The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1914-08-14

please himself. And ! do not blame
him. The women about here treat
him abominably, They come at all
times of the day and night. use his
card room. order his servants about,
drink his whisky and smoke his Gig.
arettes, and generally invite them.
selves to luncheon and tea and dinner.
And then, when they are ready to go
back to their villas or hotel, take his
motor-boat without thank you. The
colonel has about three thousand
pounds outside his half-pay. and they
are all crazy to marry him because
his sister Is q countess. AS a bach
/ elor he can live like a prince, but as
| a married man he would have to dig.
| He told me that II he had been born
Adam, he'd have climbed over Eden's
walls long before the Angel of the
Flaming Sword padded him out. Says
he's always going to be bachelor,
unless | take pity on him." mischiev-
ously.
Has he 2" in Mortified tones.
About three times a visit" Nora
admitted but told him that I'd be
daughter, cousin, or a niece to him,
or even a grandchild. The latter pre-
sented too many complications. so we
compromised on niece"
j wish | knew when you were seri-
GUS and when you were fooling"
Il am often as serious when / am
fooling as ] am foolish when am seri-
Gus
Nora, you will have me shrieking
in minute!" despaired the mother.
Did the colonel really propose to
your
Only in fun
Celeste laughed and threw her arm
around the mothers waist, less ample
than substantial Don't you care!
Nora is being pursued by little devils
and Is venting her spite on U.s."
"Therell be too much Burgundy and
tobacco. to say nothing of the awful
stories"
With the good old padre there?
Hardly" said Nora.
Celeste was French woman. II
confess that | like good story that
isn't vulgar. And none Of them laOk
like men who would stoop to vul
garity."
That's about all you know of men,
declared Mrs. Harrigan.
Il am willing to give them the bene-
fit of doubt"
celeste" cried Nora, gaily, i've
an idea Supposing you and l run
back after dinner and hide in the card
room, which is right across from the
dining room? Then we can Judge for
ourselves"
Nora Harrigan!"
Molly Harrigan!" mimicked the in
corrigible. Mother mine, you must
learn to recognize a jest"
"Ah, but yours!"
Fine" cried Celeste.
AS If to, put final period to the
discussion, Nora began to hum aud
IDLY an aria from Aida.
nv Nh5o6CQ q Iul lldSo III LA0 Viz
lage and were driven up to the villa
On the way Mrs. Harrigan discussed
the stranger, Edward Courtlandt. What
fine looking young man he was, and
how adventurous, how well-connected,
how enormously rich, and what an ex-
cellent catch! She and Celeste-the
one innocently and the other provo
catiysly continued the subject to the
very doors of the villa All the while
Nora hummed SOFTLY
What do you think of him, Nora?'
the mother inquired
Think of whom?"
This Mr.. Courtlandt."
"Oh, didn't pay much attention to
him." carelessly. But once alone with
Celeste, she seized her by the arm,
little roughly. Celeste, / love you
better than any outsider know. But
If you ever discuss that man in my
presence again, | shall cease to regard
you even as an acquaintance. He has
come here for the purpose of annoy
ing me, though he promised the pre-
feet in Paris never to annoy me again.
The prefect!"
Yes. The morning left Versailles
l met him in the private office of the
project. He had powerful friends who
aided him in establishing an alibi.
was only woman, so didn't count"
Mora, II / have meddled in any
way" proudly, "it has been because
l love you, and see you unhappy
You have nearly killed me with your
sphinx-like actions. You have never
asked me the result of my spying for
you that night. Spying is not one of
my usual vocations, but did 1t gladly
for you"
You gave him my address," coldly.
Il did not. l convinced him that |
had come at the behest of Flora Desi- |
none He demanded her address,
which gave him. If ever there was
a man in fine rage, it was he as he
left me to go there. II he found out |
where we lived, the Calabrian assisted |
him. ! spoke to him rather plainly |
at tea. He said that he had had moth
ing whatever to do with the abduc- |