Drouet

up " Drouet from the stand points of wit and fascination. He began to look to see where he was weak. "

Drouet had what was a help in his business, a moderate sense of humour, and could tell a good story when the occasion required.

"But you didn't have much to do with him, did you? " went on Drouet, anxious for his own peace of mind to get some direct denial from her.

"An old acquaintance of mine that I ran into just as I was coming up from the station, " explained Drouet, "She used to be quite a beauty. "

"You ought't to have had anything to do with him, " said Drouet in an injured tone, "after all I've done for you. "

"I saw you, " Hurstwood said, genially, the next time Drouet drifted in to his polished resort, from which he could not stay away.

he took out a neat business card , on which was engraved bartlett , caryoe company , and down in the left - hand corner , chas . h . drouet.

"Say, " said Drouet, coming over to her after a few moments, with a new idea, and putting his hand upon her.

she asked , diffidently , forgetting in her difficult situation that she had hoped he took her to be drouet s wife.

drouet came across the floor with a festive stride , a new pair of tan shoes squeaking audibly at his progress.

He sent Drouet after a programme, and then discoursed to Carrie concerning Jefferson as he had heard of him.

She had looked back at times upon her parting from Drouet and had regretted that she had served him so badly.

She was still nervous to reach Drouet and see what could be the matter.

"Was he? " said Drouet. "I thought from what he said that he had called a week or so ago. "

On coming down from his room at six, he looked carefully about to see if Drouet was present and then went out to lunch.

When Drouet was gone, she sat down in her rocking-chair by the window to think about it.

"I thought, " he said, looking at Carrie, "I would come around and tell you how well you did, Mrs. Drouet. It was delightful. "

It came out so flat, however, that it was a deathly thing. Drouet fidgeted. Hurstwood moved his toe the least bit.

"Well, well, " said Drouet, "you did out of sight. That was simply great. I knew you could do it. Oh, but you're a little daisy! "

Temporarily she gave little thought to Drouet, thinking only of the dignity and grace of her lover and of his consuming affection for her.

"I was just telling her, " put in Drouet, now delighted with his possession, "that I thought she did fine. "

it was as if he were now the only friend she had on earth . the next morning drouet was interested again , but the damage had been done.

The game of deception was up with Drouet. He did not try to simulate indifference further .

Drouet rode with her as far as the door, and then went about the neighbouring stores, looking for some good cigars.

He studied the face of Drouet in his wise way, and then with the demeanour of a gentleman, said: "Certainly; glad to. "

Drouet breathed a sigh of relief. He had been afraid that he was about to precipitate another conversation upon the marriage question.

All this she thought of as Drouet rummaged the drawers for collars and laboured long and painstakingly at finding a shirt-stud.

Drouet heightened her opinion on this and allied subjects in such a manner as to weaken her power of resisting their influence.

"Now, " he said, addressing first Carrie and then Drouet with his eyes, "you must be ready at 7. 30. I'll come and get you. "

One glance at her, and both Hurstwood and Drouet saw plainly that she also was weak-kneed. She came faintly across the stage, saying.

Drouet and Hurstwood saw at a glance that Carrie was not among them, and went on talking in a whisper.

"Say, " said Drouet, as if struck by a sudden idea, "I want you to come out some evening. "

In desperation, she made a salesman Drouet's mistress, was done as a greater desire for the mistress of the hotel manager, Hurstwood.

"Yes, I saw George, " returned Drouet. "Great old boy, isn't he? We had quite a time there together. "

"Don't you moralize, " said Hurstwood to Carrie gently, "until you see what becomes of the money. " Drouet smiled.

"Come along with me, " said Drouet. "I can introduce you to something dead swell. "

In the lobby of the Imperial, Mr. Charles Drouet was just arriving, shaking the snow from a very handsome ulster.

"Drouet is a good fellow, " Hurstwood thought to himself as he went back into his office, "but he's no man for Carrie. "

When these things would fall upon Drouet's ears, he would straighten himself a little more stiffly and eat with solid comfort.

She feared that the young boys about would address such remarks to her--boys who, beside Drouet, seemed uncouth and ridiculous.

"Well, you can bet that you're all right, " said Drouet. "You can take my word for that. You won't fail. "

Drouet looked away from the stage at the audience. The latter held out silently, hoping for a general change, of course.

Drouet dropped in at the lodge when he went down town, and swashed around with a great air, as Quincel met him.

Drouet had a desire to wipe out the possibility of confusion.

Drouet strolled over and looked in upon the manager at his desk. "When do you go out on the road again? " he inquired.

Drouet knew a place in Wabash Avenue where there were rooms.

When he came in upon Carrie she was still with Drouet.

What he wore did not strike the eye so forcibly as that which Drouet had on, but Carrie could see the elegance of the material.

Carrie, left alone by Drouet, listened to his retreating steps, scarcely realising what had happened.

"Oh, stay a minute, " pleaded Drouet. "You've got plenty of time. "

Drouet had Carrie establish a little portable gas stove for the preparation of small lunched, oysters, Welsh rarebits, and the like.

Both he and Drouet were left to discover that she was gone.

Her thoughts now were of a more liberal character, and she punctuated them with speculations as to the whereabouts of Drouet.

When she arrived at the house at the end of the day, weary and disheartened, she discovered that Drouet had been there.

"Madenda, " she replied, instantly mindful of the name Drouet had selected in Chicago. "Carrie Madenda. "

drouet saw it , but did not venture in.

don t you forget now , " he concluded , drouet showing signs of restlessness ; " some young woman to take the part of laura .

"Well, if you aren't a wonder, " Drouet was saying, complacently, squeezing Carrie's arm. "You are the dandiest little girl on earth. "

charlie , you are neglecting a part of your duty , " he observed to drouet most affably" .

questioned Drouet, anxious to terminate the subject and get on to something else.

"My, but you're a little beauty, " Drouet was wont to exclaim to her.

Both Hurstwood and Drouet noted the rising sentiment as she proceeded.

"Oh, yes, " she answered, rather pleased now with his caution. It was clever for Drouet.

"Sirloin with mushrooms, " said Drouet. "Stuffed tomatoes. "

"You'll get that all right, " said Drouet. "What's the use worrying right now? Get yourself fixed up. See the city. I won't hurt you. "

"How do you know? " questioned Drouet reflectively.

I'll go to the door and ask if Mr. Drouet is at home.

"Then you do care for him? " said Drouet, stopping completely and experiencing a rush of feeling.

"Well, you're a chump for being afraid, " said Drouet. "Come on now, brace up. I'll watch you from right here. "

"She's going along with me this time, " said Drouet.

"Why, " said Drouet, puzzled at her tone, "you knew that, didn't you? "

"Well, here we are, " said Drouet, leading the way to the door. "Good-bye, till I see you Monday. "

"Sure, " said Drouet, quite pleased at the attention shown.

Drouet felt a scratch in his throat.

"Is Mr. Drouet stopping here? " he asked of the clerk.

"You ought to have a piano here, Drouet, " said Hurstwood, smiling at Carrie, on the evening in question, "so that your wife could play. "

"Why, Hurstwood, " said Drouet, noting the effect and feeling that he was delivering a telling blow.

"Has Mr. Drouet gone out? " he asked of the clerk.

Drouet also was beside himself.

"Right you are, " agreed Drouet. "How is she? "

Drouet shook hands, beaming good nature, and they strolled towards the bar.

"Is Mr. Drouet in? " said Hurstwood blandly.

"Is Mrs. Drouet in? " he asked.

On the other hand, his interest in Drouet's little shop-girl grew in an almost evenly balanced proportion.

"No, I am going, though, " said Drouet.

"Yes, I will, " said Drouet.

"I don't go much on those things, do you? " asked Drouet.

"You stick to me and we'll have a coach, " laughed Drouet.

"When do you leave? " said Hurstwood to Drouet.

"Oh, no, " said Drouet, "that won't do. How long have you been looking? "

"Oh, yes, " said Drouet, now affecting not to see. "Who is he? "