Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-27
THE PASSERS-BY
BY ANTHONY PARTRIDGE.
Copyright. 1903 Copyright, 1910
Company BY Little = Co.


Alone
LAS you WILL" she answered, carelessly.
although she added, smiling at him.
81 prefer the present conditions. Look
at the big man opposite. with the little
girl in red. How he stares! I think the
little girl will soon call him to account.
She Is pouting already
The marquis put his hand to his fore
head and found 1t damp. He pushed his
plate away untasted. Il will not do this
again." he declared. II will not show
myself at these places with you or even
alone Look at the man again. Christine
Does he remind you of no one?'
She shook her head. HE reminds me
more than anything" she said, smiling
''of a hippopotamus."
II seem to see him." the marquis NUT
tered. with beard and in different
Christine laid her hand upon his arm.
You are nervous tonight" she said.
Drink some wine. 1t will give you
feel like this all the time. we must give
up the restaurants. 1t is very foolish
OF you. though. There is SO little to be
feared
Il have been afraid all my hfe." he
It sent me down from college once. gave
me my first kick along the road to fall
ure. Then 1t swung round, killed my
relatives like flies and made me the head
OF the family. You say that we are safe.
bothers me-
She shrugged her shoulders. You seek
misery open handed" she remarked.
He raised his glass to his lips and set
II will be more reasonable. At the same
time / shall leave Paris tomorrow. 1
loathe the place. 1t reminds me Of every
thing that l have struggled to forget.
do as you choose. Remember that every
newspaper in England has announced my
departure for Bordighera. / was to have
stayed here for the night only. Tomor-
row shall leave"
And II" the girl asked.
You can do as you choose" he an
swered. II cannot take you with me. OF
course. You know that. You can engage
an apartment here, or you can go back
to London"
Christine was plainly dissatisfied. She
met once more the stare of the dubious
faced man opposite and routed him COM
pletely. Then she proceeded with her
dinner for a few minutes in silence.
II think" she said at last, that l
should like to go with YOU"
Lord Ellingham shook his head irrita-
bly,. THAT Is precisely what you can
not do" he answered. Il am going to a
known, and his comings and goings are
commented upon in the papers. ! could
not take you. of course. You must know
that And my appearance with you In
pubic, except on one VI lWo very ioaS
occasions would be impossible"
"Am 1 so very outre?'' she asked, with
appraised eyebrows.
you are nothing Of the sort. and you
know 1t very WE'LL he answered. AT
the same time, young ladies OF your age
and attractions do not travel about the
country alone. and when they do. they
would be impossible companions for
middle-aged and respectable politician
such as myself
..You Will have to get me q chaperon.'
I'm England" he answered, that would
be possible. Here In Paris one cannot
be hired at moments notice. You are
in too much of a hurry, my dear Chris
tine. Live somewhere quietly for few
months. After all that you have been
through I should think that that alone
would be change enough.
She turned and looked at him for .
moment thoughtfully. Have you never
considered" she asked. that I might
perhaps be lonely2'
He reflected upon the matter for mo
ment. as though 1t were some aitose.her
new idea which had been presented TO
him. 'I have never looked upon you
he said, frankly, las being like other
girls. I have no doubt. when one comes
to think Of 1t. that you must have found
your recent companionship little try
ing
She shuddered. ''Don't!' she begged
"Still,' he added, 81 cannot perform
miracles. There are some ways In which
you must work out your own salvation.
That will come In time. Confound that
fellow opposite! He never takes his eyes
off US. See, he's writing a note now.
Maitre d'hotelr
The man. who was passing, stopped
with a low bow. The marquis indicated
the table opposite with a slight move
ment of his head.
THAT man. he said, has annoyed US
ever since we came in. He does nothing
but stare at madam and myself. Who Is
he? Do you know his name?
The man shook his head. He was dis
tressed that Milford should have been an
moved. The man opposite, he was un-
known He had been seen but once or
twice before In the restaurant. He was
probably some bourgeois person. unused
to the presence of people of breeding
Would Milford care to change his table!
The marquis shook his head. 1T is not
worth while" he said I'VE have nearly
finished dinner. At the same time. l
must confess that 1 am little curious
concerning that person. You do not know
his name?'
UNFORTUNATELY no. Milford" the man
answered.
The marquis meditatively laid a hun
dred-franc note upon the table before
him. He lowered his voice almost to
whisper He has sent for the chas-
seur. - he said. HE is handing him "A
note. If you will let me know, before
leave the restaurant, to whom that note
was addressed, this will be yours