The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-06-22

Dick Ainsworth, a young American
with rich and indulgent father. snent
much of his time abroad. Paris haino
MS favorite place of residence. He
was frequent visitor at the opera and
the theaters. Indeed, they were his
world. One night on the stage of the
opera Comique he saw his fate. One
or the singers, Mile. Clochette Verdier
was the impersonation of modestv o4
decorum, of all that is gentle and fem,
mine.
Ainsworth requested a theatrical
friend to take him behind the scenes
and Introduce him to the lady. This
was duly granted, and Ainsvorth
found Mile. Nerdier the same shy,
unassunlng creature she was ON the
stage. She was rather petite and
dressed Off-and usually on-the stage
In very simple attire, her hair especial
~ being plainly done When Aims
worth looked at her admiriucly her
eyes dropped TO the floor and she stood
before him a living statue of inno-
cence
AT the end of few months, dur
Ing which Ainsworth gave Mile. Yer.
dler all of his time that she was
aole 10 spare Of her own to be with
MIN, he found himself desperately fin
love with her and made her a PROPOSAL
or marriage. 1t was accented and
Alnsworth was Unfortunately happy. He
TOLD his fiancee that it would not no
necessary for her to remain on the
stage-that his father was very rich
man.
AlnsWorth senior was but twenty
TWO years older than Ainsworth iunior
out he had always been very liberal
with his son and had told the bow that
when he wished to marry he would
provide for him. Il don't wish Won TO
be In hurry to get me out Of the vav
Dick" the parent had said. I'm good
Tor twenty or thirty years yet, but I
snail not trouble you because | still
i've" When Clochette asked Dick if
his father would object to his marry
Ing one on the stage Dick told her
that his father had come very near do
ing the same thing himself before he
married his mother.
Dick wrote his father about his on
gagement, and his father replied SYM
pathetically that if the description he
mad received of the lady were correct
he would have no objection whatever
to the match and would provide for
the couple literally. The elder Aims
worth was a widower, with no other
child except Dick. and he promised to
settle half Of his estate on his boy on
the day Of his marriage. But" he
said In closing his letter. II must make
the acquaintance of your fiancee be-
fore giving my approval, and 1 am
sorry to say l shall not be able to
cross the ocean for several months
yet"
This last part of his fathers letter
was the only part of it that interfered
with Dicks comfort. He was very
much in love and desired to be made
happy at once. 1t troubled him that
his dear, modest little Clochette should
continue TO be the target for the eyes
OF the young bloods of Paris. He
would gladly have had her leave it at
once, but she declined to do so until
they were married. So Dick was
forced to wait till his father could
come over and all should be settled.
At last he received the welcome
news that Mr.. Ainsworth would sail
on certain date and go direct to
Paris on his arrival at Havre. Dick
waited for the day of arrival feverish-
ly. He had no doubt of his fathers
approval Of his la4ylove. Such unaf-
fected sweetness would charm any
man. Besides, Dick knew that his IA
Their had keen insight into character
of women. He would at
once recognize Clochette's moral worth
would see how different she was
from many women on the stage.
On the day Of his fathers expected
arrival Dick received a telegram from
him inviting his son to sup with him
at cafe on the Champs Elysees. Mr..
would not arrive before 10
.. m, and his son was to go to the
cafe at II. At the appointed hour
Dick went to the cafe and asked for
his father. The proprietor announced
hat NJ. Ainsworth had engaged a pri-
rate room, but that he had evidently
been detained, since he had not yet
arrived.
Dick impatiently walked back and
'orth for an hour, when waiter STEP
bed up to him and babe him follow
lin. He led the young man to an up
Der story and, stopping at a certain
ioor, threw it open.
The sight young Ainsworth beheld
startled him. Around table on which
we're the remains Of a supper sat
company of men and women all the
worse for wine. But this was only
he beginning Of what Dick saw. At
me end sat his father, evidently the
lost, while the browning feature Of
he scene was a woman dancing around
he festive board.
She was Mile. Clochette Verdier.
Father! Clochette~ cried Dick,