The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, December 13, 1907, PART TWO Pages 9 to 16, Page FIFTEEN, Image 15
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forced to livo hor life beside a crcaturo of that typo and under such
an influence. lie had not quite believed in the poor child at first
irhaps, and because he did beliovo in hor now ho felt poignant re>rse
for his past injustice.
"What did you do, then ?" ho asked, lonestly absorbed in the
>ry, for he was a generous and warm hearted fellow, who found
)st of his pleasure in these latter days in the help ho could give
liors, to make them happier than ho was himself.
"I comforted her as well as I could, but I didn't know what would
come of us. Then a lady who had a room next to mine in the hotel
ard mo crying and was very kind."
"1 should think she would have been," interrupted the young man.
"She told mo that, as my mother had lost- everything, she had
ttor go to the direction of the Casino and get what thoy call a
ntique?monev to go away with. So sho did ask,
ougli it was a great ordeal to mako up hor mind \ I "
do it, and they gave my mother a thousand dl I ^
(incs. I hen, you know, she had no right to play
the rooms again. She was supposed to pay her
>tel bill and leave Monto Carlo. But she gave /{^ ) j^\JQ \j
ilf the money to a woman sho had met in the I
loins and asked her to put it on six numbers sho \
id dreamed about. She was sure that this time I u /
ic would win." m
"And did sho?"
"No; the money was lost. Wo hadn't enough left to settle our
count at the hotel or to get away from the place, even if thero were
lywhcre to go?when ono lias no pennies. So my mother begged mo
slip into the rooms with what was loft4and try to get something
ick. 1 had been trying when you saw me, with our last louis. Now
>u know why it seemed so good to seo a man I knew, a face I could
list. N ow you know why I, who had had such misfortunes, was glad
; least to bring you luck."
"It's my turn to bring you some, I think," began the man sho
>uld trust, but she stopped him by putting up her plump little white
md.
"Tf you mean with money?no," she said, with a soft decision that
e/ was pretty and sad to hear. "If you mean with advice?yes. If you
could only get me something to do! You see, they will bo turning us
|l out of our hotel tomorrow. They've let us keep our rooms on up to
||f*now, but for two days thoy'vo not given us anything to cat. Of course
R it can't go on like this. If it hadn't been for you I think when I
went back to tell my mother that the last louis of the viatique was
fLj?onc wo wfm^ have killed ourselves."
HB "Great heaven, you must promiso me not to do that!" the young
||jjjpaan implored.
jpll "I will promise now, for you have saved me by-?caring a little.
|J$5Tou do care, really, don't you?"
fi?| "I wouldn't liavo blood in my veins if I didn't. But?about
j something for you to do?I must think."
i V "Are you staying here for some time?"
f !' asked the girl.
BP t, \Sk 1 jij "I haven't made up my mind."
K "j "I asked because I?I suppose you don't
P neet^ a secretary, do you? I can write such
R f\ a good English hand, and I know French and
fei ill T- Italian as well as I do German and your own
V A \\ ll ?^l language. If I could be of use I would work
D t ?Jl \\A i' 80 ^art^ ^or 70U*"
It 1 71 \\ I ^are say "* hall bo needing a secreI
[ \( \ 1 \ U 1 tary after Christmas. Indeed, I am euro I
| \YV r1 ^ shall," insisted the young man, more and
I more oarnost in his desire to do good. "I
/ havo dozens of letters to write every day and
Rsr all sorts of odds and ends to keep straight. I could bring tho things
down to your place, and you could help mo if you would. But I'm
!l it would bo no end of bother to you."
"I should love it," said the girl gently.
"Oh, it would be hard work. It would take a lot of your time
H and be worth a lot of money."
[. "Would it, really? But you mustn't overpay mo. I should bo
?j& so angry if you did that."
| "There's no danger. I'm a good business man, I assure you. I
|H should pay a capable secretary like you?knowing several languages
Bland all that?say $40 a week. That's about 200 francs."
|?^ "Wouldn't that bo too much?"
"Hardly enough."
II': XYou are 60 good?so good I But I knew you would be. I wonHpler
if^you would think mo a very bold girl if I told you something.
?|[t's this.: I've never forgotten you since those days in Paris. You
Bgl'werc dilrarent, somehow, from other men I had seen. I thought
??Mabout yo\\ I had a presentiment that we should meet again. My
Sifpiother droa^ned of numbers to play at roulette. I dreamed of?but,
B&voh, I am saving things I ought not to say 1 Ploase don't blame me.
^r^Wlien vou've starved for two days and not known what to do, unless
IflVto die, and then a man comes who is kind and saves you from terrible
HT'things, you can't be as wise and well behaved as at other times."
HA "Poor child !" said the young man.
|P|?i "It docs me good to be called that. But you don't know my name,
p\iBe name of your new secretary. It is Julio?Julie de Lavalet.te.
mother is the Comtesse do Lavalctte. ^
'*( >!i. I'm plain Hugh Egerton," said the ^
f ir! laughed. "I do not think you
ilugh Egcrton at all. But perhaps
ican girl would not tell you that. -nV /?];
' What, a nice name! I think it is j'
PEHraA;; to be mv favorite name." ^ jljY 1 \M$tJ
glanced up at him softly under long |hjl\ \\ t
jPfflpMgMk?a thrilling glance, but ho missed its \'j V \i
for his own oyes were far awav. /\ f
been the favorite name of another ?
WflBj^BHa'sn sho saw that look of his she roso from hor chair. "I'm takKrajgSn^wuich
of yoifr timo," sho exclaimed remorsefully. "I must go."
vyes and thoughts camp back to the wearer of pink and roses.
axxu nn yj
Perhaps there had been just a littlo too much softness and sweetness.
It had been wise of her to change the key and speak of parting. B0]
lie paid for tho lunch and tipped the waiter so liberally that they h?
all hoped he would come again often. Then ho asked if ho might walk 18
with her to the hotel where sho and lior mother wore staying." kl<
"It's down in the Condamino," sho hesitated. "We've moved 08
there lately, since tho money began to go, and we've had to think of
everything. It's rather a long walk from hero." 6r'
"All the better for me," he answered, and her smilo was an appreciation
of tho compliment. hii
They sauntered slowly, for there was no haste. Nobody else ca
wanted Hugh Kgorton's society, and he began to believe that this girl W?
sincerely did want it. He also believed that ho was going to do some
real good in tho world, not jw.st in the ordinary, obvious way, by ^!l
throwing about his money, but by being genuinely necessary to ^ii
some one.
When they had strolled down tho hill and had followed for a timo
the straight road along the sea on that level plain which is tho Condamine,
lhe girl turned up a side street. "Wo live here," sho said
and stopped before a structure of white stucco, rococo decoration
and flimsy balconies. Large gold letters, one or.two of which wore
missing, advertised the house as the Hotel
Pension Beau Soleil, and those who ran might .?
read that it would bo charitable to describe its ^{jur
accommodation as second rate.
"It is not nice," she went on, with a shrug f" 11 ' j
of her pretty shoulders, "but?it is good to '" j JfsS/\'-^\ J ,
know, all the same, that wo will not bo turned ;^1 ' t
out. I have a new heart in my breast since T J A ygfaH
left this houso a few hours ago?because there ! nflrj
is a You in the world." ' I .
As sho said this sho held out her hand for ly
goodby, and when ho had shaken it wannlv / ^
the young man was bold enough to slip off her s' ig ^
wrist the little pink leather bag which hung IJ
there by its chain. v gjv
"Now for that advanco on your secretarial ~ ou
work," ho said, and, taking from his pocket a wad of notes which ho jln
had won at the Casino, he 6tuffed it hastily into the yawning mouth wc
of the bog, while the girl's soft eves gazed at the sea. Then he closed
tho spring with a snap, and she let liiin pass tho chain over her hand ftn
once more. s^v
"Oh, but it looks very fat!" she exclaimed. "Are you suro you
counted right?" Wf
"There's a little more there," ho said uncomfortably, "just a littlo
to save the bother of counting here in the street. Don't look angry, m:
Only the salary part's for you, of course, but tho rest?couldn't you al
just hand it over to your mother and say, 'Winnings at tho Casino?' ih
That's true, you know. It was, every bit. And you needn't say who th
won it. Besides, if it hadn't been for you it would have been lost instead
of won. It would be a kind of Christmas present for your m
mother from the Casino, which really owes her a lot more."
The girl shook her head gently. "I couldn't do that, oven for my th
mother's sake, but I don't misunderstand now we are such friends. 1 fr
know how kindly you mean, and, though neither mother nor 1 can y<
accept presents of money, even from dear friends (after all, we are of sv
the noblesse), I'm not going to hurt you by giving the money back
if you will do what I ask of you." pi
"What is that?" He felt ready to do anything within reason. pu
"Let us sell you our dear littlo dog for this extra money you have wl
put into my bag. He is very, very valuable, for he cost thousands of
francs, the sweet pet, so you would really have something not un- bn
worthy in return for your goodness. Ah, don't say no! You would vc
love Papillon, and we should love you to have him. Wo couldn't have he
parted with our little darling to a stranger though wo woro starving, on
but it. would make us happy to think lie was yours. And then, if you
won't., you must take all this back." As she spoke sho touched tho th
bag on her arm. he
"Oh, I'll have the dog!" Hugh Egerton said quickly. Anything lij
rather than tho girl should return the money, which sho so much m;
needed. "I remember ho was a dear littlo chap, bl
j|l Pomeranian or something of tho sort. I hope ho cr
^|} likes motors." A
^ will like whatever you like. If you will
come and fetch him this evening I will show you
~ all his tricks. Do como. It would bo good to see ^
A you again so soOn."
Oy "With pleasure," said the young man, flushing
M slightly, "if you think your mother will bo well j
^ ' ' enough to receive me." *
"The news I havo to give will almost euro her. If you would dine
with us ? They*will give us a dinner now"?and she laughed childishly?"when
I have paid the bill. It will bo very stupid for you at a wi
place like this, but you will havo a welcome, and it is the best wo
can do."
"It is tho welcome I want," said Hugh. "But if you and your R
mother could dine with me somewhere"?
"Another timo wo will." to
There were to be other times, of coursc !
"And this evening," sho went on, "wc can talk of my beginning
work as your secretary. It shall bo directly after Christmas?"
"Whenever you are ready."
"I suppose you havo friends to whom you will go for Christmas ?"
"Not a friend."
"Oh, perhaps we might bo together?all threo?"
"I'll think of something pleasant for us to do if you'll let mo." j
"How good you aro! Then till this evening. It will scorn long m.
till then." In
They shook hands once more. She had taken off hor glovo now, " 1
and her palm left on his a reminiscence of Peau d'Espagnc. IIo did ;||
not know what tho scout was, but it smelled rich and artificial, and ho j ...i
disliked to associate it with his new friend. "But probably it's her IVV(
mother's, and she didn't chooso it herself," ho thought. "Well, I r"
I iyj \
have a new interest in life now. I expect this is the best thing that's
happened to me for a long time." | Vo
As he walked back to his hotel his head was full of plans for tho a"
girl's transient plcasuro and lasting benefit. "Poor lonely child 1" ho
JL?'lUTjLM>JWN
ought. "And what a mother 1 Sho ought not to bo left with a peril
like that. Sho ought to marry. It would bo a good dood to take
r away from such an influence. So young and so ingenuous as she
still, in spito of the surroundings she must have known, she is capaa
of becoming a noble woman. Perhaps if she turns out to bo really;
sweet and gentlo as she seems"?
The sentence broke off unfinished in his mind and ended with a
eat sigh. >
There could bo only second best and third best things in life for
in now, sinco love was over, and it would bo impossible for him to
re for an angel from heaven who had not the face and the dear
lys of the girl ho had lost. But second best things might bo better
in no good things at all if only ono made up one's mind to accept
lmu thankfully. And it was a shame to waste so much mono) oii|
nself when there were soft eyed, innocent girls in the world who|
ght to be sheltered and protected from harm.
sfg 3?e
j|||| CliafierTlaee ||l|
111^ soft eyed, innocent girl who had inspired tho
thought went into the hotel and was rather cross to
^l0 concierge because tho asconsour was
not working. There were three (lights of stairs to'
[j mount beforo sho reached her room, and sho was so1
* anxious to open her bag to see what was insido that,
e ran up very fast, so fast that sho stepped on her dress and ripped1
t a long lino of gathers. Her eyes were not iicavly as soft as they
d been while she picked up tho hanging folds of pink cloth aild
snt on.
The narrow corridor at tho top of tho staircase was somewhat dark,,
d, her eyes accustomed to tho brilliant light out of doors, tho girl
unbled against a child who was coming toward her.
"Petit bete!" sho snapped. "You have all but made me fall. Awkird
little thing! Why don't you keep out of people's way?"
The child Hushed. She would have liked to answer that it was,
idemoisello who had got in her way, but mother wished her to bo.
ways polite. "I am sorry," she replied instead, ^ ^ ..* ?*? ;
>t saying a word about the poor little toes which V.f& j
e prettv pink lady had crushed. ' w"\ 1
"Well, then, if you are sorry, why don't you lot '
e pass ?" asked tho girl of the soft eyes. *\j | j1'7^ j
"If you please, I want to give you a note," said 'j ' ^ ' I jw
e child, anxiously searching a small pocket. "It's / (AJ '
om mother for madamc. She told me to take it to J \y 1 $
>ur door. So I did, several times, but nobody an- \^\-? 1'
/ered. Ilere 'tis, please, mademoiselle."
Mademoiselle snatched it from the hand, which was very tiny and
nk, with dimples where grownup folk have knuckles. She then
ished past the child and went on to a door at the end of the passage,
lieh she threw open without knocking.
"Eh bien, Julie! You have been gone long enough to break tho
nk twice over. What luck have you had ?" exclaimed the husky
ice of a woman who sat in an easy chair beside a wood fire, telling
r own fortune with an old pack of cards spread upon a sewing board
i her capacious lap.
Sho was in a soiled dressing gown or purple flannel, with several of1
o buttons off. In tho clear light of a window at the woman's back!
r hair, with a groundwork of crimson, was overshot with iridescent1
jlits. On a small tablo at her side a tray had been left, with tho ronins
of dejeuner?a jug stained brown with streaks of coffee, a crurned
crescent roll, some balls of silver paper which had contained|
earn chocolates, ends of cigarettes and a scattered gray film of ashes.1
t her feet a toy black Pomeranian lay coiled on the torn bodico of ft/
red dress, and all the room was in disorder, with an_
indiscriminate litter of hats, gloves, French novels,
feather boas, slippers and fallen blouses and skirts.
The lady of tho roses went to tho mirror over tho
F| P~ v,vV 1 untidy mantelpiece and looked at herself as sho an-,
j swered, "No luck at roulette or trente, but tho best
outeide."
Wfp? "What, then ?"
The girl began to hum as she powdered her noso
th a white glove lying in a powder box.
"You remeftibor lo beau brun ?" ]
"Tho young man in Paris you inado so many inquiries about at j
itz's? Is lie here?"
"Ho is. I'vo just had lunch with him. Oh, there are lots of things,
tell! IIo is a good boy."
"How good? You told him wo had had losses?" I
"I painted a sad picture. IIo was most sympathetic."
"To what extent ?" . \
(To Me ('on tinned).
pryii? aBtUMBIfttllWI XXZrtC U eCLt 14W Tf'.KV m.&r*m**JB3S'XWUnmJUBU 11 irfMHiW 1 ?mtWiOMWWMW ?7r*AM
Our Singers War "1. i seem to be old before they are young,
,w York Times. land their voices have not, the youthMi-.
Mary Oarden, I'ue American ' fill quality, the warmth, that. is
ima iiia, has a commission from found in American voices. Resides,
Mes.-oger, of the Paris Opera, to i 11?*? personality of American girls
id good voices for him if possible, takes well in Paris. The audiences
e .-aid veslerd'iy: "I have been as-1 like nothing belter than the Ameri iated
with M. Message r for years can girl who sinus her I'Yench with
the Opera Oomupie and he assured j just, the t race of an accent. It is too
my judgment in the matter ! bad that the same cannot yet be said
"il l suffice lor him. The American of the American young man."
ice i?" most) popifilar with Paris j
isical people, /t seems as though j But unprofitable twisting does
nericn is (be only place where fresh i seem a waste when "help" is searco
ices can be found. Tn France and in the cotton mills.?News and COurthe
other countries tho singers ! icr.
i