Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, June 28, 1912, Page 8, Image 8
8 The Mischief Maker Sy E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM BOOK 11. CHAPTER VIII A DECLARATION OF INDEPEN DENCE. Lady Anne came gayly down to the •treet a few minutes later. She war ■till wearing the plain black rown and the simplest of hats. Nevertheless, she looked charming. Her fresh complexion with its slight touch of sunburn, her wealth of brown hair, and the distinc tion of her carriage, made her every where an object of admiration tn a city where the prevailing type of beauty was so different. “Poor mother!" she exclaimed, as they crossed the Place de I'Opera. ‘Tell me, was she very theatrical this morning. Julien ** Julien smiled. “I am afraid I must admit that she was," he declared. "I found her very interesting.'* “I hate to talk about her,” Anne con tinued. “it makes one feel so unfllial. but really she is the most wonderful (marionette that ever lived the perfect 'life. Tou see. I have been behind the scenes so long. Every now and then so little of the woman's nature crops up. I Her cut to Mr*. Carraby. for instance, was quite cne of the events of the sea son. It was so perfectly administered, so utterly scathing. I hear that the poor ‘'creature went to bod for a fortnight afterward. Gracious. I hope I am not distressing you. Julien!” she added hastily. ' “Not in the least." Julien assured her grimly. "I have no interest in Mrs. I Carraby." Lady Anne sighed. '“That's how you men talk when your little feeling has evaporated. Julien, you're a selfish crowd! Tou make the world a very difficult place for a woman." * “I think." he said, “that your sex avenges itself." _ “I am not sure." she replied. Men so often place the burden of their own follies upon a woman's shoulders." -you rebuke me rightly.” Julien de clared bitterly. “I was not thinking of you, she told him reproachfully, "(am sorry. Julien. I should not have said that” “It was the truth.” he confessed. *abaolutelv the truth. Still. I have never blamed Mrs. Carraby for my dis asters. It was my own asinine simpli city. Tell me. whin shall I see you again? I think I ought to liave you here.” She laughed. "You want to know my view with mother? Well, you shall know all about that. 1 promise you. because I have changed my mind. I Intend to make you an auditor. Don’t desert me. Julien, please. Remember, this is really a trying moment for me. I have to face an irate and obstinate parent If friendship is worth anything, come and help me" “I can't help thinking." he objected, your mother would rather talk to you alone." “Then you will please to consider me and not my mother.” Anne insisted, as they drew up before the hotel “I wish you to remain." The duchess received them perfectly. She did not attempt anything emotion al She simply held out both her hands a little apart. ••You dear, sensible people!" she cried “Anne, how dared you give us such a shock!” Anne leaned over and kissed her mother. “Mother.” she announced, I am not going to marry Julien.” The duchess started. |The expression which flashed from her eyes was un mistakably genuine. “Don't talk nonsense, Anne!” she ex claimed sharply. “No nonsense about it” Anne retort “i can t bear to talk when any one is standing up. Sit down, and in a few sentences I*ll let you know how hopeless it all is.” There was real fear in the duchess eyes. t “Anne.” she gasped, “is theer a man. then?" *Tou idiotic person, of course there isn't*” Anne replied. "Why on earth should all talk about a man directly a girl breaks away for a time, I can't imagine Now sit down there and lis ten. I brought Julien along because if you bully me too much I shall make him take me away. We are excellent .friends. Julien and I. and he has been Very kind to me since I came here; but •I met him entirely by accident, and if I hadn't I am quite sure that we might ; have lived here for years and never come across one another." "But 1 have told every one in Lon don!" the duchess protested. “I have explained everything! I have told them 'how you always loved Julien, what a terrible blow his troubles were, and 'how you suddenly found that it was impossible for you to marry any other man. and like a dear, romarftic child khat you are, you ran away to him.* “Yes," Lady Anne said dryly, “that's a very pretty story! That's just what z jl imagined you would tell everybody ' when you knew that I'd come here. That is just.” she continued slowly, [“what you hawe been rubbing into poor {Julies this morning before be came to see me. Very well, mother, up to a cer tain point it came off. you see. Julien called most dutifully, found me sitting In an attic—’attic’ is the correct word, Isn't it?—and made his declaration. No, 3 don't think he declared anything, on khe second thoughts! He effectually concealed any feelings he might have ■tad. It was a suggestion which he made.” "My manner of expressing myself,” Julien began a little stiffly “Tour manner of expressing yourself was perfect." Anne interrupted. “It was a great deal too perfect, my preux chevalier Only you see, Julien, only you see. mother. Julien offered me exactly what I left home to escape from. I have come to the conclusion," bhe went on. smoothing her skirt about her knees, “that it is most indecent and Wholly Improper even to think of mar- Cdng a man who does not love you and hom you do not love.” The Duchess closed her eyes. “Anne, what have you been reading?*' |he murmured. “Not a thing," Anne went on. *T Sever did read half enough. I'm simply ketidg by instinct. Julien and I were engaged for three months, and at the fend of that time we were complete Strangers The idea of marrying a Mranger was not attractive to me. Let that go. jfulien went. Along came Bamuel '* “We will not talk about Mr. Har ford." the Duchess interposed hastily. “Oh. yes. we will! Now. so far as lulien was concerned.” Anne continued. "I dare say I should have smothered tny feelings because there is nothing tevoltlng about him. .He is quite an {ttractive person, and physically every tiing to be desired. But when it came t) a man who was not a gentleman. hose manners were odious, who offend ed my taste every time he opened his Louth—Why. you see, the thing couldn’t |e thought of! Day by day it got worse. Towards the end he began to tend put his hands on me. That de me think That's why I came b Par's." , "Anns,” the Duchess declared gev- erely, “you are indecent!” “On the contrary,” Anne insisted. “I think it Was the most decent thing I ever did. “Now please listen. I win not come back to England, I will not marry Julien. I will not think of or dis cuss the subject of marriage with any one. I am a free person and I haven't the least intention of spending my life moping. I am going to have a pleas ant time and I am going to have It in my own way. You have two other daughters, mother—Violet and Lucy. Unless they change, they are exactly what you would have them. Be satis fied. Devote your energies to them and count me a black sheep. You can make me a little allowance, if you like —a hundred a year or so—but whether I have it or not. I am either going to make bows in Mademoiselle Rig naut's workshop, or I am going to be secretary to a very delightful lady—a Mrs. Christopher, or something of the sort.” Tne duchess rose—she had an idea that she was more dignified standing. ••Anne." she said, T am your mother. Not only that, but I ask you to remem ber ’who you are. The women of Eng land look for an example to use. They look to us to live regular and law-abid ing, to be dutiful wives and mothers You are behaving like a creature frqm an altogether different world. You speak openly of things I have never permitted mentioned. I ask you to re flect. Do you owe nothing to me? Do you owe nothing to your father, to our position?” "A great deal, mother,” Anne replied, "but I owe more to myself than to any one else in the world.” The duchess felt helpless. She looked toward Julien. ‘There is so much of this foolish sort of talk about,” she complained. "It all comes of making friends with socialists ar.J labor people, and having such terri ble nonsense printed in the reviews. What are we to do, Julien? Can’t you persuade Anne? I am sure that she is really fond of you.” "I wouldn't attempt to influence her for a single moment.” Julien declared "I won't say whether I think she is right or wrong. On tne whole, I am inclined to think she is right.” ' "Tou, too, desert me!” the duchess exclaimed. “Well, it all depends upon one’s con ception of happiness of course,” Julien replied, "but so far as I am, concerned let me tell you that the idea of a girl like Anne married to an insuffeiahle bounde“ like Harbord, just because he's got millions of money, simply made me boil.” Anne, for some reason or other, was looking quite pleaped. "I am so glad to know- you felt like that, Julien. It's really the nicest thing you've said to me all the morning. Wel\ that’s over now. Mother, why don’t you give us some lunch and take the 4 o’clock train back? It's the Calais train, which I know you always prefer.” The duchess reflected for a moment. There were advantages in lunching at the Ritx with Julien on one side of her and Anne on the other. She gave a little sigh and consented. BOOK 11. CHAPTER IX. FOOLHARDY JULIEN. The luncheon in the beautiful restau rant of the Rita was a meal after the duchess* own heart. She was at home here and received the proper amount of attention. Not only that, but many ac quaintances—mostly foreign, but a few English—paused at her table to pay their respects. To every one of these she carefully introduced her daughter and Sir Julien. The situation was not with out its embarrassments. Lady Anne, however, dissipated them by an unaf fected fit of laughter. "Mother thinks she is putting every thing quite right by lending us the sanc tity of her presence." she declared. "We have been seen lunching at the Rita. After this, who shall say that I ran away from home to meet a riding mas ter in Paris, or some other disreputable person? I may perhaps be pitied as the victim of a hopeless infatuation for you, Julien, but for the rest, if we only sit here long enough I shall be white washed.” The duchess, was a little uneasy. “I must say, Anne.”, she protested, "that you seem to have developed a great deal of levity during the last few days. It's not a subject to be alluded to so lightly. Ah! now let me tell you who this is. A wonderfully interesting person, I can assure you. She was born in Paris of American parents, very wealthy Indeed, married when quite young to Prince Falkenberg. and sepa rated from him within two years. They say that she Is still a great persoQ when she chooses. My dear princess!” Madame Christopher, who had entered the room on her way to a luncheon party, paused for a moment and shook hands. Then she recognised Julien. “Really," she murmured, "this Is most unexpected. My dear duchess, you have quite deserted Paris. is this your daughter-Lady Anne? I scarcely re member her. And yet—” "We met yesterday.” Lady Anne inter rupted promptly. "You know, I want to be your secretary, Madame Christo pher. If you will let me. My mother has entirely cast me off. so it doesn’t mat ter.” The duchess made a most piquant ges ture. It was really an Insufferable po sition, but she was determined to remain graceful. “My dear Madame Christopher,” she said, "you have no grown-up children, of course, so I cannot ask for your sym pathy. But I have a daughter here who is giving me a great deal of trouble. I flatter myself that I have modern views of life, but Anne—well, I won't discuss her.” Madame Christopher smiled. “Young people are different nowadays. Duchess.” she remarked. "If Lady Anne really wants to come into life on her own, why not? She can be my secre tary if she chooses. I shall pay her just as much as I should any one else, and I shall send her away if she Is not satisfactory. There are a great many young people nowadays. Duchess.” she continued, “in very much your daugh ter's position, who do these odd things. I always think that It is better not to stand in their way. Sir Julien, I want to speak to you before you leave this restaurant. I have something important to say.” The duchess was a little taken aback. To her it semed a social cataclysm, some thing unheard of. that her daughter should propose to be any one's secretary. Yet this woman, who was certainly of her own order, had accepted the thing as entirely natural—had dismissed it, even, with a few casual remarks. Julien, who since Madame Christopher's arrival had been standing in his place, was some what perplexed. "You are lunching here?" he asked. "With the Servian minister's wife. I shall excuse myself early. It is a vital necessity that we talk for a few mo ments before you leave here. Five min utes ago I sent a note to yout rooms.” "I shall be at your service,” Julien re plied slowly. "1 shall expect you in the morning,” Madame Christopher said .smiling at Lady Anne. "Don't be later than 10 o’clock. I am always at home after 4, duchess, if you are spending any time in Parts,” she added. They watched her as she passed to ths THE ATLANTA SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1912. ; little group who were awaiting her ar rival. She was certainly one of the most elegant women in the room. Lady Anne looked after her with a faint frown. "1 wonder," she murmured, "if I shall like Madame Christophor?” “I had no idea, Julien,” the duchess remarked, "that you were friendly with her.” Julien evaded the question. "At any rate,” he said, turning to Anne, "this will be better for you than making bows.” “I suppose so,” she assented. "All the same. I am very much my ( own mistress in that dusty little workshop If Madame Christophor, isn’t that the name she chooses to be called by?—becomes exact ing, I am not even sure that I shan’t regret my bow-making.” “Tell me exactly how long you have known her, Julien,” the duchess persist ed. “Since my arrival in Paris this time.” Julien answered. "I had —well, a sort of introduction to her.” “She is received everywhere," the duchess continued, "because I know she visits at the house of the Comtesse Des chelles, who is one of the few women tn Paris of the old faction who arc en tirely exclusive. At the same time I am told that she leads a very retired life now, and is more seen in Bohemia than anywhere. I am not at all sure that it is a desirable association for Anne.” “Well, you can leave off troubling about that,” Anne said. “Remember, however much we make believe, I have really shaken the dust of respectabil ity off my feet. Hamilton Place knows me no longer. I am a dweller in the by-ways. Even if I come back, it will be as a stranger. / People wjll be in terested in me. perhaps, as some one outside their lives. That strange daughter of the poor dear duchess, you know,’ they will say, 'who ran away to Paris. Some terrible affair. Nq one knows the right of it! Can’t you hear it all? They will be kind to me, of course, but I shan’t belong. Alas.” The duchess was studying her bill and wondering how much to tip the waiter. She answered only absently. “My dear Anne, you are talking quite foolishly. I wish I knew,” she added plaintively, a few minutes later, “what you. have been reading or whom you have been meeting lately.” "Don’t bother about me," Anne beg ged. "What you want to do now is to tell Perkins to pack up your things and I’ll come and see you off by the four o’clock train. Julien must wait outside for my future employer. What I really think is going to happen is that she’s going to ask for my character. Julien, be merciful to me! Remember that above all things I have always been re spectible. Remind her that if I were too intelligent I should probably rob her of her secrets or money or some thing. I am really a most machin like person. Nature meant me to be secretary to a clever woman, and my handwriting—don't forget my hand writing. Nothing so clear or so rapid has ever been seen.” The duchess signed her bill, slightly undertipped the waiter and accepted his subdued thanks with a gracious smile. "I can see." she said as they left the room, “that I shall have to wash my hands of you. Nevertheless, I shall not lose hope.” She shook hands solemnly with Juli en and he performed a like ceremony with Lady Anne. "When shall I see you again?” he asked the latter. "You had better question Madame Christopher concerning my evenings out,” she replied. “It is not a matter I know much about. I am sure you are quite welcome to any of them.” Julien found a seat in the broad pas sageway. Several acquaintances pass ed to and mro wmoh so far as possible he avoided. Madame Christopher at last. She was the centre of a little party who were on their way into the lounge. When she neared Julien, how ever. she paused and made het adieux. He rose and waited for her expect antly. "We are to talk here?” he asked. She nodded. "In that corner.” “Madame Christopher.” Julien salo earnestly. "I am most grateful tor your offer. At the same time. I honestly do not believe that I have anything to fear anywhere. Herr Freudenberg has made one attempt upon me, and has failed. I do not think he is likely to risk every thing by any open assaults. In these civilized days of the police, the tele phone, and the law courts, one is not so much at the mercy of a strong man as in the old days. I do not fear Herr Freuenberg.” ' ' Madame Christophor shrugged her shoulders "My friend,” she admitted, “I admire your courage, but listen. You say that one attempt has already been made to silence you. For every letter you write there will be another made. At each fresh one these creatures of Herr Freu denberg’s will have learned more cun ning. In the end they are bound to suc ceed. Why risk your life? I offer my house as a sanctuary. There is no need for you to pass outside It. You could take the exercise you require in my garden, which is bounded by four of the highest walls in Parts. You can sit in a room apart from the rest of tne house, with three locked doors between yoti and the others. You may write there freely and without fear.” Julien smiled. “I am afraid it is my stupidity,” he said, "but I cannot possibly bring my self to believe in the existence of any danger. I will promise you this, if I may: If any further attempt ehould be made upon me. any attempt which came tn the least near being successful, I will remember your offer. For the pres ent my mind is made up. I shall remain where I am.” She shrugged her shoulders. "Ingrate!” “Not that, by any means,” he assured her heartily. "You know that I am grateful. You know that if I refuse for the moment your offer it is not because I mistrust you. I simply feel that 1 should be taking elaborate precautions which are quite unnecessary.” "I might even spare you.” she re marked, smiling. "Lady Anne for your secretary.” “Even that inducement.” he answer ed steadily, "does not move me.” She pointed to a more retired spot. He followed her there. "Order some coffee," she directed. He obeyed her and they were prompt ly served. She waited, chatting idly of their luncheon party, of the coincidence of meeting with the duchess, until they were entirely freed from observation. Then she leaned toward him. "Sir Julien,” she said, “I have read your articles, the first and the second. You are a brave man.” He smiled. "Are you going to' warn me once more against Herr Freudenberg?” he asked. She shook her head. "If you do not know your danger,” she continued, "you would be too great a fool to be worth warning. Remember that Freudenberg came from Berlin as fast as express trains and his racing car could bring him the moment he read the first.” “I have already bad a brief but BRYAN DOING AT BALTIMORE WHAT TEDDY DID AT CHICAGO BY RALPH SMITH. BALTIMORE, Md„ June 25—Substi tute William Jennings Bryan for Theo dore Roosevelt and the situation which confronts the Democratic convention at its opening session at noon today is but a repetition of the Republican situation at Chicago last Tuesday. Here, as there, is the irreconcilable conflict between the radical and the con servative-progressive wings of the party. Here, as there, the national committee stands for the conservatives and is de termined on the destruction of the dis turbing element. By a curious coincidence, the figures are almost the same. In Chicago the national committee stood 32 members against Colonel Roosevelt. Last night the national committee by 31 votes se lected Judge Alton Parker, of New York, for the temporary chairman of the convention. In Chicago Mr. Roosevelt’s hat was in the ring. Here somewhat unpleasant interview with him,” Julien remarked. “I congratulate you,” she went on. "Unpleasant interviews with Herr Freudenberg generally end differently. Now listen to me. I have a proposi tion to make. There is one house in Paris where you will be safe—mine. I offer you its shelter. Come there and finish your work.” Julien made no reply. He sipped his coffee for a moment. Then he turned slowly round. "Madame Christophor,” he said, "once you told me that you disliked and dis trusted all men. Why, then, should I trust you?” She winced a little, but her tone when she answered hpfn was free of offense. “Why should you, indeed?” she re plied. “Yet you should remember that r ~p Hundreds Kl} 17 17 of Dollars T IV JD E/ I I* . 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Mr. Bryan has thrown his hat into the ring, and here, as in Chicago, the national committee has welcomed the challenge. There is the same violent language. Mr. Bryan last night gave out a state ment that recalled Colonel tloosevelt at his best. The majority of the national committee, said Mr. Bryan, is under the control of the "predatory interests.” "Talk about harmony,” he said, “is ab surd.” The Belmont-Ryan-Murphy crowd, which dictated Mr. Taft’s renom- Inatibn, is as active here as at Chica go, and the same corrupting'Snfluences are seeking to control this convention.” If Mr. Parker did not know who is behind his candidacy, declared Mr. Bryan, he was not qualified intellectu ally to be the temporary chairman; if he did know it, he should not be per mitted to sound the keynote in a Demo cratic convention. All which brings back to memory the fervent proclama tion which Mr. Roosevelt gave out every day at Chicago. the man against whose pherished schemes your articles are directed is the man whom I have more cause to hate than any other in the world.” “Herr Freudenberg,” he murmured. "Prince Adolf Rudolf von Falken berg,” she corrected him. “Do you know the story of my married life?” “I have never heard it,” he told her. “I will spare you the details,” she continued. “My husband married me with the sole idea of using my house, my friends, my social position here for the furtherance of his schemes. Un der my roof I discovered meetings of spies, spies paid to suborn the different services in this country—the navy, the army, the railway works. When I pro tested he laughed at me. He made no secret of his ambitions. He is the sworn and inveterate enemy of your country. His feeling against France is a slight thing in comparison with his hatred of England. For the last te<? years he has done nothing but scheme to humiliate her. When I discovered to what purpose my house was being pat I made him leave it. I bade him choose another hotel, anw hen he saw that I was in earnest he obeyed It is one of the conditions of our separation that he does not cn-ss my threshold. That is why I say, Sir Julien, that you have nothing to fear in accepting the shelter of my roof.” She sighed. “You will have your own way,” she said, "and yet there is something rath er sad about it. I know so much more of this Paris than you. I know so much more of Herr Freudenberg. Re member that there are a quarter of a million Germans in this city, and of that quarter of a million at least 20,000 belong to, one or the other of the secret societies with which the city abounds. All of them axe different in tone, but they all have at tl\e end of their pro gram the cause of the Fatherland. By this time 'you will have been named to them as its enemy. Twenty thousand of them, my friend, and not a scruple amongst the lot!” He moved in his place a little rest lessly. “One does not fight in these ways nowadays,” he protested. "Pig-headed Englishman!” she mur mured. “You to say that/ too!" His thoughts flashed back to those few moments of vivid life in his own rooms. He thought of Freudenberg’s calm perseverance. An uncomfortable feeling seized him. - "I do not know,” she went on, lean ing a little toward him, ’’why I should interest myself in you at all.” "Why do you, then?” he asked, look ing at her suddenly. She played with the trifles that hung from her chatelaine. He watched for the raising of her eyes, but he watched in vain. She did not return his inquir ing look. “Never mind,” she said. ”1 nave warned you. It is for you to act as you think best. If you change your mind, come to me. I will give you sanctuary at any time. Take me to my automobile, please.” He obeyed her and watened her drive off. 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