The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-10
Tie Woman Halter.

u
woman
u a chameleon and doth feed on air.
Three things a wise man will not
trust:
The wind, tho sunshine Of an April
day.
And woman's pllghted troth-
quoted Capt. Beauchamp, cynicaIly.
! "Consldering, my dear Beau
champ, that your sojourn upon this
planet cannot have exceeded thirty
years, you must have been singular
ly unfortunate in your experiences Of
women to adopt such aphorisms. ="
remarked Mr.. Wyndham. In answer.
''The man who takes Them for a
creed suggests n boy who. having
CHANGED 10 come across one or two
sour pIums among tree full Of
sweet ones. vows he will never taste
4 plum again"
This dialogue took place one sum-
ner evening on the lawn in front Of
Mr.. Wyndham's Surrey. residence,
while the two men were smoking
their cigarettes. Opt BeauchamP
was an officer In crack regiment
q man OF fortune, handsome. fascln-
Rting, intellectual Mr.. Wyndham,
who was we'll advanced in middle
age, had known him from his boy
hood, and the captain was frequent
visitor at the Pines.
There had been an unseen listener
10 this converse The Two men
were seated close to Il very large
rhododendron bush, and Tere I'M
aware that lady was seated on tho
other side Of It.
Clarlce Wyndham, the only Gaugh-
ter of the host, who was widowcr,
was dreaming over volume Of
Browning whcnAthe quotations with
which this story opened struck upon
her ear. A look of mingled pain and
sadness stole over her beautiful face.
After silence Wyndham consult
ed his watch! by 'JOvc." he said,
I'VE have only Just time to dress for
dinner! expected lady down.
Hark! 1 can hear n motor on the
road. | shouldn't wonder If 1t be
she!"
"a lady? You did not tell me you
expected any one down to-day" said
Beauchamp, lighting another cigar
cite. 81 understood some people
we're coming tomorrow"
"Who is It? Some one | know"
Interrupted BeauChamp, little irrit-
ably
Eyes. Lady Beaton-Maud SeIby
that was. Youth! What's the
matter?"
Beauchamp had given such a vio-
lent start that the cigarette dropped
from his lips. ooh, nothing" he an
gwered, STOPPING to pick It up again.
Eyes, the motor has stopped at the
lodge gate. 1t will be She" cried
Wyndham.
Beauchamp turned upon his heel
and strobe towards the house.
Lady Beaton was fair, hand
some woman OF about twCnty-sx. and
fascinating. She had only recently
been married to the rich pCCr whose
name she bore, and, as she was the
daughter OF a. poor country clergy
man, 1t was considered fortunate
match, although her husband WIS
seventy.
After the first greetings she said,
rather anxiously, WHO is the man |
caught glimpse Of through the
trees entering tho house? His figure
seemed familiar to me-"
ooh, an old friend of yours-Capt
4 Beapchamp," answered WyndhaW.
A couple CT hours afterwards
Beauchamp was smoking u cigar out
OF doors In the moonlight. His meet
ing with Lady Bcaton in the draw
ing-room had been that of an old ar
quaintauce, and her womau'$ tact
had carried her though the situation
with at least equal success. But all
the time Bcauchamp was under the
severest tension.
He had strollcd some little dis
lance from the house when the wOm-
an, wrapped in n light cloak, ad-
vanced rapidly toward him.
Maud!-Lady BCatun!" he cX-
claimed. She stood In his path