The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-04-26
res, sir, thank you. sir" sal

| in his silk hat and generally shining
toys. he set forth to make call. He
was no stranger to New York. and
usually he took his cities as they
came, with a Natter-offact noncha
lance. He would be as much at home
on his second day in London as he
had ever been in Lynn; or he would
go from a friends weekend house
party, where the habits Of a Sybarite
were forced on him, to a camp in the
woods and pilot-bread fare, with an
equal smoothness Of temper and enjoy
ment. Since luxury made no impress
sion on him. and hardship never
blunted his own ideals OF politeness
or pleasure, no one ever knew which
life he preferred
Choosing to walk fifteen or twenty
squares to the Archangel apartment
house. his destination, Van Camp
looked about him, on this night of his
arrival with slightly quickened per-
ceptions. He cast a mildly apprecia-
tive eye toward the picture disclosed
here and there by the glancing lights.
the chiaroscuro OF the intersecting
streets, the constantly changing Wis
tas. For an unimpressionable man, he
was rather wrought upon. Neverthe-
less. he entered the charming apart
ment whittier he was bound with the
detached and composed manner which
society regards as becoming. A maid
with a foreign accent greeted him
Yes, Mademoiselle Reynier was at
home; Mr.. Van Camp would find her
in the drawingroom
The stiff and unrelaxed manner with
which Mr.. Van Camp bowed to Miss
Reynier a moment later was not at
all indicative Of the fairly respectable
fever within his Scotch breast. Miss
Reynier herself was pretty enough to
cause quickened pulses. She was OF
noble height. evidently a woman OF
the world. She gave Mr.. Van Camp
her hand In a greeting mingled OF
European daintiness and American
frankness. Her vitality and abound
ing interest in life were manifest.
'Ah, but you are very late. This is
how you become smart all at once In
your New York atmosphere. But pray
be seated; and here are cigarettes, II
you will. No? Very well: but tell
me; has that amorphois gill-slit-or,
no. the bronchial lamella-has 1t be-
haved itself and proved to be the ave-
nue. which shall lead you TO fame?"
Mr.. Van Camp stood silent through
this fiippant badinage. and calmly
waited until Miss Reynier had settled
herself. Then he thoughtfully turned
the chair offered him so as to COM
mand a slightly better view of the
corner where she sat, leaning against
the old-rose cushions. Finally, taking
his own time, he touched off her
greeting with his precise drawl.
I'm not smart. as you call it, even
in New York, though try to be-" His
eyes twinkled and his teeth cleaned
in his wide smile. IF | were smart,
I'd pass by your error in scientific
but really / ought not
to do it II one can not be exact"
That's just what | say. If one can
not he exact. why talk at all?" Miss
Reynier caught It up with high glee
She had foreign accent and an oc-
casional twist Of words which proved
her to be neither American nor Eng
ishwoman. That's my principle"
she insisted. Leave other people in
Indisturbed possession of their hob |
oies, especially in conversation, and /
ion't say anything If you can't say
what you mean. Put then, you won't /
ak about your hobby; and IL have /
10 one to inform me, how can be !.
exact? But I'm the meekest person /
alive; I'm so ready to learn"
Mr.. Van Camp surveyed first the |
alluring eyes. then turned F.
lis gaze upon the sofa Injuries about |
hem.
Are you ready to turn this bijou |
lream into a laboratory smelling Of
Ilcohol and fish? Are you willing to !
pend hours wading In mudbanks after /
pecimens. or scratching in the sand
lnder the broiling sun? Science does
lot consult comfort"
Miss Reynier's expression Of quizzi-
al teasing changed to one of rather
thoughtful inquiry, as if she were es-
imating the man behind the scientist.
IAN Camp was one of the lean, angu-
lso every manly and wholesome. but
ven in his conventional evening
lothes there was something about
i'm that was unconventional pro-
esting. untamed element of charac-
or that resisted all rules except those
rescribed by itself. He puzzled her
ow, as he had often puzzled her be-
ore: but II she made fun of his hob
les, she had no mind to make fun of
he man himself a cheerful, intelli-
ent smile finally ended her contem-
lating moment.
ooh. no: no digging in the sand
Or me. I'll take what science ! get
4 another way-put up in predigested
ackages or bottled-any way but the
shy way. But please don't give me
p. You shed a good deal OF light
n my mental darkness last winter In
Egypt and maybe I can improve still
lore" She suddenly turned with
riendly. confidential manner toward
leck. not waiting for replies to her
emarks. ITS good to see you again!
-~~~~~~~~~~~Oo-~~~ ~-~O~-~~-~-~-~~~~~~S
horus from the speakers platform"
There was no sign of a panic in
nat convention. but the colonel still