Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-02-17

age, he is not usual, he is not Curl
Gus; but ah, mon Dieu, what a fooli"
Admit me to be a fool. madam,
since it is true; but tell me in my
folly what equivalent l can offer one
who has everything in the world
wealth, taste, culture, education, wit,
learning, beauty"
GO Oh! Excellent"
who has everything as against
ny nothing! What value, MADAME"
Why, gentle idiot, to get an an
swer ask a question, always
L haze asked it,"
But you cannot guess that | might
! ask one? So, then, one answer for
anothe:', 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 aftsT all,
and curious! l pulled myself into con-
troll n looked her fair in the face.
Madam" 1 said, look at my faca
n read your own answer"
She looked, searching me, while
ONNAJ u Liz bI4Sl~0J cAC O. 40OS
she shook her head. No" she
sighed. 4 cannot yet say"
I raised my kerchief over my head.
q truce, then. madam. Let us leave
the enc question against the other for
a time"
Excellent! I shall set my answer
first, in that case, and fer nothing"
"HOw sO?"
Il shall only watch You. AS we are
here now I were a fOCi, worse than
you, if 1 could not tell whether or not
you are married. None the less, l
commend you, | admire you, because
you q not tell me. If you are not,
you are disappointed. If you are, yCu
are eager!"
Z am in n case delighted that I
can interest madam"
"Ah, but you DO! | 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. l have never be-
fore known a savage"
Value for value only, madam!
Will you tell me in turn of yourself?'
L ooN AO1 q n y % NoN hIS IN
more. At last she spoke again. AT
least" she said, sit would be rather
vulgar if l did not explain some of
the things which become our right to
know when 1 ask you to come into
this home, as into my other home in
Washington"
In Heavens name, how many Of
these homes nave you, then? Are
they all alike?"
Five only now" she replied, in the
most matter-of-fact IN in the
world, and, of course, all quite alike"
Where else?"
In 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 well chosen as the taste OF
the prince of Orleans, son OF Louis
Philippe. could advise"
This with no change OF expression,
I drew a long breath.
She went on as though l had
spoken. My FRIEND she said, dc
not despise me too early. There is
dDuIUdi1J jiIIlG. bGIOIS you IuOSS,. 4SL
the testimony be heard"
L am not your judge, madam, but
it will be long before l shall think a
harsh thought Of you. Tell me what
a woman may. Do not tell ne what a
secret agent may not. I ask no prom
Uses and make none. You are very
beautiful. You have wealth. | call
you, madam You are married"
L was married at IS"
at Is! And your husband died?".
He disappeared"
Your own country was Austrian"
Call me anything but Austrian, /
left my country because I saw there
only oppression and lack Of hope. No,
l am Hungarian"
Il should guess hen perhaps you
went to Paris?"
"Of course" she said. "oT course!
of course, In time reasons existed
why l should not return to my home.
l had some little fortune, some
singular experience, some ambitions
of my own. What I did, I did At
least. 7 saw the best and worst OF
Europe"
& have heard vaguely of some such
things, madam" I said. I know THAI
n Europe they have still the fight
which we sought to settle when vie
Let that country for this one"
She nodded so then. at last" she
went OF, still young, having learned
something and having now those
means of carrying on my studies
which I required, I came to this last
of the countries, America, where, II
anywhere, hope for mankind remains.
Washington has impressed me more
than any capital of the world"
How long have you been in Wash.
~iugton?" asked.