Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-12-01
CHAPTER u.
RY snsclal Dispatch,

In all eras and all climes a woman of
great genius or Leauty has done what she
shose.-Ouida.
Nicholas" said Calhoun, turning
to me suddenly, but with his invari-
able kindness of tone, "oblige me to-
night. have written message here.
You will see the address"
II have unavoidably heard this
iady's name" / 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 WON
an in Washington, alone. unattended
save by yourself. to a gentleman's
apartments, to his house, at a 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.
II choose my young aide, Mr.. Trist
here, for good reasons. He Is just
back from six months in the wilder
ness. aid may be shy; but once he
had q way with women, so they tell
me--apd you know, in approaching
the question ad feminam we operate
per honinem."
DR.. Ward took snuff with violence
as he regarded me critically.
81 d. not doubt the young mans sin
certify and faithfulness," said he. Il
was only questioning one thing"
"Yes?" ..A...
"Hi9 age"
Calhoun rubbed his chin. ''Nicho-
las" he said, you heard me. l have
40 wish to cucumber you with useless
lnstrr ctions. Your errand Is before
you. Very much depends upon 1t, as
you ave heard. All I can say is, keep
your head, keep your feet, and keep
your hearth"
The two older men both turned
now, and smiled at me In a manner
not wholly to my liking. Neither was
this srrand to my liking.
II was true, was hardly arrived
homo after many months in the west;
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.
ale might be older" said Calhoun
at length, speaking Of re as though l
were not present. And It's a hard
game to play, II once my lady Helen
takes It into her merry head to make
It So for him. But II I sent one shorter
Of stature and uglier of visage and
with less art in approaching crino-
line why, perhaps he would get NO
farther than her door. No; he will
serye-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
driSele which then was falling in the
sire cts.
So this, then, was my errand. My
mind still tingled at it's 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. / don't my.
sell 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 / thought I saw him grin
In the dim light you may have q
night which you will remember"
There proved to be truth in what he
Said. r.