The Washington herald., 1912-10-27

I out Of practice. Do Just smiled and
slowly inclined my head. meanwhile
studying the Frenchman bsfors ms.
He's very erect so that he looks taller
than he really IL He has q nna, aristo-
cratic face. keen. flashing eyes: white haiP
which stands right up straight IKE .
nice. new powder pun. and . farce and
martial white mustacha
You feel he ought to be guarding q king
| somewhere to-day. .as one Of his ancestors
guarded Louis XVI. till he lost his own
life In the struggle to save his monarch.
Count Leon de Tinseau 10 an anach-
ronism. He doesn't belong to the com
mercial. trading. bartering Paris OF the
present
What can I do for you. nnadamsf' he
said pleasantly. but with Just . shade Of
hauteur.
ON A LITERARY TRAIL.
We'll. I've come to find out something
about book you've written on thu
America of the future" said. son>.
what timidly. for was a bit awed By the
sort Of aloofness there was In the atmes.
phere- Count de Tinssau smiled. stiu q
trifie coldly. msthought
I'm afraid I cannot tell you much
about my book" he replied. simply. "You
see. 1t has not appeared a. yet. and you
would not want me to give It to readers
in advance. would your"
oh, nor assured him In my most
heartfelt tones Not under any cireum-
stances."
He warmed a little at this disarmins
attitude OF mine. and I think he looked
upon me with more favor. for he eat
down near me and unbent somewhat
You see." continued. chattily. 'rumor
has 1t that you've had the temertty to
make America q monarchy In the new
story and Theodore II the ruler"
He didn't fall into this trap with his
eyes open. Frenchmen. my dear Girls.
are much subtler than ordinary men.
They see through all our wilss and win
ming ways. but they just pretend with u
that We are a. ingenious a. We are try
ing to appear.
Therefore Count de finseau. though he
knew quite well was doing my best to
nnd out a little more than he desired to
divuise. merely overlooked this, and told
me as much a. he cared to about the |
book.
A STORY BASED ON "PERHAPs."
MY new novel. Duo Rollon,' isn't alto |
sether about America" he said. With gsn- !
tie courtesy. Tt 10 . Action based on |
possibilitiss-what might be the result on |
the American or European Continent
II tho present social and political oondi- /
tion develops along similar linss until the
end Of the twentieth century. ssy eighty
years hence: incr ass In public debts,
taxes. strikes. antagonism between cap
ital and labor. riots. etc. quite admit
that the possibilities have contemplstsd
may be arrested by some unexpected
events. but thsy are possibilities any,
how and worth studying. And now" hs
added quite deeisively. that's all can
say about Due Rollon.' madame. sxospt
that my heroine 10 an ultra-eivili.ed
American girl. and my hero . French
man reverted to semi-barbarism."
''Oh. Of course, ! wouldn't dream of
questioning you further about the book"
| twittered humbly. But since I an
here, won't you please b kind enough to
talk little about Paris and its life and
conditions? You know there's q zen.
eral feeling among English and Ameri-
cans that the Gay City u growing old
Ind drsary."
Count de rnseaus mobile face tell ana
he pursed his lips.
There's little to say OF the Paris of
he present." he answered. There's no
,eal life Of Paris now. We are but tho
station for the world. We have
10 longer individuality or charm. Alas.