Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-04-04
CHAPTER l.
Twilight In the Park.

Twilight In the PARK.
You may wait. Renaud."
The voice was firm, but the lazy
herself hesitated as she stepped from
me tonneau. There was no answer
Holding the tapping ends OF her ven
away from her face. she turned ana
booked fairly at the driver OF the
machine.
lie seemed a businesslike, capable
man. though certain minor details OF
his chauneur's rig were a bit unusual
and now that he had been obliged, by
some discomfort, to remove his cog
giles. his face appeared pleasant ana
quite untanned. His passenger noted
these things, rcmarking: ION, 1t iSht
Remand"
mo, Mademoiselle; Renaud hadn't
showed up at the Office when you tel'
ephoned, 30 they put me on In NIB
place"
"Ah. | see" Accent seemed to I'M
ply, however, that sho was not quite
pleased. THE manager sent you, Ana
your nam is"
My name-rather odd name
Aand"
The face half hidden behind the veil
remained ~impassive, A moments hes
station, and then the lady turned
away with a short, you will waitY"
AS madcmoiselle wishes. Or shall
: perhaps follow slowly along the
driver"
mo, wait here. | shall return
soon"
The young woman walked away
erect. w~ell.poised, lifting skirts skill
fully az she paused a moment at the
bop OF tho stone steps leading down
Into the tiny park. The driver OF the
machine. free from observation, al
Bowed q perplexed look to occupy his
c%ountenance. What the devil 10 to
pay II she doesn't return--soon!"
The avenue lifts q camel's hump
toward the sky in the space Of fifteen
blocks, and on the top, secure as the
howdah OF a ~chieftaln, stands the
noble p%ortico. of the old college. To
The westward. as every n knows.
lie the river and the more pretentious
park: on the east an abrupt descent
offers space for a small grassy play
ground for children. who may be seen.
during the sunny hours Of the day,
romping over the slope.
As the gaze Of the woman swept
over the charming little pleasance, and
beyond, over the miles OF sign boards,
roofs, chimneys and intersecting
streets, the serious look disappeared
from her face. Summer haze and dis.
lance shed a gentle beauty over what
she knew to be a clamoring city
New York. Angles were softened
noises subdued. sensational scenes
lost In the dimmed perspective. Tc
q chance observer, the prospect would
have been deeply suggestive; In the
woman II stirred many memories. She
put back her veil; her face glowed; q
long sigh escaped her lips. Slowly
she walked down the steps, along the
slipping path TO n turn, where abe sanl
down on a bench. A rosy, tired child
rather the worse for mud-pies, ant
hanging reluctantly at the hand of
n~onchalant nurse, brought n bit O
the woman's emotion to the surface
she smiled radiantly at the laggin,
4nfant.
The face revealed by the uplifte,
veil was Of a type to accompany tn,
youthful but womanly figure and tn,
spirited tread, Beautiful she woul,
be counted, without doubt, by man,
an observer; those who loved he
would call ner beautiful without stint
But more appealing than her beaut
was the fine spirit-a strong, fire.
spirit, loving honesty and courage
which glowed like a fame behind he
beauty. Best Of all, perhaps, was
touch OF quaintness, a slightly conf
twist to her lips. an im~perceptbl
alertness OF manner, which reveale
to the initiated that she had a SEM
Of humor in excellent running ordel
II was evident that the little excu,
sion was Of the nature Of a pilgrimag,
The idle hour, the bit OF holiday. b,
came a memorial. as recollectio
brought back to her the days OF chilli
hood spent down yonder. a few square
away, in this very city. They SCENE
bright in retrospect. like the pleasar
paths Of a quiet garden, but they ha
ended abruptly, and had been followe
by years Of activity and colorful exp,
Renee in another country. Through
all what anticipations had been lodge
in her return to Homel Somethip
there would complete the story-th
story with its secret ecstasies and a
pirations-the story of the arder
springs OF youth.
Withdrawing her gaze from II
scene below, though with apparent r
luctance, she took from the pocket
her coat an opened envelope whic
she regarded . moment with though
fuipssA, AA1nrs drawing forth the Ell