Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-12-16
CHAPTER II.
BY Special Dispatch.

- Cf~S'at 1loRdtCtis
In all evas and all chimes a woman of
great genius or beauty has done what she
chose.-Ouida.
Nicholas said Calhoun, turning
to me suddenly, but with his invari.
able kindness Of tone, "oblige me to-
night. have written a message here.
You will see the address,"
Il have unavoidably. heard this
lady's name,v l hesitated.
you will find the lady's name above
the seal. Take her this message from
me. Yes,.your errand is to bring the
least known and most talked Of wom-
an in Washington, alone, unattended
save by yourself, to a gentleman's
apartments, to his house, at time
past the hour of midnight! That gen.
tleman is myself! You must not take
any answer in the negative"
AS sat dumbly, holding this sealed
document in my hand, he turned to DR..
Ward, with nod toward myself.
Il choose my young aide, Mr.. Trist
here, for good reasons. He is just
oeASh AAOAh OLA iuOhtno III thC WlluCi-
ness, and may be shy; but once he
had way with women, so they tell
me-and you know, in approaching
the question ad feminam we operate
per hominem"
DR.. Ward took snuff with violence
as he regarded me critically
Il do not doubt the young mans sim
cerity and faithfulness," said he. Il
was only questioning one thing"
"Yes?"
His age"
Calhoun rubbed his chin. 'Nicho-
las" he said, you heard me. l have
no wish to cucumber you with useless
instructions. Your errand is before
you. Very much depends upon 1t, as
you have heard. All can say is, keep
your head, keep your feet. and keep
your heart!"
2 The two older men both turned
now, and smiled at me In a manner
not wholly to my liking. Neither was
this errand to my liking
1t was true, was hardly arrived
dllCl ulduy AhOhtho Ill thO WOoS,
but had certain plans of my own for
that very night, and although as yet
had made no definite engagement with
my fiancee, Miss Elizabeth Churchill
of Elmburst farm, for meeting her at
the great ball this night, such GER
tainly was my desire and my inten-
ton. Why, had scarce seen Eliza
beth twice in the last year.
HE might be older" said Calhoun
at length, speaking of me as though
were not present. And It's a hard
game to play, If once my lady Helen
takes it into her merry head to make
1t so for him. But If sent one shorter
of stature and uglier of visage and
with less art in approaching a crino-
iine-why, perhaps he would get no
farther than her door. No; he will
serve-he must serve!"
He arose now, and bowed to us
both. even as | rose and turned for
my cloak to shield me from the raw
drizzle which then was falling in the
streets
so LnlS, tneh, was my OAAohu' Wy
mind still tingled at its unwelcome
quality. DR.. Ward guessed something
of my mental dissatisfaction.
Never mind, Nicholas said he, as
we parted at the street corner, where
ne climbed into the rickety carriage
which his colored driver held await
ing him. Never mind. l don't my
self quite know what Calhoun wants;
but he would not ask of you anything
personally improper. Do his errand,
then. It is part of your work. In any
case" and l thought saw him grin
in the dim light you may have
night which you will remember"
There proved to be truth in what he
said.