Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-13

I
drinking i'm the least. last detail with
her gossip-loving ears. and when the
/ inquisition was temporarily suspended,
proving herself no less candid in the
matter OF unwilling her personality.
And now. my dear. she said. sleek
with satisfaction at her success in
pumping the girl. III tell you what your
middle name interested me. The only
woman I ever knew who wore IL with
the same spelling was Miss Urcilla
Wayne. OF the waynes of Washington
Square"
MY MOTHER cried Cynthia You
knew herr
"Of course I knew htr." returned
Madame with some asperity. why not?
Not intimately. you understand, but
still in a somewhat personal way
I Designed the gown she was married
into say nothing of the rest of her
trousseau-I. Adele Blessington.
I remember her perfectly; you are very
like her. only I should say. a mite pref
tier. And you should know that Ur-
ella Wayne was considered the most
beautiful bride Of her year. So you
You. Madame Savaran-you were
Madame Blessington? Really?'
''AIadamoiselle Blessington l was in
those days. my dear. That, you see was
before l made a fool OF myself. marry
ing that villain Savaran. Yes" reaf-
firmed the old lady. placidly self-con-
ceited. = was tht same Adelaide Bles-
sington. Adelaide was my given name,
YOU know, my dear; but changed Il. 1t
always sounded to me like something
spoiled-and nobody ever spoiled me.
not even that brute Savaran, when we
first married" She choked anl lifted
her voice. "Sidonie!'
But" began Cynthia.
ITO be sure" said Madame. with a
flush. Bless your heart. my dear, you
made me forget my troubles. No mat
ter" She assumed a look of obstinate
cheerfulness. expectation a-glitter IN
her eyes.
A door opened noiselessly aud the
maid showed herself on the threshold.
Madame called?" she inquired In a
voice Of velvet fawning.
Go TO the devil you said Madame.
briskly. why are you still there!
Your time is up
But. Madame"
.If the porter delays another instant.
go wait in the hall. Get out OF my
apartmeat. You understand me? Co.
Dumb with rage Sidonie shut herself
out OF the room.
Madame Savaran chuckled like q mis-
chievous child. 'Loathsome insect
she commented. and then dropped the
subject for good and all Cynthia, my
lear will YOU fetch me a cigat cite
that box on the console there. II 1 am
TO talk to myself-and / know | shall
I must smoke; although as rule l
smoke but once between breakfast ana
lunch. But this is an exceptional day.
CYNTHIA obligingly brought the cigar
cites and matches, her European up
bringing having rlade her so thoroughly
accustomed TO the practice of smoking
on the part of women Of station and re-
fnement that she thought nothing Of 1t
in this instance.
YES" resumed madame, puffing con-
tentedly. sit was 1 who founded the
great BIessington dressmaking establish
ment and made it what it is, easily the
foremost house on Fifth avenue. I'm
out Of it now-and they feel the loss Of
me. I can tell you; but that's another
matter Savaran was responsible for
that, the beast. He was my head cutter
In the beginning. I married him-slet me
see-yes, the year your mother married
DR.. Grayce. Immediately he stopped
working; he seemed TO think the hus-
band Of the head of the house ought to
do nothing And then he took to drink.
/ stood it for a while. Then discharged
him.
She smiled sweetly in reminiscent en-
joyment.
You discharged your husband. mad
amer
Madame nodded emphatically. AS
suredly Do you think l would stand his
nonsense? Not l. refused to have him
hanging round the establishment. He
lowered its tone. 1t did the business no
sood to have a half-drunken creature
acting as my right hand-and letting not
the left hand know what the right was
up to. The animal used actually to fiirt
with my assistants the moment 1 turned
my back. And then they would COM
plain TO me and threaten TO go. Be
sides, he disturbed my temperament.
How is one to dream creations with q
pig of the gutter like that at ones
elbow? Certainly 1 discharged him.
HE would not believe me at first; but
soon / convinced him. Even then 1 had
my famous tempe; the thing was
known. So one day he went. And that
it was I who could not believe it true
that blessed relief!-until 1 discovered
the thief had absconded with ten thou
sand dollars Of my money. 1t was cheap
at the price,. ! told myself; of course.
after that he would never return. And
saw him again until a month or so ago,
when he was dying. Then he sent for
me, and at first I wouldn't hear OF going.
But finally I went; 1 went to find out
what he had done with my money"
Madame paused, pulled her cigarette
viciously until the smoke grew too hot
for comfort. and put 1t aside.
My dear" she pursued, fancy my
feelings! That blackleg, Rhode, came
with the longest face imaginable to tell
me Savaran was dying and had asked
for me. 1 flew to him, repentant, pre-
pared TO forgive him-to forgive him
had made my mind up that he had
long since squandered It I'm reckless
profiigacy. 1 figured to myself the
~@ss1a: the poor man dying in want and
misery, the deserted and wronged wife
Fastening to his side TO comfort his last
moments. angelically pitiful and COM
passionate. And I found him
on the point of expiring. it's true, but
surrounded by every imaginable comfort
and luxury! Never was woman so disil-
lusioned. Do you believe he had sent
for me TO beg my forgiveness? Not he;
not Savaran. He merely wanted to do
ed in a business venture none too saw
orr. and had quarreled, so he summoned
me to make me a present of his inter-
est in 1t. that I might be a thorn in
Rhodes side.
What a deathbedl thought it was
I who would die OF amusement, as soon