The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-08

the iOud metropolitan clamOrs, with
which his ears were full, that he got
up, walked to the window and leaned
out. 1t was pastoral that met his
eyes, A man piping. followed by little
pattering goats; the primitive, un.
looked-for picture caught his tired at.
tention. and. just then, opposite the
Quais. two women passed-hower sci
lers, their baskets bright with GRO.
cuses and CIRCLES. The bright mic.
ture touched him and something of
the spring-like beauty that the day
wore and that dwelt in the Nav light.
soothed him as nothing had for many
hours.
He paid his bill, took courage
picked up his hat and gloves and
stick and walked out briskly, crossing
the bridge to the Rue de Rivoli, deter.
mined that night should not fall until
he found the woman he sought. Nor
did 1T, though the afternoon wore on
and Dan, pursuing his old trails, wan.
dered from worldly meeting place to
worldly meeting place. Finally, toward
six o'clock, he saw the lengthening
shadows steal into the woods of the
Bois de Boulogne, and in one Of the
smaller alleys, where the green.
trunked trees Of the forests were full
OF purple shadows and yellow sun
discs, flickering down. he picked up
a small iron chair and sat himself
down. with long sigh. to rest.
While he sat there watching the
end Of the alice as 1t gave out into
the broader road. beautiful red mo.
tor rolled up to the conjunction of the
two ways and Lefty Lane, in q sum.
mer frock. got out alone. She had q
flowing white veil around her head
and flowing white scarf around her
shoulders. AS the day on the Thames,
she was all In white-like dove. But
this time her costume was made vivid
and picturesque by the coral parasol
she carried, pair Of coral-colored
Kid shoes. around her neck and fall.
Ing on their long chain. she wore his
coral beads. He saw that he observed
her face before she did him. All this
Dan saw before he dashed into the
road, came up to her with something
like cry on his lips. bareheaded, for
his hat and his stick and his gloves
were by his chair In the woods.
Lefty Lanes hands went to her
heart and her face took on q deadly
pallor. She did not seem glad to see
him. Out Of his passionate descrip-
tion Of the hours that he had been
through, Of how he had looked for
her. Of what he thought and wanted
and felt. the actress made what she
could. listening to him as they both
stood there under the shadows OF
the green trees. Scanning her face
for some sign that she loved him, for
1t was all he cared for. Dan saw no
such indication there. He finished
with:
you know what Ruggles told you
was lie. or course, I've got raoney
enough to give you everything you
want. He's a lunatic and ought to
be shut up"
1T may have been q lie, all right"
she said with forced indifference:
I've had time to think 1t over. You
are too young. You don't know what
you want" She stopped his protesta-
tions: We'll. then. am too old and
don't want to be tied down."
When he pressed her to tell him
whether or not she had ceased to
care for him, she shook her head
slowly. marking on the ground fine
tracery with the end Of her coral par.
asol. He had been obliged to take
her back to the red motor, but before
they were in earshot Of her servants.
he said:
Now, you know just what you have
done to me, you and Ruggles between
you. For my fathers sake and the
thing / believed in I've kept pretty
straight as things CO." He nodded
at her with boyish egotism, throwing
all the blame on her. 81 want YOU TO
understand that from now, right now.
I'm going to the dogs Just as fast as
can get there, and 1t won't be a very
gratifying result to anybody that ever
cared"
She saw the determination on his
fine young face. worn by his sleepless
nights. already matured and changed,
and she believed him.
Paris" he nodded toward the gate
or the woods which opened upon
Paris, rs the place to begin in-right
here. A man." he went on, and his
lips trembled. "can only feel like this
once In his life. You know all the
talk there is about young love and
first love. Well, that's what I've got
for you. and I'm going to turn 1t now
right now-into what older people
warn men from, and do their best to
prevent. have seen enough of
Paris" he went on, these days