Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 32, Number 317, 29 December 1907 — Page 7

PAGE SliVES

) By Halsey tym 3Z

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Copyright, 1907, By Thomas If. McKee. A MAN must llTe," thought De Bracy. He stood at the window. Far below thecheckerboard of streets was beginning to be studded by the firefly lights of cabs and motors. The dull brown of the park forced Into brilliancy by arc-lights was like some country waif painted for the town. In the north the search!lght of the Albany night-boat pushed a moving, uminous finger into the clouds. The notes of a Itreet-organ came to him, softened by distance into toelody: And 'twas there that Annie Laurie Gave me her promise true. He smiled with shut lips. "Her promise true," he taid. "I wonder why I think of old times to-night?" According to the clubs and drawing-room3 Oliver Van Corlear De Bracy thought little of old times lad less of an old name. Still, his world recognized

JsF, - , ,M I -, b&l I ' a- fit IS, G? 1 Li fat , mmM . " Wm it life r Vivf r4s;r- F 1 JL to iii XkS-

"WATERS, HOW MUCH his right to live, without too close an inquiry as to how he managed it. 1 "Gave me her promise true," trilled the piano. "Those mid-Victorian poets had such imaginations," "inuscd the man at the window. "Waters, light the lamps. I am expecting a gentleman." . The room began to glow with increasing radiance lis lamp after lamp cast its soft clarity upon porcelains and mahoganies. Old tapestries commenced to swim out of shadows, and low tables to glitter with silver services and shine with the jeweled confusioa of snuff boxes and miniatures. "Waters." said De Bracy. "how often have I told 5rou that the highest light should fall on that photograph cabinet?" referring to a huge folding-screen wherein, row on row, the autographed likenesses cf crmined aristocrats attested his popularity in tha toronation year. "My best stage property. Waters. ;ontroi your iace, man. i sometimes imiiK. i snau 60er make a valet of you. That's better. Is that fi office calling? Hand me that dressing-gown, the ernese one. Now, show the gentleman in until he 1 s, I am not at home." Mr. John Williams," announced Waters, holding Sk the curtain. - - -he personality of John Williams had screamed from columns of the press for years in ever-growing nace. until now its roar penetrated every home .m which, like the barons of old, he exacted tribute. "Of what use can the social mouse be to this lion ? achievement?" De Bracy wondered, as he advanced greet him. . lnis tnougnt, in a mnerent fasnion, occurred to ohn Williams, as he gazed with a contemptuous curislty on the man before him. Dead generations had aught him to distrust this type. The refined aquilolty of the features, deeply tanned, thrown into reief by the crisp blond hair that belled the man's orty years by a good ten; the tall, slender figure its bizarre garb of black satin, splashed by the ,wid scarlet and rose pink of wonderful Eastern ikbroideries; the hands, long, slender, with the jinted fingers familiar in old portraits, made a picIre so foreign to his usual environment that the light confidence which had sent him on his errand fsappeared. His nod had the curtness of a business Stan's, rebuking an over-polite clerk. i'Tm from Harburger." he said cuttingly. "So I presume Mr. er" with a glance at the card "Wilkins. I am very sorry, but I am afraid Mr. Harburger has made a mistake." "My name is Williams John Williams, of the i United Milling. What mistake did he make " I "Excuse me," said De Bracy. "My books are full. ;nd Mr. harburger does not send me enough clients to iustify my keeping any dates open for him. As a 1 business man. you will understand my position. Mr. Williams." The nod and smile of Oliver Van Corlear Bracy were unmistakably a careless dismissal. "Young man," Baid the other, his eyes narrowing, HUE GIBSON GIRL SMS HAS NEVER BEEN KISSED Bf t Boston, Dec 2S. Lliss Martha angle, pretty, never has been kissed, pe admits It and she Is equally emjfhatlc in declaring that she does not ntend to be kissed, at least not until Wall ie says that out-In Great Falls

Mont., where she came from, girls are never kissed until they are engaged. Miss Nangle's security from Boston's gallants is not gained by secluding her charms either, for rain or hine she never walks less than, lea milea a

"I don't make calls. We can do business, I guess.' The younger man flapped open the lid of a bronze cigarette-casket, put a paper roll in his teeth, and, turning his back on the other, puffed at the Game of a Roman hearth altar, tended by a vestal virgin in bronze. "That depends," he said between puffs. "On what?" said the older man. "You," said De Bracy. "Me? How? Ain't my credit good?" the ghost of a smile flickering on the adamant of his eyes. "Your credit financially. Mr. Williams, does not concern me. Mr. Harburger is responsible if he sends you." "I'll be hanged," said John Williams. De Bracy 6miled and waved his hand the gesture might mean anything. "Sit down, Mr. Williams; I will explain," he said seriously. "Will you smoke? No?" He seated himself in a large chair, bending forward and looking into the other's eyes with cool directness.

DO I OWE YOU?" "Mr. Harburger has doubtless told you," he began in a level voice, "I am a tradesman as you are. My business is the breaking of mesalliances. My clients range from the royal families of Europe to members of corporations like the billion-dollar iron trust. Now, as a business man, may I put it to you why should I, with my books full of clients, if not as wealthy, fully as liberal as you, put them all aaide because you walk in and say your name is John Williams?" "Because, son" John NVilliams leaned forward, pointing a finger expressive of the manicurist's hopeless battle with the early pick-axe "though you dress like a bowery fortune-teller, you're a man, and you'll help a fellow when he's stuck." The cool gray eyes looked at the hard blue ones. "Tell me your trouble," said De Bracy. The older man produced a case. "Smoke?" he Inquired. The other tossed his cigarette away and took a cigar. "You've heard of nay son Joe, Mr. De Bracy?" Williams continued. "You know he's been trained from his twelfth year to take my place at the head of the United Milling. He's a wonder. Invented the aero brake we use on our system. I've been handing over branch after branch to him from time to time, until, now he i3 practically the head of the United. That is, he was" with a snap of the jaws. "He never cared for your society game. None of our crow d does. But last summer outside of Saratoga he met a broken-down auto with a woman in it. Chauffeur gone off and not come back. He tinkered the machine and took her home. Well, she's got him. He's gone wild over her. Runs around pouring out money, neglecting business, writing her poems. Yes, sir, the mauager of the United Milling! Think of it! Poems to her hair; I've seen 'em! Crazy over her hair; says it's the most wonderful in the world. My God! Think of talking that way about a woman! And now he's fixin to marry her a lady that's old enough to have rocked and spanked him, and ain't straight at that three husbands cancelled by the courts. ' She's one of your women. She'll take him away from us, and the United Milling. She laughs at my wife, damn her! at my wife! She even laughs at mc John Williams and she's got me dead to rights. It's killin' his mother. That's the reason I come to you, Mr. De Bracy." "What is her name?" asked De Bracy. "Her latest label is Mrs. Blanche Redington Blackburn," said the older man, "I accept your commission, Mr. Williams," said De Bracy. "I've always said that two real men can get together easy in business or scrapping," said tue other, producing a check-book. "Let me have a pen. The ink's dry in mine." De Bracy stood watching the curtain that still trembled with the exit of his visitor. His face hard, haggard, the mouth a cruel scar. " 'Gave me her promise true " he murmured. THAT SHE

lay. Her theory is that walking is good for the complexion, and her own is proof of it. She came to Boston to study music and hopes to put her training into practice in a conservatory in her old home next year. A winson blonde of the Gibson type. Miss Nangle walks daily from the City Point, South Boston to Manhattan Square. Dorchester, and return, but she does not believe in overdoing even a good thing, and so limits herself to a ten mile jaunt a day. 'Soma girla -could, uad moia

RUDE

MAN

"This time I am armed, however, dear Blanche." The young man-servant re-entered. "Waters," said De Bracy, "how much wag?s do I owe you?" The joung fellow flushed and locked at his master with a crooked sniiie cf emLanassmeu;. "There's no hurry, Mr. De Erav, sir," he deprecated. The amusement snowed in the- De Bracy eyes. "Yci never will make a valet, Waters." he said. "I owe you three months v.ags. as you know. Dress me and then you may go for the aight. You will want some money; pawn this ring. Now that we have a balance in the bank we can afford to disregard appearances. Waters." Waters was a whim of De Bracy's. He had picked up the boy from the streets, and wa3 repaid by a fiery gratitude that burned away many a barrier. II. "Oliver," said young Joe Williams, "you n?vpr saw such hair in your life. Jove! it fairly seems to be alive, it glows and glitters so." It va tuiee .veruo since the meeting between John Williams and Oliver Van Corlear De Bracy. Through the red flare of the setting sun a continuous mas3 of carriages and cars chinked and purred through the Mall. The crisp tang of a Dei-ember evening was In the air. The couple in the racing car, swathed in the disguise of their great fur coats, were skidding with whirring dash in and out of the streaming vehicles, the younger man one sense alert and watchful of his mechanism, while his subconscious self was dreaming. To the skilled man of the world the winning of the youth's affection had been an easy matter. As they became Intimate, however, De Bracy saw more clearly the difficulties of his new case. The lady was vulnerable, the wall of her past presented a hundred points of attack; but at each masked advance De Bracy found that Mrs. Blackburn had pointed out the breach and had posted young Williams on guard. The infatuation of the young millionaire had become so dangerous that the occasion brooked of no delay. De Bracy decided to join the pair for dinner at Claremont, towards which they were now motoring. "Oliver," said the boy, "I am not poetic, but really her hair seems like the crowning glory of my life." "Look out for that carriage," said De Bracy at a startled exclamation from the machinist perched behind. "Don't let her hair get wound in your steering gear." "Do you know, there's quite a story about her hair," continued the man at the wheel. "She always had beautiful hair, but when she was in Europe some years ago she went under the care of a great specialist who kept her shut up in a place in the Austrian Tyrol six months. He tortured her horribly, but her hair, under his treatment, became long, and thick, and wonderful, just as you'll see it to-night. But here we are, and plenty of time for a brush-up and a smoke before she comes. By the way, Oliver, do you want the car this evening? I'm going back in the brougham with Blanche." An hour later they stood on the piazca watching the lines of vehicles discharging their occupants, who rustled up the steps to become part of the evening spectacle. "Here she comes, Oliver," cried young Williams, hurrying toward a brougham whose big sorrel minced and fretted at the steps. "Blanche, here is Mr. De Bracy at last." , "Why, Oliver!" said a sweet, high voice. "It has been years and years." "My dear Blanche, the years for you are but as a day," and De Bracy assisted Mrs. Redington Blackburn to alight. "I told Joe I wanted to meet you. Joe, dear, run like a good child and see If Marie has come. I told her to bring some heavier wraps. Inquire at the office." Joseph disappeared, and under De Bracy's guidance Mrs. Blackburn trailed her languid laces to tho table whose orchid exuberance proclaimed Joseph-; devotion. With a supple sweep of line she sank int' a chair and began stripping her long gloves, watch lng the man opposite through the fringe of her lash "Oliver," said the woman, "we have three minute while that boy searches for a mythical maid. W: know each other. I have followed your career; any one who has read the headlines knows mine. You arc not in this for nothing. Tell me. what do you want? What is your price? 13 it peace or war? If it ii peace. Oliver" she learned forward, the old perfume of iris enfolding him. her Hps just fluttering with the words, her eyes violet wells of meaning under her burnished hair "that is a golden city. Help me and I will lend you the key." "My dear Blanche," said the man easily, "ten years ago you led me into hell, and left me. locking the gate. You are not to be trusted with keys Blanche." She leaned back, her lips a painted smile. "Your residence in hell has taught you to make your living, Oliver," she said. "Then pardon me if I make it," he answered, smiling. "All is fair in two things. We failed at the love, let us try war. my dear Blanche." She laughed with an accent like thin glass snapping. "I'm glad to see you two getting on so well what's the joke?" said Joseph, behind them. "Mr. De Bracy wishes the orchestra to play 'Annie Laurie.' I have so many amusing recollections connected with that song." she laughed. "Ask them to play it, like a dear boy," said Mrs. Redington Blackburn. "Well," said Joseph a couple of hours later, "we must be trotting. I'm so glad I brought you people together again. I knew you'd like each other. I've never spent a jollier evening In my life we must have a lot of them. Blanche, It's a pity your maid didn't bring you heavier wraps. Come, Oliver, and see us to our carriage." , "Yes. Oliver," said Mrs. Blackburn, rising. "I intend to see a lot ofi you from now on." "My dear Blanche, I shall be always at your heels," laughed De Bracy. III. "Mr. De Bracy, sir." Waters laid the flesh-brush on the long marble massare-slab let into the tiled wall. De Bracy, swathed in toweling like a monk, stooi on the flr6t step of his sunken bath. The last few days he had tasted defeat to Its dregs. The battle had been decidedly to the lady. Never In a life of fighting and manoeuverlng had he been so out-ma-noeuvered and out-fought. The announcement of the engagement was now imminent. "I am beaten," thought De Bracy, "and by a hank of hair." "Mr. De Bracy, sir." said Waters again. "Yes," said that gentleman. "I took them flowers to the lady at the St. Agatha yesterday. She wasn't in. Her maid said she and Mr. Williams was motoring. The maid was quitting and I helped her carry her boxes to the car. And Mr. De. Bracy. sir," the valet's blue, boyish eyes were sparks of excitement. At first De Bracy hardly paid attention to the valet's story, but as it progressed he became attentive, questioning the man sharply In places, making him repeat in others. "Waters." said De Bracy finally, "you never will make a valet, but you have your uses. Calm your excitement and remember your massage lessons!" Fresh from the attempts of Waters, immaculately groomed, orchid in buttonhole, an introspective eye behind his monocle, De Bracy strolled down to his club. It was within a week of Christmas. Here and there a holly wreath hung Its green suggestion against the lace window-curtains. Even the servants at the club seemed to have a silent obsequious hint of favors to come.

suppose," &he says, "and most of them not so much, but if these Boston girls would walk more they would not have such muddy complexions. Walk up a good circulation of the blood and you have accomplished wnders toward having a good complexin, but without exercise lassitude takes possession cf the system ana the skin, as well as other parts of the system, suffers. Especially during the winter months, walking Is the best possible exercise. If the Boston girls could see the girls in Great Falls, they would want to walk all tfcft Umja - ed ou

A breakfast of unusual length was followed by a brooding hour in the darkest corner of the readingroom. It was not until almost noon the h" $'.gnaliej the dryrman for a cab and -irovc t' a I'.rd and r.nircal store on Eighth aven h Her IV Bracy dapeer.di d and was gone sir- Hra?. rfurrms wuh ?.a amawil man carrying a la: cae-. v.hi.a was bestowed n (he bottom of th haasora "Ys. sir." .-ai'i th r.au. "i c-i:i b dor..- $y. l'!l be np to-c'srht and fvpry niirht. You'!; ht-w qviek they gt-t wiy Norfotk-Aruiidale, e.g'at o'clock. I II be there va tho do?." The cab drove iway. "Well, of all ih Chris. ma gifts!" grinned the re:an on the curb. "Them swell is nutty." The next morning while De Bracy was sti'.I in bed. the elder Williams was annoua.ed. The msa.lianoo breaker pushed away his breaktast tray with a g otn. "Iet him in. Waters." he ta.d. "In five minu:es call me 'o the telephone. Put the cigarettes .a the bed-table. Now. show him in." De Bracy leaned bark against his pillow?, b'ond. impei turha-le. cigaretie in tfetb. the mor.iiug papers with their head-lines announcing young V.'hHams' engagement spread before him. The door opened. ' Good morning. Mr. Williams." said De Bracy. The old man entered aad walked directly to he bed-aid. "I coi.gratulate you. Mr. De Bracy," he ?aid. "Me?" with a raised eyebrow. "Yes. you." The old face was the color of yellow wax. the mouth a thin gash of a smile. "You played me very neat tricked me very smoothly," said the level voice. "How much did she promise you?" De Bracy struck a match. "Now," continued the old man, "you've done what ain't been done to me for twenty years tricked me. You gave it out to the reporters yourself last night. Clever of you, wasn't It? But you won't laugh Ion?. You don't know me. You and your woman, you won't drag that boy where you two are. You shan't have him. I can't fight your way, but out whre I come from we think a man's got a soul, and we guard our own. we don't let your kind get 'em. We've got a way of our own with your kind." "Mr. Williams," said De Bracy, "even when you think the train is going off the track it Is not wise to hit the engineer on the head. He may know his business. Any way, you don't. I don't make confidants of my clients. I told you I would smash this engagement and I shall do it at a supper I'm going to give on Christmas Eve. That's all I will tell you. Your business is to be quiet and sign checks, or else handle the matter in any way your mining-camp training suggests. Now go. I'm a busy man this morning." IV. "Do you know, Oliver. I think it's the kindest thing of you to give us this Christmas Eve supper," said young Williams as he stood in the anteroom of his friend De Bracy's apartments a week later. "You're a trump," said the young man. "There may be truth In that." laughed his companion, "but remember that not the least of my reasons for giving this affair is I wish you happiness you see, I know Mrs. Blackburn." "Thank you," said the youth. "Oliver, you're the best friend man ever bad. Say, old man, what's that thing scratching around in the next room. Sounds like a " "Never nind," laughed De Bracy, "it Is a surprise

SHE HAD COPIED TIEPOLO'S "WOMAN IN GREEN.-

and Joe. you know this 6upper is to be a copy in costume of Tiepolo's 'Supper of Leonardo.' so I am going to give your fiancee a Christmas present. I want you to make her wear it to-night. It is an Italian head-net of the period. It will be beautiful in her hair." V. The progress of an unusual social event was attested by the dense crowd about the lighted awnings of the Saint Mammon on Christmas Eve. Upon entering, the guests were hoisted in lifts to the dressing rooms, where twentieth century wraps discarded, revealed sixteenth century Florentines. Before comparisons could be made they were hurried to the ante-room of the large ball-room of the Saint Mammon. The lights here were so dim as to obscuri a but the faint gleam of bare shoulders and

STRANGE GARBED PEOPLE WORSHIP

gathered in a great room made of solil blue glass in the temple of Mazdaznan strangely garbed men and women from all parts oTf the world. With their faces toward the East and prostrated in adoration, the disciples of Ottoman-Zar-Adusht Hanish were paying their tribute to the rising sun. It was the second day of Gahanbar. Strange chantings filled the room, weird fires burned on the altar, soft incense filled the air and mystic rites were observed by this group of worshippers in their oriental gowns. Ma

People From All Parts of the World Kneel and Pay Tribute to the Sun. Chicago, Dec 2S As daylight dawn

the Lake front today thero verelrU EllMkbtli Bam

the smolder of gems. Fed by mystery, expectation grew to a subdued murmur as group after groui lanshiugly entered the gloom. "NoMe Florentines.'- said a voice from the dark rs when the last couple entered. "My Lord Leo : aruo. hear;!ig that a company of brave cavaliers and Ix-auteous. ladies driven from Fo-nce b- t had taken refuge in his possessions, has bidden yo In iv.unesy. as it !s tue itast 01 iue ui vu..mi. ;o dine with him and pass the day from nooa tu the set cf sua in the pergola of a villa on the hills overlooking Ravenna. Here various joyous, gentle, wonderful and pleasant things shall be done for youf amusing and in special honor of a young lord, hit friend, and a gentle lady. Stgr.cre aiid signor. enter, the feast is spread." Stringed music began to play and the curtains forming the whole back of the room were drawn away, revealing in a flood of light what had been tfef grand ballroom of the Saint Mammon. A deep "Oh!" of long drawn wonder came front tbe crowd cn the threshold. The ballroom bad disappeared. A stone floor ol black and white mosaic extended to a terrace wall of old Italian marble, over which climbed and blew hundreds of roses on their vines. Two massive columns supported a roof of lattice work that hid the ceiling and on thts and hanging from It In huga profusion glistened masses of purple grapes. Tba yellow light of noon sifting through the grape leaves dappled the terrace with moving shadows aad glinted in prismatic colors from the antique golJ, sllvsf, aad Venetian glass of a table covered with altar lace thai stood against the rose-covered wall. Beyond, cleai etched in summer sunshine, mile on mile the ollva vineyards stretched to the red. roofs ot.Haveuna. Butterflies dipped among the rose?. On long goldeSi perches tropic birds preened , vivid wlags. A lltha young Saracen, his bare arms and legs clasped tf silver bands, knelt In a corner tending some hawkt who shock their gilded blinkers at a monkey chained by a Jeweled girdle to the terrace wall. De Bracy stood iadtaatlag the seating of hie fuests. Young Williams and his flaacse entered, the woman, a pace in advanceshe had copied Tiepolo's ""Woman, in Green," and ovtr her splendid hair she wore ft head-net of diamonds and old cameos. Without waiting for De Bracy's hand, she swept to the head of tb table. Hour after hour, marked by changing abadowa and struck by distant church bells, the dinner weat on. Tumblers, jugglers, fortune-tellers, poets, wrestlers, capered, sang and made their appeal. Finally, tba curtains parted, revealiag the greatest tenor of tma age. "Ave Maria." he sang. The monkey clashed his cbatn and chattered. De Bracy signalled the youag Saracen. "Take hlsa out." he said. .The Saracen bent, loosened the monkey's chain, made a misstep and fell. "He's got away! Catch him!" shouted Water. A cry from the women and a fury-flash leapt upon the table scream on scream, as the monkey few Its length and sprang straight. at the head of Mr a. Redington ' Blackburn an explosion of yells and ho jumped from her shoulders, clambering up the swinging grapaTtnet to the roof. There ho sat chattering, picking at an Italian hair-net. while all around him flowed a copper maa ot glorious hair. Below. Mrs. Redington Blackburn cast her glasa Into De Bracy's face. "You beaat. abe hissed, her face, hard, old, seamed through its cracked enamel

while in the red glory of the setting sun her head shone bald. "It is easliy explained. Mr. Williams," said De Bracy. "Her maid told my man that when she waa In a retreat in the Austrian Tyrol she contracted a sickness that left her bald. So I had a monkey trained to snatch the head-net wherever be saw it. He saw it on Mrs. Blackburn. Did you see that the lady had left for Europe" "Yes," grinned the old man. "and did you see thisT handing him a slip of paper. "Air. Williams," said De Bracy. "this check Is too great. I am overpaid." "No. you ain't. You've saved the United Milling and give' my wife a Christmas gift that'll make the rest of her life happy.geous silks, was In charge, llanlsh, the modern Zoroaster, aat above ths throng, watching the worship of his followers, who had gathered from all corners of the earth for the fifth annual conference. They claim to be th "incarnate sum total of all the past experiences." Have yon noticed the rm proved aer Ice to Chlcagc via the C C. 4 L? Through sleeper leaves Richmond at 11:15 P. IX. daily, arrives in Chicago a lift A. Ik Ts ttv ortd HUtaa, clad la