Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-22

he had COlleClSu d HuHuieu SiiiSIdIuS,
NOT one of which was without its red
record. Again, if he carried the rug
home with his other purchases, he
could pull it through the customs only
by lying, which was as distasteful to
! his mind as being receiver of stolen
goods.
He had already paid a goodly sum
against the purchase; and it was not
| likely that q man who was down 10
reversing his collars and cuffs would
take back the rug and refund the
money. The Yhiordes was his, hap
pen what might. So conscience snuffed
out her red lantern and retired.
Some light steps, a rustic, and he
wheeled in time to see woman open
a door, stand for minute in the full
tight, and disappear. 1t was she.
George opened the door of his own
room, threw the rug inside, and tip
toed along the corridor, stopping for
the briefest time to ascertain the
number Of that room. He felt vastly
more guilty in performing this harm.
less act than in smothering his men
| tor.
There was no one in the head-por-
ter's bureau; thus, unobserved and un-
embarrassed, he was free to inspect
the guest-list. Fortune Chedsoye. He
had never seen name quite like that.
It's quaintness did not suggest to him,
as it had done to Ryanne, the pas
toral, the bucolic. Rather 1t remind
ed him of the old French courts, Of
rapiers and buckles. of powdered wigs
and furbelows, masks, astrologers,
love-intrigues, Of all those colorful,
mutable scenes so charmingly de-
scribed by The genial narrator of the
exploits Of D'Artagnan. And abruptly
out of this age Of Lebrun. Vatican
Moliara, reached an ice-cold hand. II
that elderly codger wasn't her father,
who was he and what?
The Major-for George had looked
him I'D alSO-was II excellent trim for
his age, something Of military dandy
besides; but IS the husband OF so
yoUnc and exquisite 4 creature! Out
upon Tie thought. lie might be her
Guardian. c.. 81 most, hcr uncle, but
,..r.2r .er husband Yet 60 poisonous
doubtD, at the table she had ignored
the Major, both his jests and his at
tentions. He had seen many wives,
joyfully from safe distance, act to-
ward their husbands in this fashion.
Oh, rot! If his name was Callahan
and hers Chedsoyo, they could not
possibly be tied in any legal bonds. He
dismissed the ice.cold hand and turned
again to the comforting warmth of his
arGor.
Ho had never spoken to young wom-
en- without presentation, and on these
rare occasions he had preached the
weather. suggested the possibilities OF
the weather, and concluded with On
apostrophe on the weather at large Ii
vas usually valedictGry. For he was
always positive that he had acted like
a fool, and WAS afraid to speak to the
girl again. Never It failed, ten minutes
after the girl was out OF sight, tho
brightest and cloverest things crowd
ad upon his tongue, 10 be but wasted
on the desert air. He was not particu-
larly afraid CT women older than
himself, more's.the pity. And yet, had
he been as shy toward them as toward
the girls, there would have been no
stolen Yhiordes, no sad-eyed maiden,
no such thing as Tho United Romance
and Adventure Company, Ltd; and he
would have stepped the even tenor OF
his way, unknown Of grand passions.
swift adventure, life.
George was determined to meet For
tune Cheds0ye and this determination,
the first Of It's kind to take definite
form in his mind, gave him q novel
sensation He would find some way,
and he vowed to best his old enemy,
difTidence, If It was the last fight he
ever put up. He would vancouver to
get in the way Of the Major. He never
| found much trouble in talking to men.
| Once he exchanged q word or two
with the uncle or guardian, he would
make 1t point to renew tho acquaint-
ance when he saw the two together.
1t appeared to him as bright idea,
and he was rather proud OF It. Even
| now he was conscious of clenching his
| teeth strongly. It's an old saying that
| he goes farthest who shuts his teeth
| longest He was going to test the pre-
,o,,+ !,
He had stood before the list fully
three minutes. Now be turned about
face, singular citation tingling his
! blood. Once he Set his mind upon q
| thing, he went forward He had lost
many pleasurable things in life be-
cause he had doubted and faltered,
not because he had reached out to-
ward them and had then drawn back
He was going to meet Fortune Ched-
soye; when or how wero but details.
| And as he discovered the Major HIM
self idling before the booth OF the East
Indian merchant, he saw In fancy the
Dortcnllis rise and the drawDridge fall
10 the castle Of enchantment. He
1 A,yAl l