Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-13
BOOK II.
CHAPTER TX.
F0olhardy Julien.

CHAPTEk Tx.
Foolhardy Julien.
The luncheon in the beautiful restaurant
Of the Ritz was q meal after the duchess
own heart. She was at home here and re-
ceived the proper amount OF attention.
Not only that, but many acquaintance
mostly foreign. but few English-paused
at her table to pay their respects. To
every one of these she carefully intro
duced her daughter and Sir julien. The
situation was not without its embarrass-
ments. Lady Anne, however. dissipated
them by an unaffected fit Of laughter.
Mother thinks she is putting every
thing quite right by lending us the sane
tity of her presence" she declared. I'VE
have been seen lunching at the RITZ.
After this. who shall say that l ran away
from home to meet riding master In
Paris, or some other disreputable person?
may, perhaps. be pitied as the victim
Of hopeless infatuation for you. Julien.
but for the rest, il we only sit here long
enough, shall be whitewashed."
The duchess was a little uneasy.
Il must say. Anne" she protested, that
you seem to have developed great deal
Of levity during the last few days It's
not a subject to be alluded to SO lightly.
All. now let me tell you who this is. A
wonderfully interesting person. | can as
sure you. She was born In Paris OF
American parents, very wealthy, indeed.
married when quite young to Prince + AK
erlberg and separated from him within
two years. They say that she lives a
queer, half bohemian sort Of life now.
but she is still q great person when she
chooses. My dear princess!
Nine Christopher, who had entered the
room on her way to luncheon party,
paused for a moment and shook hands.
Than ho roc0Dniyod Iillien.
Really" she murmured, this is most
unexpected. My dear duchess. you have
quite deserted Paris. Is this your daugh-
ter-Lady Anne? 1 scarcely remember
I'VE met yesterday Lady Anne inter-
rupted promptly. You know. ! want to
be your secretary. Mime. Christopher, IL
you will let me. My mother has entirely
cast me off, so 1t doesn't matter"
The duchess made a most piquant ges-
ture. It was really an insufferable posi-
ton. but she was determined to remain
graceful.
"My dear Nine Christopher" she said.
"you have no grown-up children. OF
course. so l cannot ask for your sym
patty But I have a daughter here who
Is giving me great deal of trouble.
fatter myself that 1 have modern views
of life, but Anne-well. I won't discuss
her"
Nine. Christopher smiled.
duchess" she remarked. IF Lady Anne
really wants to come into life on her own.
why not? She can be my secretary IL she
chooses. l shall pay her just as much
as I should any one else and shall send
her away II she is not satisfactory. There
are great many young people nowadays,
Duchess she continued, 'in very much
your daughters position, who do these
odd things. / always think that 1t is bet
ter not to stand in their way. Sir Julien,
1 want to speak to you before you leave
this restaurant. l have something i'm
portant to say
The duchess was a little taken aback.
To her it seemed social cataclysm,
something unheard Of. that her daughter
should propose to be any ones secretary.
Yet this woman, who was certainly OF her
own order, had accepted the thing as en-
tirely natural-had dismissed it. even, with
a few casual remarks. Julien. who since
Nine. Christophor's arrival had been
standing in his place, was somewhat per-
picked
You are lunching here?" he asked.
with the Serviane minister's wife. l
shah excuse myself early. 1t Is g. vital
necessity that we.talk for a few minutes
before you leave here. Five minutes ago
l sent a note to your rooms"
Il shall be at your service, julien re-
piled, slowly.
t'I shall expect you in the morning .
Nine. Christopher said, smiling at Lady
Anne. Don't be later than 10 o'clock /
am always at home after 4, duchess. il
you are spending any time in Paris she
added.
They watched Der as she passed to the
little group who were awaiting her ar
rival. She was certainly one of the most
elegant women in the room. Lady Anne
looked after her with faint frown.
Il wonder" she murmured, III l shall
like Nine. Christopher"
Il had no idea, Julien the duchess re-
marked, that you were friendly with
her.
Julien evaded the question.
AT any rate he said. turning to Anne.
this will be better for you than making
bows"
II suppose So" she assented. "All the
same, / am very much my own mistress
in that dusty, little workshop. II Nine.
Christopher - isn't that the name she
chooses to be called by?-becomes exact
ing. 1 am not even sure that | shan't re-
greet my bow making"
Tell me exactly how long you have
known her, Julien?' the duchess per-
sisted.
Since my arrival in Paris this time, -
Julien answered. II had-well, q sort of
introduction to her.
"She is received everywhere" the
duchess continued. because 1 know she
visits at the house Of the Comtesse Des-
chelles, who is one of the few women in
Paris of the. old faction who are entirely
exclusive. At the same time l am told
that she leads a very retired life now.
and is more seen in Bohemia than any
where. / am not at all sure that it Is a
desirable association Tor Anne"
We'll, you can leave off troubling about
that" Anne said. Remember however
much we make believe, I have really
shaken the dust Of responsibility off my
feet. Hamilton place knows me no longer.
I am a dweller in the byWays Even IL
1 come back, 1t will be as a stranger. Peo-
pie will be interested in me, perhaps, as
some one outside their lives. That
strange daughter of the poor, dear
duchess, you know they will say, who
ran away to Paris. Some terrible affair.
No one knows the rights Of it! Can't you
hear it all? They will be kind to me, OF
course, but 1 shan't belong. Alas"'
The duchess was studying her bill ano
wondering how much to tip the waiter.
She answered only absently.
my dear Anne, you are talking quite
foolishly. I wish I knew she added,
plaintively, few minutes later. what
you have been reading or whom you have
been meeting lately
Don't bother about me-" Anne begged.
What you want to do now is to tell
Parkins to pack up your things and I'll
come and see you of by the O'Clock
train. Julien must wait outside for my
future employer. What l really think is
going to happen is that she's going to
ask for my character. Julien. be merci-
things l have always been respectable.
Remind her that II 1 were too intelligent
l should probably rob her of her secrets
or money or something. I am really q
most machinelike person Nature meant
me to be secretary to a. clever woman,
and my handwriting - don't forget my
handwriting. Nothing SO clear or SO rapid
ho G oxyor hoe