The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-07-27
IcOOynshl 1919 BY W. c. Chapman


soupieu WIN Illumination. Conrsod
through my mind. and J folt my face
flush intolerabiy. was endeayorlng
With all my power 10 dodge away from
them, when. TO my horror. ! perceived
that Estelle recognized the younger
man, aud heard her. az my elbow, ex.
claim In plaintivo tones.
"Oh, won't you please take us into
the Abbey2"
They spun round In astonishment at
this unexpected address. / saw q look
OF recognition come Into the ayiator's
eyee. lie turned TO his companion and
muttered something; both raised their
hats, and, with the %gallantest OF bows,
our unknown offered his arm to-mel
At the same time the elder man OF.
fered his own to Estelle. Il was all
done so aptly. and took me so by
surprise, that ! placed my hand me.
chanlcally upon the arm that was Of
fered me and followed the old officer
and my friend. Luckily at that mo.
ment tho crowd was cheering the
huge. black. portly coachman of tho
M~aharajah of Trayancore. under tho
impression that be was that ~Dotentate
himself, and 80 attention was distract.
ed from the little drama in which wo
played our roles.
Your presence makes this event
seem like my Owl coronation, my
bright-haired sun.goddess," whispered
my escort. as We passed between two
lanes OF policemen.
was SO angry | could have struck
him. My hair is my most sensitive
feature. ] have been called Carrots"
In my childhood, and made miserable
for days thereby. and Mary Jenner in
sists that II is emphatically not what
the poets call auburn" That horrid
little Mr.. Spratt, too, who was 80 smit-
ten with me. had reused my ire one
evening by an untactfuI allusion which
was meant to be complimentary. But
l had neye before been Knocked by a
stranger, by a man whose name | did
not evan know. whom had met oRce
only. and then al Competitor 40. 9"
In an aviation contest. Did he sup.
pose American girls to be so shallow
and foolish as 10 accept these half.
baked compliments for genuine?
loathed and hated him then more than
| had ever hated anybody before.
However. being q ~Frenohman, he
had the perspicacity to read my emo
tons In my face.
Forgive me II | offended, Made,
moiselle," he said. humbly. III you
delay we shall not DO able to gain
admittance. See. that policeman s1s
poets us. Let us go in"
let him draw my arm through his
own. A fatal lndecision possessed
me. I own | did want Il see the cor,
onation, and | wanted Estelle I do
so. too. II only to save her reputation
IN her native city OF Cedar Plank
Then, too, ! was faint from tho Ions
standing In the sun. and hardly in full
possession OF my faculties. As ]
moved onward toward the Abbey
doors. a pace behind the elder man and
Estelle. suddenly the cry "Pickpock
cts" wal raised again. / clutched my
purse tighter. Aud then. while
moved ON. half conscious. eager oni,
for the cool seclusiOn OF the interior
OF the building. as IN a dream ! saw
tina evil far nf tho Greek zsuxil
swim before my eyes. The MAT
brushed against my scompanion.
thought | saw HIS hand 20 10 hi
breast pocket. a though 10 search Il
Il was the act OF a moment: ! couls
not be sure that he had really robhes
him. and th4n the recollection OF I
was driven from my mind By tho mos
humiliating catastrophe.
zeuxis swept past me; there was
little rush OF spectators; somebod,
struck my hand. and my purse nes
from II and disappeared right In TN
hollow top OF one OF the old gentle
mans bun boots. And he walked Of
~sarenely unconscious Of the disaster
carrying ms $500 and the key TO thl
vault which held my Panama bonds
Suddenly the murmur OF a th0usani
subdued voices broke upon my ears
and a grateful GOODNESS relieved m
tired eyes. We we're within the Al
hey. marching up one Of the aiaies a
though By right equivalent with tina
OF the Ave hundred peers and peel
esses In brilliant robes. who sat daE
ding their %ooronets upon their knee
and looking unc0mmonly commoH
place aud unlmportant IN that vas
Gothic building.
While my mind hurriedly RAJ
through all tho possibilities OF my III
uation. the elder gentleman bowed "a
telle 10 the seat which the usher Of
fcred them and tremendously deparl
ed. 70 take up his station at the sid
OF the French ambassador, among
little group OF foreign dignitaries nea
the hieh altar lie brushed past m
IN his high bun bo0ts-and. for Oh
present. az least, my purse was loa
10 me. ! prayed ~forvently that hi
duties did not call tor his kneeling;
would not trust my property eve
among the peers aud their ladiel
should II roll out OF bis boottopsl
Well. for the present there was moth
Ing 10 be done. Ny escort sat b
.rtos mTarif and Estelle. who peere
eerlalically toward the altar. We Nv