Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-06-30

| WILL WOlhCIl, llOAS1CuI.
She went on as though to herself.
| Come, now, | fancy him! He is
handsome, he is discreet he has cour-
age, he is not usual, he is not curl
Gus; but all, mon Dieu, what a fool"
| Admit me to be a fool, madam,
since it is true; but tell me in my
folly what equivalent | can offer one
who has everything in the world
wealth, taste, culture, education, wit,
learning, beauty?'
GO on! Excellent"
who has everything as against
my nothing! What value, MADAME
why, gentle idiot, to get an an
| sWer ask a question, always"
Il have asked it,"
But you cannot guess that l might
ask one? So, then, one answer for
another, we might dO--what you
Americans call some business-eh?
VIII you answer my question:"
ASK it, then"
Were you married-that other
night?'
So, then, she was woman after all,
and curious. I pulled myself into con-
troll and looked her fair in the face.
Madam l said, look at my face
and read your own answer"
She looked, searching me, while
every nerve of me tingled; but at last
she shook her head. NO she
| sighed. Il cannot yet say"
| | raised my kerchief over my head.
ga truce, then madam. Let lis leave
the one question against the other for
a time"
Excellent! I shall get my answer
| first, in that case, and for nothing"
How so?'
Il shall only watch you. AS we are
here now, l were fool, worse than
! you, if | could not tell whether or not
| you are married. None the less,
| commend you, I admire you, because
you do not tell me. If you are not,
you are disappointed If you are, you
are eager!"
Il am in any case delighted that
| can interest madam"
"Ah but you do. I have not been
interested, for SO long. All, the great
heavens, how fat was Mr. Pakenham,
how thin was Mr.. Calhoun But you
come, monsieur, the night is long.
Tell me OF yourself. I have never be-
| fore known savage"
value for value only, madam!
Will you tell me in turn of yourself?"
I saw her dark eyes study me once
| more At last she spoke again cat
least" she said, sit would be rather
vulgar if l did not explain some of
the things which become your right to
know when I ask you to come into
this home, as into my other home in
Washington"
I'm Heavens name, how many Of
these homes have you, then? Are
they all alike?"
Five only now" she replied, in the
most matter-of-fact manner in the
world land, of course, all quite alike
Where else?"
I'm Paris, in Vienna, in London"
she answered. you see this one.
you see them all They serve, they
suffice. This little scheme it has
pleased me to reproduce in some OF
the capitals of the world. 1t is at
least as we'll chosen as the taste OF
the prince Of Orleans, son of Louis
Philippe, could advise"
This with no change of expression.
l drew long breath.
She went on as though [ had
spoken. my friend" she said, do
not despise me too early. There is
abundant time. Before you judge, let
the testimony be heard
II am not your judge, madam, but
it will be long before | shall think a
harsh thought of you. Tell me what
a woman may. Do not tell me what a
secret agent may not. | ask no prom
Uses and make none. You are very
beautiful. You have wealth. I call
you, madam You are married."
Il was married at Is"
"At Is! And your husband died?".
He disappeared"
Your own country was Austrian"
Call me anything but Austrian I
left my country because I saw there
| only oppression and lack of hope. No,
I am Hungarian
Il should guess then perhaps you
| went to PARISH"
"Of course she said, ''of course!
of course! In time reasons existed
why l should not return to my home.
had some little fortune, some
singular experience, some ambitions
| of my own. What | did, I did At
least, I saw the best and worst of
| Europe"
Il have heard vaguely of some such
| things, madam" said. Il know that
! in Europe they have still the fight
| which we sought to settle when we
| left that country for this one
| She nodded. $50 then, at last" she
| went on, ''still young, having learned
| something and having now those
| means of carrying on my studies
which l required, | came to this last
| of the countries, America, where, if
anywhere, hope for mankind remains
| Washington has impressed me more