Tubal Cain

n spread. With the inevitable scraping of strings and preliminary unattended dance, a quadrille was formed. Alexander, lounging with other exactly garbed males in the doorway, watched with secret env

endants and candles shone and glittered; the rustle of crinoline, of light passing feet, sounded

New Orleans, was bowing profoundly to his partner; a figure broke up into a general boisterous gallopading-girls, with flushed cheeks, swinging

acquaintance met in the bar, but the other, bearing a great bouquet of rosebuds in a lace-paper cone, hurried importantly away. A subdued barytone wa

er, he saw, was a young woman, with smooth bandeaux and loops of black hair, and a goya lily caught below her ear. She

y in response to a hesitating but unmistakable smile of recognition. Alexander stopped, and she imperiously waved him to join the number about her. He was in a cold dread of the necessi

nce, his dark, distinguished appearance. The man who had been indicated as Sinnox' companion stood by Hulings, and th

sela.... Gisela-he had heard that too. Suddenly she affected to be annoyed; she arched her fine brows and glanced about, her gaze falling upon Alex

he demanded. "New Orleans m

a figure of the Goddess of Health, in filigree on mossy rocks, pouring water from an urn. Her gown was glazed gr

dmitted; "a pin was scratching, and I was devoured w

nowledge pinched at his heart with malicious fingers; the starry night, the music and gala attire, his loneliness had betr

erfume and the insistent drip of the water falling from the um. "But I haven't met you at all," she said; "I don't in the least know you." Her at

me." Instantly he cursed such clumsy stupi

, dropping a curtsy, "

s evident that the group had not separated; for almost immediately there

nything else, he shrank from being an object of amusement, of gibes.

ct was to retire farther into the night, only to return to his room when the hotel was dark, deserted. But a second, stronger impu

saturnine countenance of Partridge Sinnox. The latter,

him on the faint strains of the violins. And in the morning it clouded his entire outlook. Sinnox' smile expressed a contempt that Alexander Hulings' sp

them with a cold phrase. This theatrical playing with pistols-cheap! Later, in the crowded bar, he was pressed elbow to elbow with Sinnox and his companion; and he

zed down on him with narrowed eyes. "I see none about us,

became aggressive. He met Sinnox'

at least, it

lings' arm. "Withdraw!" he advised. "Mr. Sinnox' temper is fatal. Beyond a cer

d his face was covered by an even,

s voice was sudden

were mere unintelligible gasps. His hand shook so that he dropped a glass of roc

. "I warned the other gentleman. Mr. Sinnox is not himself in

gs!" that indivi

y he was conscious of an admiration roused by the mere fact of

e in dangerous water. I und

exander st

a lily. Sinnox was propelled from the bar, and his

the former announce. "M

a quiet opening back of the bathhouse. But my earnest advice to you is to withdraw; you will

ulous affair. He was even more deliberate than usual; but, though he was certai

tly followed the director through the great hall of the hotel out on to the veranda, and a

tocks, into which he formally rammed powder and balls. Alexander Hulings was composed; but his fingers were cold, slightly numb, and he rubbed them together angrily. Not for an instant did he think that he might be kill

he ended by demanding, for his principal, an apology from Alexander Hulings. The latter, making no reply, was attracted by Sin-nox' expression of deepening

is heel, grasped one of the pistols in his second's ha

nuation, by Sinnox' friend. The latter held the remaining, undischarged pistol out of reach;

did it," he unconscio

d in a pocket, he walked stiffly up to within a few feet of Sinnox, and p

e seemed to wake. He felt himself propelled away from the vicinity of the bat

attempt

the present." He impatiently shook

l him?" he

n affirmati

n, a sudden sense of horror, weakness, overtoo

his coachman, "I-I shot

ro was

o be killed!" he asserted. "Yes, sir;

affected. At least, he thought grimly, once more self-possessed,