The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-10-09
An Eventful
Dialogue
BY RUTH GRAHAM

man, a young oma and n notary
were gathered in the drawing room of
a chateau in the environs of Paris.
The notary called each in turn for his
or her signature on q paper lying on d
table, then affixed his seal, folded the
paper, put it into a tin box and, bow
ing, left the ROOM. The young man
and young woman followed. apparent
ly wrapped up in each other.
This takes me back nearly a quar-
ter of IL century," said the elderly man.
when l passed through Il like cere
mony. | was then as big Il fool a:
Francois"
"And l as addle pated as Lucille"
: Your niece may possibly possess the
gift Of constancy."
Your nephew may not be drawn
hither and thither by every pretty face
he sees"
During this bit of dialogue the mar
| stood with one hand on the table
where marriage settlements had been
signed. eying the lady sternly, scorn-
fully, rep%roachfully. while the lady had
walked to Il window and stood look
ing out, tapping the waxed floor With
the toe of her slipper. The man was
forty-two, the woman ~thirty-eight. ana
both still looked young.
"What has become of De Belleville?'
How should l know? Why SHOULD
care?"
sit was he who rendered that sign.
ing of settlements between you anu
me null and void. But, parbleu, theH.,
has been time since hen for mnns
such intcrterences."
DE Belleville never interfered be-
wee you and me-"
did not interfere! Will you be ge"u
enough to inform me what did,?
THAT actress"
What a~ctress?"
THE one who was breaking the
hearts of so many young fools. She
| played at the Theatre Francois, l be-
licve. though it was SO long ago l fail
to remember. Doubtless by this time
she is as unattractive as ! am"
who told you that l admired an
actress at the Theatre FRANCHISE"
II saw you there myself the evening
of the day the settlements were made
for our marriage. l was indisposed
/ and about to go to bed when a friend
gave me Il bit of information. | went
to the theater and saw you gazing upon
the woman through adoring eyes,"
HIN! Had the malicious informa-
lion communicated by your friend any
thing to DO with my eye appearing to
adore the %actress?"
"What 1 saw through my eyes
You mean your Imagination"
was convincing"
Them"
"Then l proposed that two cou'I
play at a game like that. De Bellevijle
happened to call the next morning.
You came while he was there. COM
PEELED you to wait. and when he went
away
II see it all. Why have you waited
all these years to tell me that under
q false assumption. instigated by-by
whom?"
MY cousin. Julie Demourier."
Julie Demourier!! Why
'Why what?"
''She threw herself ut me as soon as
you had broken with me-"
"She threw herself at you!"
Certainly"
"Oh. heavens!"
He STROBE toward her and stood be-
side her. looking into her eyes almost
iercely.
sSCO,n hISsr1,ko1 n,pr 1iv,nS - hn cOi6
There was no reply. She stood with
her back to him. looking intently out
through the window.
"You permitted yourself to be made
u dupe by IL who was not worthy to
tie your Shoe"
"If you had loved me you would
have sought me again. You would
have given me an opportunity to-
"How did I know that you were
prompted by' jealousy and were show
ing Il preference you did not feel for
another?"
The argument vas unanswerable.
"Heaven grant," he continued. that
no friend will come between these
two happy creatures who have just
lS1l us Uc1OIc luc huOI 10 lieu.
She shuddered.
"Hortense." he said in a quieter tone.
there is yet old age for u.s."
For me. You are in your prime. A
man of your age. If he marries. will
unite with a young woman"
"You are as beautiful to me as the
day that contract was signed"
mot to the world. You would be-
come ashamed of me. Only men who
grow old with their wives grow old in
their affection for them"
"Hortense. let us close the gap be-
tween that settlement ceremony and
the present so far as we can by a
wedding. I will call the carriage: we
will drive to the maire."
She neither answered nor, stirred.
He placed an arm about her and kiss
ed her. Then he stepped to a bell
and called a servant.
'The carriage" he said when the
lackey entered.
That evening the two returned for
dinner from a drive and were met at