to me, calmly:
Why 90 you mix up with things that
90 not concern yOu2 You are now an
exceptionally fortunate man. A few
thanks are due To me that you hold
your present position You will be fool
ish TO return 10 Paris and put your
finger between the tree and the trunk
at the risk of being pinched. If i had
any authority over you. father, 1 should
say that IL is a good thing my visit
has htndered you from taking the vOy-
age. 1t has done some good. AT least"
The next day received a cable mes
sage from Marcadian which brought me
a ray Of hope. Surely all things would
be put right nov and Evelyne and the
doctor would be happy, after all Mar
Cadian had sent me -he news that Ev-
elyne was the mCthe of a beautiful boy
and girl. Ny little grandchildren To
me the names they had given them were
the prettiest IN the world. Again and
81 nnE
Pierre and Suzanne" I was beginning
again to give orders to have my things
packed for my journey, which had been
postponed BY Polydore's arrival. when