Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-05-03
CHAPTER II.
By Special Dispatch.

by special DISpatch.
In all eras and all chimes 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 kiudliness of tone, "oblige me to-
night. l have written a message here.
You will see the address"
81 have unavoidably heard this
lady's name" 1 hesitated.
You will find the ladys 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 I sat dumbly, holding this sealed
document in my hand, he turned to DIR.
Ward, with a nod toward myself.
81 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
IVES 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 I can say is. keep
your head, keep your feet, ana 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.
It 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 1
had made no definite engagement with
my fiancee, Miss Elizabeth Churchill
of Elmburst farm for meeting her at
the great ball this night, such GER
tainly was my desire and my inten-
ton Why, l 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 tbs a hard
game to play, if once my lady Helen
takes it into her merry head to make
it so for him But if l 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 serYe!"
He arose now, and bowed to US
both, even as l rose and turned for
nv 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 its unwelcome
quality. Dr. Ward guessed something
of my mental dissatisfaction.
Never mind, Nicholas" said he, as
we parted at the street corner, where
ne climbed into the rickety car geI
which his colored driver held await
ing him. 'Never mind l don't my
self quite know what Calhoun wants;
but he would not ask of you anything
personally improper Do his errand,
then. 1t is part of your work. In any
case" and I thought I saw him grin
IN the dim light you may have a
night which you will remember"
There proved to be truth in what he
said
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