Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-26
CHAPTER XIX.
ucje Calls At the Waldorf.

T engaged rooms at the Waldorf, &C
cording to the millionaire's orders. He
lived on the avenue, 10 minutes Walk
from the hotel Every morning ne
came to call for me to take me down
to his Office. l did not have minute
to myself. He treated me just as
though I were the real Douglass.
He kept his word with Arm tena-
city. He explained to me the work
ing of his business and instructed me
in my new duties with simplicity OF
manor that was almost disconcert1ng.
i took him rs my model, and soon
adapted my self to my ambiguous posi-
ton as though it were perfectly natural
He never referred to the past In put
ting the ocean between me and my
country seemed to have lost my real
personality, and l had now reached
a point where acknowledged but one
will-the all-powerful will of Addison
Kingsley, the paper king.
He went to considerable pains to
teach me how to fulfill satisfactorily
the role which he had given me, and
I ought to admit that exerted all the
energy and good will of which I was
capable. He seemed pleased and
congratulated me.
"Charles, you're the man." he said
"I was afraid I should clash with you
You were such ninny You were so
womanish at times. but now | really
think you have something IN you. You
are trustworthy man and deserve
your position. have made better
deal of it than thought"
The adoption of q. who occu-
pied rooms with me at the Waldorf,
was accomplished quickly. The form
alities for adopting child in America
we're not so complicated as in France.
Henceforth 2 would be known as
Theodore Douglass, an American cit1-
zen. gave him his liberty and plenty
of money to spend. had decided
not to let him know what l had dis
covered on the boat. Neither did /
tell the millionaire that knew he was
hiding Lucie Well in his own home.
It was quite certain that Polydore and
Addison Kingsley thought was their
dupe.
I, had no trouble in learning that
Polydore passed his entire day with
Lucie They. went all over town to-
gether.
''My father" he said one evening on
returning from the metropolitan Opera,
II am the happiest man in the world"
He stood before me, faultlessly at
tired, his face beaming with happiness.
bent my head to hide the hopeless
ness and grief that had crept into my
eyes. MY son had no soul! The miser-
able wretch whose passion had driven
him to matricide was happy in having
found the girl who was responsible for
his mothers death and his fathers ex-
patriation, weak, soulless, abnormal
creature that he was.
And he called it loveLs'love that
makes the world go round" that stirs
poor humanity from the cradle to the
tomb!
wanted to learn more about Lucie
We'll, but it was difficult to satisfy my
curiosity unless broke through the re-
serve that I had imposed upon myself
so was Obliged to wait for events to
run their course.
I had not long to wait however. 1t
seemed that Mademoiselle wanted to
satisfy her curiosity Just as much as
did. Business called the millionaire
out Of town for few days, and Lucie
thought she would profit by his abb
sence to pay me visit at my hotel.
Her first words put me at my ease at
once. Her manner was just as frank as
it had been in that accursed house in
Neuilly.
"Well, l am not sorry to find you
again." she said. as she held out her
VIII
Dieu! but your looks have not inn
proved. Your face looks as though it
had been ckinned to enable one to
study the muscles"
Instead Of being ANNOYED at her
tone, tried to reply in the same
manner.
"And you. my little friend, you make
me feel as though / were meeting one
returned from the dead, but | am not
afraid of ghosts"
took her furs from her and led her
to comfortable chair.
"Well," she said, couldn't you order
some sherry? 1t will make the CONVEX
sation run smoothly, and besides, am
thirsty"
rang and ordered the wine.
$50 you are not dead?" said, smil-
ing at her.
She burst into one of her gay laughs,
which showed off SO well her pearly
teeth behind her scarlet lips.
"Your jokes are gruesome, monsieur.
Now, talk little and talk we'll. Time is
money they say here in America, you
know, and we do not have the chance
to see each other every day. Mr.. Kings
ley has forbidden me to call upon you,
but could not help it."
That's very nice, coming from an
old fiancee," replied, smiling.
She went off into peal of laugh
ter again. The remembrance of our
marriage panns published at Neuilly
drew tears of mirth to her eyes. When
she had recovered she drank off two
glasses of sherry.
"Oh, Charles she said, "to think
that was almost forced TO marry you.