The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-04-03

the dreadful thought had been put into
execution. He had been certain he
would need some artificial courage.
1t gathered in his soul and helped
him fashion an extraordinary smile
yacuous and tremulous. but none the
less a smile
"Viola?" hazarded reckless youth
across the table, and Viola (who was
present in the makeup which she had
worn from the stage of near theater.
where she had, that evening, acted
powerfully the part of wronged and
innocent maidenhood) hoped wildly for
an instant. Perhaps Broadway, in his
cups, had decided on this most unusual
way Of asking her the fateful ques-
ton! She had had high hopes of him.
Perhaps"
NO" he answered thickly. Guess
again. Three guesses. It's going to
take some brains. tell you that! In
tellect's the only thing'll do 1t. Who
ever guesses right gets cigar"
There was only one among the
ladies present who was not favored
by some speculative mind, and that
one was the right one.
Guesser after guesser named some
Of the young and vivid creatures Of
that almost wholly young and vivid
feminine company, none guessed the
only faded flower in the gay group
Broadway, never dreaming of the az
ony which filed the faded flowers
much powdered bosom because of the
omission Of her name, feeling few emo
tons, really, other than the keen SEN
sation of relief from his financial wor-
ries, stood smiling somewhat vacantly,
but, on the whole, without much pain,
upon the puzzled party.
60 on, guess with your brains," he
genially suggested. "It's mind, not
foot-work. that will win the prize"
But none guessed.
Realizing that in this was something
like reflection on her fitness for the
covetable position of consort to the
youth, Mrs. Gerard attracted every
ones attention, presently, by won
derfully feigned embarrassment as she
rose and stood by Broadway's side
The party gasped, but rose to the oc.
casion as soon as 1t could get Its
breath again. It was incredible, and
there were those among the guests
who were so sure Of this that they
believed joke was hidden somewhere
in the episode, but the majority were
80 we'll trained to Broadway's. genius
for producing mad extravaganza tina
they simply charged this I'D as ons o
them.
A dancer who had been brought VI
} from the cabaret below after on,
o'clock and closing time had come
sprang lightly to table, and, to thu
destruction of the floral lobster an(
some notably fine glassware, did a gay
pas-seul among the wrecks of sangui
nary shells and emptied bottles. Thu
head waiter smiled, knowing thai
whatever might be broken would be
charged up in the bill at double value
and paid for without question by the
sensational spendthrift, to whose owl
wealth was now linked the extraordi
nary fortune of the recent John Gerart
{wholesale leather) who had made hiE
millions, married very vital lady
of his own ripe years and then died o.
sheer antiquity, to leave her, trium
plant in superior vitality. relict ant
craving for that gaiety which life witt
him had not provided.
Broadway" breathed the ancient
lady with a skillful stimulation of EN-
barrassment. you naughty, naught!
boy"
Naughty, possibly; but how ex
tremely lucky" said the wholly I'm
expected bridegroom-elect without 1
culver, much to his own surprise ant
selfcongratulation
: AS It broke up the party rioted witt
Joy, very largely alcoholic. Mrs. &c
rard's car, when it came up from it
hiding place around the corner, wa'