The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-04-26

30 A. ~ the SOFT patter
y. .lelr applause I even scared to
original heights. In the parlance Of
tne stage, made a hit, In fact whom
Que O'Clock came and with it the in.
ena''on from Mrs. Dace that she
muse depart. It was only after little
ssn mat reached my ears alone. and
q nash from her wonderful eyes that
qu.eA'y MD themselves behind the
screening lashes as looked deem into
'nem' OF the perpendicular bill paid
NY nal1 without pang. secretly philo-
sopnized by the knowledge that the
goos won't allow US to be In their
oent' and when man wines and dimes
WIN woman he must pay for it with
tne sllstening Jewels Of his brow.
we prepared to depart,
towards paved the way for me.
MRS, Dace lives at the Arcadia. which
ID not more than a mile from your
nouSe. You can take her there, step
oack IN your carriage and be home ten
minutes later. Miss Lyddon and l
80 III another direction, and leave you
10 your pleasant homeward ride. OF
course We must all meet again. It
*lh require another evening to talk
this one over"
We babe them good night, and hail
ing a carriage, I assisted my compan-
ION Into 1t. The rather long ride
nomeward still fingers in my mind as
a pleasant dream. The gentle sway
ing or the carriage as the rubber tires
rolled noiselessly over the boulevard
lulied us into half condolences. She
told me quite few things about her.
sell. Her husband, an Englishman,
nao been In some diplomatic service
IN the orient, had died year before,
ana she had now come back to her
birthplace on matters Of business.
Unreservedly, she seemed to accept
me as a thorough man of the world,
and even did me the fattery to repeat
some Of my witticisms of the evening
and laugh over them for a moment
the second time. When I say that
was charmed I think I have ex-
pressed it.
In front of the formidable entrance
to the building where she resided
assisted her to alight, and she thrust
out her fingers which I took eagerly.
The physical contact thrilled me from
head to toe and the enchantment of
her smile enthralled me. You have
entertained me delightfully."-. I feel
battered to have met YOU" she MUIR
INJURED. "And since you are a busy
man BY day, l hope you will call and
seq me some evening when you can
think Of nothing else to do. You can
reach me over the phone at almost
any time. I hope you will not forget
mi"
That anyone once seeing her could
ever forget her! Nothing could be
more ridiculous than the thought.
lightly laughed the idea to scorn as l
bent over her hand. Mrs. Dace, the
Oh asnan general reported to his
enperor, I came. saw, / conquered
ofjou / must report somewhat differ
entity. I came, I saw, am con.
queted.' ! will pay you my tributes
ver1 soon. Until then life will be a
necessity instead Of pleasure"
She tripped up the entrance steps
and from their top sent me flutter
Of her handkerchief and a flashing
smile that made my blood leap as
She vanished behind the heavy door.
Back into the carriage I climbed and
went home in an exhilaration Of spir.
It's that the wine did not account for.
The seine had been cast and was be.
Ing held wide to receive. Unsuspi-
ciously the fish wiggled on.
The next day I happened to see
Bruce. In the course Of our CONVERSE
ton l casually asked him what he
knew of my companion Of the night
before. and he began digging his fin.
gers into his head as though trying to
scratch out an answer. Presently 1t
came:
Lets see. I don't know that I can
tell you very much-you know
never paid any particular attention to
her. he began in a quizzical glance
at NE. Still, If you will agree to
keep it a family secret. I might re-
member few things. Promise, hon.
est lnjun?"
Honest 1njun."
well, then, here goes. Matte Mad
den was born in this town about
thirty years ago Of poor but dishonest
parents. But she was beauty, even
as q girl. and people forgave her par
entage on that account. She eloped
out Of school with a more or less &C.
count Englishman named Dace, who
afterwards got into the service of his
government over in India or some 9TH
er outlandish place on the back of the
map. He died with his boots on"
"How was he killed." I inquired.
Bruce grew trifle more serious.
We'll, now, that is something l am
no authority upon. can only repeat
to you in confidence what I have
heard and read. But the report has 1t
that It happened in disagreement
with q Russian nobleman over her
one of those cheerful little af1airs
that sometimes occur out that way
you know; referee and seconds to the
'front.'. wine and jealousy in the back
ground; moon in the distance-you