Barbour County index., 1910-11-23
CHAPTER n.
BY Special Dispatch.

0y OPSSidI OiSPdtCHs
In all eras and all clmes 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 l have written message here.
You will see the address,"
Il have u1avoidably heard this
lady's name," I 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 a time
past the hour of midnight! That gen.
tleman is myself! You must not take
any answer in the negative"
AS l sat dumbly, holding this sealed
document in my hand, he turned to DR..
Ward, with a nod toward myself.
Il choose my young aide. Mr.. Trist
here, for good reasons. He is just
back from six months in the wilder
ness, and may be shy; but once he
had a 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 sin
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 it, as
you have heard. All can say is, keep
your head, keep your feet, and keep
your heart!"
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, l was hardly arrived
home 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 cer-
'tainly was my desire and my inten-
tion. 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, II once my lady Helen
takes 1t into her merry head to make
At 80 for him. But il sent one shorter
of stature and uglier of visage and
with less art in approaching a crino-
line-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 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, a!
we Parted at the street corner, wher,
ne climbed into the rickety carriag
which his colored driver held await
ing him. Never mind. | don't my
self quite know what Calhoun wants
but he would not ask of you anythin
personally improper. Do his erranC
then. II is part of your work. In an
case" and l thought l saw him gri
in the dim light you may have
night which you will remember"
There proved to be truth in what b
said.