The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-03

. . y
who he Is" said Ward curtiy, paused
and laughed again with very little
mirth. 80 do YOU he continued.
and as for my acquaintance with him
yes, had once the distinction Of be-
ing his r.vnl In small way, a way SO
small. In fact, fiiat IT ended in hts be-
coming a connection Of mine by msr-
rage. He's Larrabee Hartman"
That was q name somewhat familiar
to readers Of American newspapers
even before its bearer was fairly cut
Of college But frolic degenerated into
brawl and debauch. What had been
scrapes for the boy became scandals
for the man, and he gathered more
aud more unsavory reputation until It's
like was not TO be found outside 4
penitcntiary. The crux OF bis career
IN bis own country was reached during
midnight quarrel In Chicago. when he
shot II negro gnmbler. Harman's wife
left him. and the papers recorded her
application for a divorce. She was
George Wards second cousin. the
daughter Of a Baltimore clergyman; A
belle In a season and town OF bellies
and a delightful headstrong creature
from all accounts. She had made a
runaway match Of 1t with Hartman
three years before. their affair having
been earnestly onsused by all her rela-
tives. especially by poor George. who
came over 10 Paris just after the wed
ding In a miserable frame Of mind.
Hartman next began a trip round the
world with an orgy which continued
frut1i Sam Frarcisco to Ftans kek. " Aefe.
IN the company Vt some eongenial fel-
law travellers. he inierfered la native
ceremonial With the result that one OF
his compositions was drowned. In
Rome be was rescued with difficulty
from n street mob that nnreasonnbly
refused TO accept ints Acation as an
excuse for bis riding down a child on
his wuy to the ttHtit.@ Later We had
been hesiring from Monte Carlo OF his
disastrous piunges ut roulette.
l still take three home newspapers.
trying to follow the people knew and
the things that happen. and the ubiaui-
fy Of NO worthless a creature as LARA
bee Hartman In the columns dredged
for real news bad long been point OF
irritation to this present exile. Not
only that. He had usurped space In
the contin< ntal papers. ard Of late my
fayesste narisiaa journal had served
him 10 me with my morning coffee.
only limiting his name, but offering
him with that gracious satire charac-
teristie OF The Gallo journalist writing
OF anything American. And so this
grotesque wreck OF man was well
known to the sbouIevard-one Of its
sights. That was 10 be perceived by
the fiutter he caused. by the turning
of heads In his direction and the low
laughter of the people at the little tn
hles Three or four in the rear+ rasfks
had risen to their feet.
Some one behind us chuckled aloud.
"They say Mariana beats him."
Evidently.
The dancer was aware of the dutter
and called Harmanfs attention to II
with Il touch upon his arm and q laugh
and nod of her vieient piuMage.
At that he seemed TO rouse himself
somewhat His head rolled heavily
over upon his shoulder. the lids lifted
a little from the red shot eyes. show
ing a strange pride when his game fell
upon the many staring faces.
Ward pulled my sleeve.
Come" he said. .iet us go over to
the Luxembourg gardens where the air
In cleaner
Ward Is a portrait painter. and In
the matter Of vogue there seem to be
20 pinnaeles left for him to snru1ou1t.
He has painted nost ri the yery
rich women Of fashion who have come
to Paris Of late years. and he has be-
come % prosperous. Inns such 4 polite
celebrity aud his opinions upon art
are so concIusivcly quoted that the
friendship Of some Of rs who started
with him has been dangerously strain
ed.
His sister. Miss Elizabeth. looks after
him now. She came with him when
he returned to Paris after his disaI-
pointmer.t In the unfortunate Harman
affair, and she took charge Of all hts
business as we'll as his social arrange
ments tshe has been accused az 4
theory that the two things may be
happily cosnbinedi, making him lease
house In an expensively inodish
quarter near the Avenue du Bots DC
Rouiogne. Aiisx Elizabeth II an H.
stinctively fashionable woman. prac'
tIcal withal. aud to her mind success
should be not enly respectable. hni
smart
II was Georges habit to come often
to sec me. He always really liked the
sort Of society his sister had brought
about him. but now ard then there
were intervals when II wore on him q
little. ! think. Sometimes he came for
me In his automobile. aud We would
make mild excursion 10 breakfast
III the country. and TINT r what hap
pened one nacrr.lur atMsait three weeks
HELP WANTED--sIALE.
WANTEf,--soI.IcIToR APPLY 81