The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-01


hair or black an adventurer
Of my experience might have realized
that the tints Of women's hair are
somewhat fugitive. I jumped out Of
the train at a wayside station, waited
for four hours for the train to Dreux,
found at my hotel an announcement
in The Times to the effect that a
marriage had been arranged between
Signor Carlo Scarlati and
became hysterical and rushed to the
door of Madame Bordat.
She received me with perfect calm,
asking If I wanted a second lesson the
same day? In a few mangled SEN
fences stated the object OF my jour
ney. She listened to my intently. Her
silence frightened me, for it was es-
sential to produce her in person:
otherwise Lady Grace would never be-
lieve. Still, I waited, and she began
to ask questions.
you want me to return to him,
to Monsieur Scarlati?"
Eyes. You see. you are his wife"
After a long, mediative pause,
Madame Bordat said: But I don't
like him"
mo more do I, but since you're
married to him, that doesn't matter"
Quite So" said Madame Bordat.
Once more she gave herself over to
meditations which I did not like to
interrupt At last they took form:
How much does my husband earn?"
she asked at must be something
considerable
ooh, I hardly know. hear that
on his lasts American tour, he made
over fifty thousand dollars in two
months"
Madame Bordat got up solemnly,
and said: IT wonder if I have been
unjust. Perhaps you are right. I
viii let bygones be bygones and re-
turn to my husbands arms" Then,
as if moved by an afterthought. she
said: you will understand. Mon
sieur. that I am relying on your
word. You tell me that you have a
message from my husband, but you
DO not bring even a letter from him.
You ask me to take an expensive
journey to England. I think the
journey should be paid for"
"Oh. of course" I said
Also" Madame Scarlad went on
obstinately, she ought to send me
some money to show that he is in
He has treated me very
How much?"
"I don't know. Perhaps 5000
francs"
I'll wire this minute. and you'll |
have the money tomorrow morning"
VI
I found myself strangely popular |
in Lord Goswyn's house. Indeed |
found the situation slightly altered. |
Scarlat called daily and was allowed
the society Of Lady Grace. but she
seemed to find equal pleasure in
mine Her gratitude was touching;
by degrees I became her familiar
friend, to whom she liked to talk Of
I erils past and joys to come. With
Scarlati It was different; he used to
take me into corners. ravel his hair.
beg me to say how long this was
going on, what was going to happen.
and when I would produce his wife.
H
formation. AS for the marquis, he
was pathetic; he confded to me that
his daughter must be crazy, and so
persistently asked me whether I
couldn't do something to stop it that
I became suspicious. Indeed, one
evening. when I had dined there alone,
he drank three or four glasses of port,
looked upon me benevolently, and re.
marked. ''Ah. If only this hadn't
happened! She might have married
an Englishman."
In other words, my position was
unsatisfactory. was confronting
the girl loved. and Who insisted upon
being grateful; a man to whom / was
doing a good turn, and who was most
ungrateful; a father who was limiting
TO me that 1 should do something I
wanted to do. but could not. And stiIl
dared do nothing. The wedding was
fixed for six weeks hence; pleasurable
excitement was stirring in the breast
Of only one player in the comedy.
Perhaps. however Lady Grace was
not as happy as she ought to have
been at such a season. She seemed
preoccupied. Now and then I found
her eyes resting upon me with a pc
culiar expression. When we were
alone she would occasionally heave a
sigh. Once she even remarked that it
would have been better II had let
her die in Grosvenor Square.
but why?" asked. Haven't you
got your hearts desire?"
ftT sI1pD0so SO - she r-oDy1ed
Nothing more was said, but our com
partnership grew more continuous,
more intimate. more confident. This
was assisted by the fact that Lady
Grace played tennis and golf with
ferocity, while Scarlati played the
piano. Meanwhile, In spite of letters
and kilograms, Madame Scarlati was
making difficulties. suggesting that
ScarIau should come to her. It took
me some time to realize that the key
to her heart was made of gold; made
Scsrlati promise her 500 pounds on
arrival; she fixed her journey so as
tc arrive on the eve of the wedding.
My tender friendship with Lady
Grace developed day by day. But
was not prepared for a fact which
put down to natural excitement; on
the eve Of the wedding Lady Grace
burst into tears, and rushed away
from me, refusing to speak. This was
just before dinner. But she recov-
cred. as women do. Later on, as It
was a soft night, I saw her with Scar
lati make for the terrace which over
looks the grounds OF Goswyn House.