The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-08-29


| he appeared to be in the early TWEEN
| ties; but scrutiny, more or less infal-
| lible, noting a line here or an angle
there, was disposed to add ten years
| to the score. There was in the nose
and chin certain decisiyeness which
In true youth is rarely developed. This
characteristic arrives only with man.
hood, manhood that has been tried
| and perhaps buffeted and perchance
a little disillusioned.
| What was one to do who had both
| money and leisure linked to an ire
! sistible desire to leave behind one
| place or thing in pursuit of another
| Unfortunately? The inherent ambi-
ton was to make money; but recog-
nizing the abeurdity Of adding to his
| income, which even in his extrava-
| gance he could not spend, he gave
himself over into the hands of grasp
Ing railroad and steamship companies,
| or their agencies, and became for
time the slave of guide and dragoman
and carrier. And then the wanderlust,
descended to him from the blood of
his rowing Dutch ancestors, which had
lain dormant in 'the several genera
tons following, sprang into active life
again. He became known in every
port of call. He became known also
in the wildernesses.
Whatever had for the moment ap-
pealed to his fancy that he had done.
He was alone, absolute master of his
millions. Mammals with marriageable
daughters declared that he was impos-
sible: the manageable daughters
never had a chance to decide one way
or the other; and men called him a
fool. He had promoted elephant fights
which had stirred the Indian princes
out of their melancholy Indifference,
and tiger hunts. which had, by their
duration and magnificence, threatened
to disrupt the efficiency of the British
military service-whimsical excesses;
not Understandable by his intimate ac-
quaintances who cynically arraigned
him as the fool and his money.
But, like the villain IN the play, his
income still pursued him. Certain
scandals inevitably followed, scandals
he was the last to hear about and the
last to deny when he heard them.
Many persons, not being able to take
into the mind and analyze character
like Courtlandt's, sought the line of
least resistance for their understand
ing, and built some precious exploits
which included dusky island prin-
cesses, diaphanous dancers. and comic
opera stars.
Simply, he was without direction;
a thousand goals surrounded him and
none burned with that brightness
which draws man toward his des-
tiny: until one day. Personally. he
possessed graces of form and feature.
and was keener mentally than most
young men who inherit great fortunes
and distinguished names.
Automobiles of all kinds painted
hither and thither. An occasional
smart coupe went by as If to prove
that prancing horses were still neces-
sary to the dignity Of the old aristoc-
racy. Courtlandt made up his mind
suddenly. He laughed with bitterness.
He knew now that to loiter near the
stage entrance had been his real pur-
pose all along, and persistent lying to
himself had not prevailed. In due
time he took his stand among the
gilded youth who were not privileged
Qike their more prosperous elders) to
wait outside the dressing rooms for |
their particular ballerina. BY and by |
there was little respectful commo- |
ton. Courtlandt's hand went instinct
lively to his collar, not to ascertain II
1t were properly adjusted. but rather
to relieve the sudden pressure. He |
was enraged at his weakness. He |
wanted to turn away, but he could not.
A woman issued forth, muff1ed In
silks and light furs.. She was followed
by another, quite possibly her maid.
One may observe very we'll at times |
from the corner Of the eye; that is,
objects at which one is not looking
come within the range of vision. The
woman paused, her foot upon the step
Of the modest limousine. She whis-
pered something hurriedly into her
companions ear, something evidently
to the puzzlement of the latter, who
looked around irresolutely She
obeyed, however, and retreated to the
stage entrance. A man, quite as tall
as Courtlandt, his face shaded care
fully. intentionally perhaps. by one of
those soft Bavarian hats that are
worn successfully only by Germans.
stepped out Of the gathering to prof
fer his assistance. Courtlandt pushed
him aside calmly, lifted his hat. and
smiling ironically. closed the door be-
hind the singer The step which the