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few; 1 V|'ll
^y/iidMkliMt/»r«K\'li AJ^ti «Jtin>:4irai>iflaf
o^uV" u *"~ evcl ’ y Wanted soil of u K«n
"Oil, I ecmi|iro!i(!ii(| now that It Is
J’OUr Wish Hint yin; | uvu only yon. My,
Uendcunliig, mui uro sail that she duo*
not, 1 snkl as 1 looked at him with
, xuueh H.vm|j«ih.v.
••anmt Is about It. prlnco. but duu'f
say I suld ko. Everybody chases' Busan.
• She ovuti wins uti occasional too t.'i'oam
smile from Ids excellency. I but bIioVI
go uij iigulimt Hint itugust Iceberg ttneir
to a tryout fur a ‘First Lady or tlui
State’ badge If Mrs. Pnt Whltwnrtb
hadn’t got the whelp '.woman hunch to
believe she lias a confer on Ids Ice.
Mrs. I’at Is sonic Uftle eoruerer. be
lieve me."
"Ob. I did lllte Hint' Mndum Whit
worth, mid I hope that It will be m.v
pleasure to see her again soon." I said
with an lee lu my voice ns I caught iny
breath while Mr. Buzz Cleiidunnliur
drove between two cars (hid n wagon
with not so 'much »s un inch to spare
on all three sides of the ear. It Is ns 1
like to drive when at the wheel; bill
sitting beside another—
“Sou’ll see her at the governor's
dinner for you Tuesday, if not sooner,
and Jlist watch her and tjio general
war douce with each other. He opens
Ills eyes when Mrs. Put attacks, mid
hd imagines he Is the whole Hurpcth
valley militia defending his excellency
of Iceland from her wiles, dust wutcli
him!" And this time It was three wag
ons that.we slid between mid beyond.
“Here wo are lit the gcfncral's, and I
can smell Klzzltfg cream gravy- with
lay mind's nose. 1 understand that
your father was the last Henry Cur-
ruthers of live born up In the old ma
hogany bedstead that Hie general in
habits betwetSn'the hours of t and fi
a. m. Some shack, this of the gen
eral's, isn't It Nothing Oner in the.
state." And ns ho spoke that Mr.,
Buzz Clendetihlng stopped the ear be
fore tbe borne of m.v uncle, the Gen
eral Robert, and we alighted • from II
together.
I do not know how It Is that I can
put into words the beautiful feeling’
that rose from tbe inwardness of me
as I stood lri front of tbe home of my
fathers in this faraway America. The
entire city of Hayesvlllo Is n city of
old homes 1 had noticed as 1 drove in
the gray car so rapidly along with Mr.
Buzz Clendeniilug. while he was speak
ing to me, but no house hud been so
beautiful us was tills oil?. It was
Old, with almost tbe vino covered ngo
of tbe Chateau do Grez, but Instead
of being of grnystone It was of a red
brick that was ns warm ns tbe em
bers of an oak tire with the Him of
ashes crusting upon it. Thus it seem
ed'to bo both red mid gray beneath
i the vines that were casting delicate
green traceries over Its walls. Great
white pillars were, to the front of it.
like at the mansion of tbe goitvorhcur;
and. many wide windows mid doors
opened out from It. Two old oak trees
■Which give to. It the name of Twin Oaks
. stood ut each side of the old brick
walk that led from the toll gate, mid
as, I walked under them I felt that I
had’from a cruel world come home.
' : A NJ]
A
CHAPTER VI.
The G|rl Bunch;
^ND If I felt in that manner as 1
entered the house I felt It to a
still greater degree when 1
was, welcomed by tbit most
lovely old black slave woman of the
high temper mal good cookery. She
opened the door for us herself, though
a nice boy tbe color of u chocolate bon
bon stood in waiting to perform tbat
office.' Slie bud a spoon lu her band,
and upon her bend was a spotless
white turban, ns also wns an apron of
an equal spotlessncss tied around her
Very large wnlst.
i “You. Mas' Robert, you done come
Jbome from the heathen land to keep
“You, Mas' Robert, you done come
my food waiting jest like yo’ father did
from the minute I outied him from m.v
apron string, Come right Into the .din
ing room Tore my gravy curdles nnd
the liver wing I done saved for you
cits too brown lu tbe skillet.” wns ull
of tbe Introduction or greeting that she
gave to me us slie waddled along be
lilml Mr. Buzz Clendemilng uud my
self, driving ns dowu the hull mid Into
the dining room,
■•(Ice I hope Ivlzzle killed by the 1ml.
dozen lust night. If there aren't three
chickens apiece you'll be hungry, L'AI-
clon •' said Mr. Buzz Clcnddmilug. with
a laugh, us he seated himself, beside
liio mid unfolded his napkin.
-I wish that you might call me Itob-
ert Mr. Cleudemihig.” 1 said, with a
great friendliness, as we finished the
nice lunch. . ' ■ ' .
"Sure, Bobble, uud you’ll forget that
I wouldn't let yon kiss tno, won't you?"
lie answered us lie drew buck from the
table and lit a cigarette after pnssiug
me Hie case. “Everybody calls mo
Il.'.zz tile Bumble Boo becuuse of a ids-
' torle encounter of uHno With u Whole
nest of bumblebees right out here In
the gotiorul's garden. It Is a titles of
heroism, mid l'd'llko to bare - you use
It us if we'd been bids together, ns wo
were slated to have been. Say, let's go
call on Sue. mid you can get a nice tit
tle Initiation Into the girl bunch beforo
Hie general stops you by locking you
away l'l'om them,"
"I go." I made answer with a great
pleasure.
Then we descended to tho gray car
of milch speed a nil did use Hint speed
In turning tunny streets until wo cuine
to another very line old bouse, whore.
I wns Informed by my Mr. Buzz'Clou-
deiinllig, resides Hull Mile. Susan of
so much laveltinfstjr
And It Is of a truth that I discovered
that loveliness to be no great as was
told to me by liel' true' lover. When I
raised my bend from the hiss of pre
sentation I gave to her baud I looked
Into very deep and very Wonderful girl
e.vc3 dial bad In (heir depths tears
that were for u sympathy for me, I
know. My,heart of an exile heat very
high 'in my own girl's' breast that
ueheil for the refuge of her woman’s
arms, mid I input liuvo partly betrayed
my yearning to her, for I saw tin ex
pression of confused question come Into
her eyes that looked Into mine: then
the beautiful tiling Hint bad come Into
my Mr. Buzz Clcrideiiiiliig’seyes forme
cnm? also Into hors In place of the
question. 1 saw then In tlioso uyes a
sister born to the boy Robert Cnrruth-
cru of n great French strangeness.
“I've been thinking about you all
morning, Mr. Onrruthers, mid hoping
Buzz would bring you with him to see
mo first of nil. I wanted to be tbe
first one ofjlio girls to say, 'Welcome
■home' to you." And as she spoke those
words Of much tenderness I again
bent odor her- band In salututlon, be
cause I could give forth no words from
m.v throat. ,
“Sue. you aro tbe real sweet thing—
mid now notice the a bit, will you?"
sold my flue Mr. Buzz Clemlennlug
with both duration und n teasing in
bis voice. “1 know I haven't got
French manneys nnd don't look like
r/Aiglon, but I'm an affectionate rough
jewel.”
“Please don’t mind Buzz, Mr. Car-
rutliors—be just can't help buzzing."
“For always 1 will be your bumble
slave, Mile. Susan," was tbe unswer
f made Into her laughing eyes.
"That will do, Robert. You don’t
know bow spoiled Susan Is, 'nnd you're
making trouble for me. Besides, you
haven't seen the baby Bello lu war
paint yet. Bet's go call on her now!"
And that Sir. Buzz Clendcnulug was
lu n moment ready for inuklug more
new friends for me. “Clime on. i.'u-
snn, wo can He I'rlnc'e Bob mi the
running board." >
“Why, there's Belle nt tho gate now,
and—yes—It's. Sirs. Whitworth with
her. I wonder when slio came from
Now. York." said Mile. Susan ns 'tve
wont to meet the guests approaching.
I on the one side of her and the Sir.
Buzz on the other.
, "The beautiful Sladuni .Whitworth
euuie down upon the same train which
I occupied," I said 'as I remembered
to raise from my head tn.v lint by tliut
action on tbe part of my Sir. Jinzz.
“Ob, then you have bpou presented
to I.’Alglou?" said Sir: Buzz to that
Madam Whitworth, who stood smiling
whilo I wus presented to the very
lovely girl of very great bl'tindness.
who both blushed and what is called
giggled ns 1 kissed her hand, though
lu her eyes I found n nice friendliness
to me.
“We are old friends who know nil
about each other, aren’t we, Sir. Rob
ert Cnrrutbors?"
“Indeed, I have much Joy thnt I wns
given tho opportunity to know the very
bouutlful Madam Whitworth nt so cur
ly a time in my life lu America," 1
made answer to her question In words
ns I bent also over her hand for n kiss
of snlutntlon.
And then I had'a great amusement
nt tho skill with which that Sludam
Whitworth brought It to pass thnt 1
walked with her from that gnte and
left tho three new mul lovely friends
I hnd made looking after me with af
fection and regret at my departure.
“Of course, It was horrid, of mo to
snatch you like that from those lu-
t'auts, hut—I really had the claim to
huve you for n little time to lrear your
Impressions of Hnycsville, now, didn’t
I?—you boy wltli eyes ns beautiful ns
n girl's," she said to mo ns I walked
down tho wide street beside her.
“I hojio you will always make such
claims of me, madam," I mude an
swer with, tho great sweetness with
which I was determined for the time
to keep covered the steel knife.
“1 know how to claim—und alscr to
reword.” she answered mo with n
warmth fhntSgave mo a great discom
fort. "And how did you escape from
tho general into 'feminine society on
your very first day? Wasn’t there work
for you nt tho capitol? I understand
that they are expecting that French
commissioner very soon now.” She
risked, the question with liu indiffer
ence (hut I know to bo false.
■'I think It Is that I am allowed to
get my—what you say In English?—
inml legs." I unswered with much un
concern.
“Speaking of tbat Frenchman who Is
coming down for tbe mule contracts,
j of which by this time you have doubt
less board. I wonder why It Is that the
Count of Lasselles, your friend, is
sending oifo of bis lieutenants instead
of coming himself. Did he say any
thing of coming down later? I wish he
would, for to my mind he- Is one of
your greatest soldiers, nnd I would like
to look Into his fnce. That portrait lu-
ilio Review is one of the most interest
ing I have almost ever seen. Is there
any ehunpo of his coming down?"- And
* GttADY COUNTY PltOGKBSS. CAltar. xxmmui*.,
I wns of a gfont curiosity nt tlio illiX-
loty In her face about the movements
of my cnpltnlnv, the Count do Lnssoilcs.
"He told luc only'Hint lie would go
to I ho gt'ulti fields of English Cnmuln,
madam," 1 unswered her by guardedly
tolling her no more than my words
upon that train bud revealed to tier.
"If bo writes to you you must tell me
about It,” slie said, with great friendli
ness, "I am Interested In everyHilug
that -happens to him."
"I will do thnt, with thanks for your
Interest," 1 unswered td her, with nn
qtr of grent devotion. "And behold, Is
It not Ihe Twin.Ouks of my uncle 1 see
heavy Petrous to tell to mo wlint li
wns (Ijpy wished to Impose upon him.
"Robert," said my Gouvohiour Faulk
ner on it Into iiftbruouu, “I'm going to
ask the general lo lend you to mo for
a couple of weeks while 1 am so press
ed. Buzz cun do more for. him Hum
you do, niid-'-und. well, Just looking ut
you mid hearing you tell about tile lltoa
you brush from my wearied brow rests’
me. Report lo. mo tomorrow Instead
of to hint. I know it will bo all tlglit',
for he really needs Buzz. Now, you
run homo'oml get ready for one great
time nt a pniVy I'm giving to you to
night. And, Robert, remember to tell
mo everything tho Hies say, translated
in your United States.”
“I will, und 1 go, my Gouverneur
Faulkner," l made an answer to him,
with a laugh, lu which I did not show
entirely all of the pleasure I experi
enced when I discovered I was to be
In the place of bis socrelary, that fine
Buzz Clendemilng.'
And with much haste 1 took my de
parture from tho Capitol of the slate,
of Hurpcth to Twin Ouks In'tho ear of
m.v uncle, tho General Robert, for’I
knew that upon’tills evening.I must
make a new mill Terrible'toilet und 1
would require'much timo thereto. .
of (lie very sweet Belle git'll* bind ' ytnl call nt homo " And I spolco again
ruffles and silver slippers I wns guldt, with beseeching humility.
lug punt him In the trot of a fox.
It Is with a burning of countenance
that arises from a hot slmme, which I
do not'even to this moment exactly
Understand, that 1 recall lo my mind
that half hour which Mr, Robert Car-
rut tiers of Grp*-Uiul llye spent with
tlio beautiful Madam I'atrlctn Whit
worth In ono of tho deep windows that
looked from the private study of Ids
excellency; of thu state of Iturpeth
over Into the grcat'hllls that surround
tho city. Things happened in this
wise; Thnt Mndum Whitworth mnilo
the commencement, of our dttpl of In
telligences by assuming tlmt I was n
' simple French infant before whom site
could dangle tlio very sweet bonbon of
affection and tulip-away front It n
treasure tliut It l(pld in tlio hollow of
Its liniul as a sacred trust; tliut Mad
am Whltivortb did not realize thnt In
stead of a very small young boy from
gay Furls, whose eyes wore closed like
those of a very' young eat, site wns
“We'll do It for Franco together,
boy,” she whispered ns sho turned lu
my arm and pressed herself against
my raven attire above my lienrt.
Just at this lovely moment, when the
beautiful Muditm Whitworth bad
thrown herself Into my arms and I bad
been obliged by my cunning to bold
her tbero Instead of fllnglgg her to tlm
lloor, as I naturally desired, tbero ar
rived at tlio door of tlio room which
wo wore occupying with our plotting
my tall nnd ttwful uncle, tho General
Robert, and looked dowu upon us with
tho lightnings of a storm In his eyes.
Then before I could mnko exclamation
nud betray his presence to the lady In
my arms, whose hack was turned in
his direction, ho had disappeared. Did
I botray that presence to tho Indy?' I
did not. I decided tbut it would ho
much to tho advnutogc of tho affair to
lmvo tho lady la iguornneo of his
knowledge.
"You must go now, hoy," sho said •
dealing With the very wicked girl who! nt about tho moment in which I could
“I know how to olaim—and also to To
ward."
across the street?” I asked ns I stop
ped In front of that fine old homo that
was now mine.
"Coiiie on down the street to my
home and I'll give you u cup of tea,''
shj! invited tne with very evident de
sire for my company for more quo:'-,
tloniilg.
“I give miuiy thanks, but tbat is.not
possible-to mo, as-I must write note;
to my Pierre nnd old Nqmiette for tbe
evening railroad. I bid you good day.
beautiful madam." And again 1 beat
over her baud’ in u salutation of de
parture.
"Then 1’U see you again soon." slip
said mid smiled at mo as 1 stood, with
my lint in. my band, as sbe went awu.v
from rac down tbe street.
"Vivo la France and Harpctli Amer
ica!" I said to myself, ns I ascended
the steps, was admitted by tlio Bom
bon nnd conducted up tbo stairway to
my apartments by good Klzzle. wboin
I met In the .wide hull.
Am] there ensued an hour of the
greatest interest to me, as lira very
good old slave woman led me from
oner of tho rooms in the largo house to
another, with rnuny stories of great
interest. At iHSt we came to that*room
in which had been deposited my lings
nnd ray other equipment for my jour
ney,' und there we made n very long
pause.
“Tills is your Grandma Carrutbcrs -
room, the general’s grandma, nnd shu
was the blgh-hendcdest lady of tho
whole family. That am her portrait
over the mantelshelf.' you is Je.st IU19
her ns two pens in tbe-pbd, anil. 1 reck-'
In I’ll have to take a stick to you like
I did to yo’ futiier when lie wns most
growed up and stole all the fruit-cake
I bud done baked In July fer Christ
mas," she said, with u wide smile, of
great - uffectlon upon her very large
mouth.
"I beg that you put under n key
thnt cake, beloved Madam Klzzle," 1
made answer to her, with also a laugh.
“Never wns no key to nothing in
tills bouse, chile," she answered to me.
“I ’lowed to the gener’l thnt I10 ought-
er git a lock nud key fer tills here
flowered silk dress ifi tho glass case
on tbe wall dat do ole mis’ wore nt de
ball where she met up with Mas’ Cnr-
rtithors, but they do say thnt she
comes hack and wnlkk us a lia'ut nil
dressed in It and these hero slippers
and stockings and folderols lu the
curbed box on-the table here under
her picture. Is you .’fraId of hn’nts..
honey?”
• “I will not be afraid of tills'beautiful
grandmamma In this dress of so grent
magnificence, my good Klzzle," t made
answer to her with more of courage.
Hum I nt that moment felt.
“Well, It’s only In ease of n death in
tho house that she—lands alive! Am
that my cake burning?" With’ which
exclamation the good Klzzle left mo to
tho company of tlie beautiful grand
mamma’.
As soon as breakfast wns over the
next morning I departed with m.v un
de, the-General Robert, to the enpltol
of the state of Harpetli, which is u tall
building set on an equally tall bill.
I, found much business awaiting me
lu tho form of making 11 correct trans
lation of all of the letters lu a very
large portfolio, all of which were per
taining to that,very tiresome animal,
the mule. But I'made not very much
progress, for a very large number of
gentlemen came Into tbe office of my
uncle,' the General Robert, nnd to ull
of them I must bo presented.
In fact. In all of what- remained of
that entire week, for most of my mo
ments In tbo enpltol I wns having very
painful shakes of the band given to
me and receiving assurances of m.v
great resemblance to my honored fn-
tlier.
All of which I did greatly enjoy, but
nothing was of so much pleasure to. me
as the visits I accomplished into tlio
office of that Gouverneur Faulkner
With messages of Importance from my
uncle, the General Robert
It was with 11 very fine and cold
smile of friendliness that bo at first
received me as I stood with humble
attention before ills desk upon my first
mission to him, but with each message
I perceived tbat tbe stars In his eyes,
so I1I1I beneath Ills brows, shone upon
me with a greater Interest.
Anil I11 observing the many heavy
burdens thnt pressed upon his strong
sliotilJers until nt tho close of each
day a whiteness was over his very beau-
tlful fuce I grew to desiro that I could
make some little things for him easier.
1 sought to •so do, and I discovered that
1
CHAPTER VII.
Drama of tlio War Mule.
HAVE a (leslro to know If It-ls
into tho life of every person
there comes one night which lie
is never (o forget until death and
perhaps oven 'after. I do not know,
but 1 urn sure tlmt I shall always keep
tbo memory of,the night upon which
Mr. Hubert Carrutbcrs Of Grez - and
Bye wus Introduced, to tjio friends of
his ancestors. It is mV jewel tlmt
seems a drop of honrt’s bloud tlmt I
will wear forever bid In [my breast.
At dinner I sat beside the Gouvor-
liour Williamson Faulkner, uud tears
came Into niy ej'es us beiruso from; be
side nio at tbo bend of the table and
said;
: “Ladles and gentlemen, I ask you to
drink to tbe homecoming of Robert
Garrutliers, my friend, your friend nnd
everybody Ills friends." *
“And now what bavoJyou to say to
me, buy, tlio oldest friend you’vo got
In America who hasn’t seen you for
days that have boon too long?” said
tlmt Mudnui Whitworth, who was seat
ed at my side, and ns she spoke she
turned ono lovely bare shoulder In the
direction of my uncle, Hie General Rob
ert, and the beautiful) Mile. Sue uml
also Buzz, us If to shut them away
from her and me in a llrtle space of
world .last for two people.
"I euii say with truth, madam, that
your loveliness tonight is but the flow
ering of my suspicions of It tlmt morn
ing upun the railroad train." I answer
ed her In words that were a very nice
translation of nt tlmt fine young
Cossack bud,oiice,said to mo lit 1 the
Chateau do Grez of my own flowering
Into rose chiffon after nn ufterdo^u’s
bunting with him In 'corduroys. And
In truth I npoko no falsehood to t!igt
Madam Whitworth, for sho was of\n
very great bounty of body, very much
of which was in view from 11 scanti
ness of bodice that I had never scent
excelled hi liny Im’llroom in France. ■/>
“I knelv you for a poet from that
adorable black mop Which 1 sob you
have very nicely plastered In nn exact
Imitation of Buzz Clondcjinlug’s fed
one," Rbe answered me, with it laugh.
“Follow , mo from., the ballroom- just
after supper at -midnight for a liulf
hour’s chat alone lu a place l/kncw;
ami.don't let either.,the general or the
governor seo you,” she then said In an
undertone as the Convenient' i'Tiulknor
bent forward uud begnn n ' laughing
conversation with 'her. j
“I will," I answered lu'i" under niy
brfiatb, and I leaned back /a'm.v clmir
so that tlio Gouror’iicnr Fajulkner could
more conveniently convcMse with hoi - .
And to that end he placed Ids arm
across Ihe back of my chair, and thus
I sat in Ills embrace with my sboTiltier
pressed into Ills. I
“At midnight,” I whispered, whilo il
bent for 11 second to kiss the hand 6f
tho beautiful Madam Whitworth its
she left the room. As f raised ray head
from the salutation 1 encountered the
eyes of the Gouverneur Faulkner,
which looked into mine with nn'cxprc3-
slon of calm question. And for a mo
ment I let the woman rise superior to
the raven attire, nnd l looked back Into
those eyes,' in which I saw tbo mys
tery of tbe dawn slnr, as would hnvo
gazed Roberta, marquise of Grez and
Bye. iimhsbe been -attired lu the white
talie nnd lace abandoned lu tbat New
York. Then T beat; tier back down Info
tny heart and gave him tbo smile of
fealty that was tils due from Robert
Cniruthers, his friend.
Tho hours tlmt followed my entry
Into the bnilroom in tlie mansion-of
tlje exalted dpitverneVr Faulkner were
like minutes of time Unit dropped from
n golden clock of joy. I danced on
feet 1 that were strong wtiigs to glide
over n Boor that was 11 many colored
cloud from the .reflection of the soft
lights and the silken inlaws, which ruf
fled'over It. And. v/Unt was most en
joyable to mo In ibis caste, r glided I11
whatever direction pleased me and
took wtfb me tbe nrml'nl of cloud;
Which was the girl with whom'I wus
darning, on long swoops of mjr own
will lnslend.pf belli.: led In my flights
liy another, is lmd always before been
the ease wTUrmy dancing. It was the
most 'of a joy that 1 had ever experi
enced, oml as I so enjoyed that free
dom I did not know how It was thi.it
should have such a feeling of dissat
isfaction when I beheld that beautiful
Madam V.'hltworth dancing,within the
urmn of the Uouvorneuf \t’-tllinm3on
I'Tiulknor;. I blushed that I should be
so .unworthy, with such; an unreason
able fury fn my heart, and I -looked
nwity so that I seemed not 10 see tho
placed the word "devil” behind the
word "dare.”
I wns thnt girl.
"I suppose It Is absurd for a staid
old matron like, myself to be jealous,
really Jealous, nt seeing a child like
you being consumed lillvo by a lot of
nlmpcrliig misses In pink ami blue chif
fon pinafores..'who ought to Im In tlielr
nursery cots asleep,' but I have been
and -inn. boy. Did you, forget Unit 1
was your oldest friend whilo Sun Tom
linson fed you.8wonts out of her hand?'
And as she spoke sho seated herself
In tlio exact center or the window seat
and motioned me' to place myself in
tho portion of tlie left sldo tlmt remain
ed. 1 inserted myself Into tlie space
that was so Indicated and laid m.v arm
along tlio window ledge behind her
very' much undressed back so tlmt I
might give to my lungs space to ex
pand for air. I think that arrange
ments made very much for the com
fort of the beautiful Madam Patricia,
for.-slio Immediately upproptialed tlmt
nrm as 11 cushion for her umlrupcd
shoulders.
And there J11 the mansion of the
gouverneur of the state of Harpctli
himself tlmt lovely woman did unfold
to mo the most wonderful plan'.for the
most enormous robbery of both her
own government, nnd mine—or should
I say of both of my governments?—tlmt
It could be In tl> e power of mortal
mind to conceive. It wns a beautiful,
reasonable, generous, patriotic, sympa
thetic drama of tint'gigantic war mule,
und It bad only one tiny, bidden ob
scure line In one of Its verses, but In
that line lay nil of dishonor that could
come to il man anil a state who should
allow a smaller nation fighting for Its
life and Its honor to bo defrauded of
one of tbo supplies which were of a
deadly necessity for Its success. I
think I-even saw the dastardly scheme
more .plainly than did my uncle, the
General Ttolfert.Tbel had listened with
more than-one ear while niy capita Inc,
tho Count de I.iissclles, explained to
wee Pierre some of the details of sup
plying tho army of tho ropubllque.
think lie had talked of things tlmt the
little one eopld net understand just to
tnnke nn eilse of the pressure of ull of
his business upon his, troubled inlnd
and breaking heart; Anil us Mbdnm
); Whitworth talked .1 conld bear my
Rierre's bhavo: voice'its lie alwuys gave
assurances to Ills siul idoL
‘j “All of plenty ts I11 America, nnd she
will give to Franco.”
And here sat great strong Roberta,
tho, Marquise of Grez nnd Bye, liold-
Ipg'ilii tho'boi.low of her arm a beauti
ful Aro&iionu womnn who lmd herself
ijonUjved 11 monstrous plan to let a
quantity of tbo lifeblood of France to
no longer keep my dissembling alive.
“Send tbe governor In here to mo, for
it Is ubout tbe time 1 lmd premised
to dunce with him. I want to talk
with him nud try to make him seo
somo ut least of this matter In the
right light. Go, und corno to mo to
morrow at 4 for—for France."
I went, nnd It was with much joy
In tho going. I stopped ut a tall win
dow to get into my lungs a very deep
'supply of atmosphere and also to tnko
counsel with myself.
I was Just preparing to step from
the window on to a balcony muT de
scend when a movement of human be
ings cuught my eyo upon tho sldo of
tbut balcony.
A man stood at the rati of tbe bal
cony lu tbu dim moonlight, and ho
was speaking to n woman whom his
broad shoulders hid‘from me. Tbe
"We'll/do it for Franca togoiher, boy.’’
turn Into gold for her own vain uses.
If to throttle her then and .there with
my bare strong Imuila bad insured the
great big needful mules to Franco und
saved'tbo honor of my gouverneur of
tbo-Htut’o of Harpetli and my uncle,
tbe General Robert, I think I might
have hnd a great temptation to admin
ister tliut death to her, but Instead I
held her now closer lu niy arm, uud 1
began to (dot her to death in any other
way I could discover, so that her In
tiiguc should die with her.
"Of a truth beautiful, madam, the
poor pld undo, the General Robert
must not be allowed, to Interfere with
such a beautiful plan as you have fo'
supplying those very fine strong mule;
frrtm the state of Harpetli . to poo:
struggling France, and I will Join will’
you In convincing’the stupid (louver
lieur Faulkner tbat sifclimtist not In
the cane. You •jvill direct mo. will yot
not? . I am very young, nnd I have bn
so lately come to this land that I d;
not know. 1 do not fool exactly whai
• ' .
It was possible to begullci manj' yerjf smUo tbat be seut to mo over the bead
Like Groat White Grappling Hooka
From Which Ho Was Unable to De
fend Himaelf.
tnun was tho Gouverneur Faulkner of
the state of Harpetb, and in n moment
I discovered tho identity of tho lady
with him.
“And now can’t you see, you great
big stupid man, what un opportunity
I hnvo procured for ull of you?” was
the question thnt came In tho soft
volco of tho beautiful Madam Patricia
Whitworth. "All my life I have work
ed Just to got 11 little ease und com
fort, carrying tho burden of Jeff in
Ills liicompctcncy strapped to my shoul
ders, nnd now yon, wbo know bow,
I’ve suffered and slaved, aro going to
take It all from mo when It Is Just
Within my reach, and all from no
earthly reason than a fancied scruplo
of hoiior which that old doddering wo
mnn hater Imposes on yon. I cannot
believe that you would so treat me.”
And there were sobs In her words tliut
were wooing and compelling.
“I cannot do n thing that m.v secre
tary of stato and his lawyers dcclnro
unconstitutional, Patricia," answered
the voice of tho Gouverneur Fuulkner.
in which were notes of pain. "You
know how it pains me. My God! Don’t
tempt mo to"— His volco shook as I
saw the boauUful, bare white arms of
Madam Whitworth ralso themselves
and go about bis neck like groat wlilto
grappling books from wlileli bo wus
unable to defend lilmsclf.
“Am I to have nothing from life—no
ease or luxury nnd no—lovo or”— Her
vpleo ended In qobs as she pressed her
bead down Into bis shoulder us bis
arm folded about her 'to prevent that
she should fall.
•Patricia”— tho deep voice,: of tbo
strong man was beginning to say 113 I
was starting to spring forward In bis
defense and to do—I do not know wbat
—when a firm grasp was laid upon my II
shoulder, nnd I was turned away from
tbe window Into tbe light of tbo wldo
ball and found'ay uncle, tbe General
Robert, looking down Into my Hashing
eyes with a great and very cool calm
ness.
"Young man,” he said ns he gnvc to
me a very powerful shake, "nil women
nro poison, but somo arc vitriol and.
others Just—oh, well, paregoric. Go
out there nnd take another dose of that
soothing sirup labeled Susan Tomlin
son beforo I take you home, and you—
keep —away —from—vitriol or I’ll—
break — your — hot—young—bead! Vit
riol, mind you!" With which command
my uncle, the General Robert, strode K&
down the hnll in tho direction of the f
smoking room, and left me blinking In
tbe lights of the wide hall.
Then In through tho window cnino
the Gouverneur Faulkner and tho benu-
tlful Madam Whitworth, and from Ills
white face, set In sternness, and licfs.
with Its smile of tbe opening rose upon
Its red mouth, I could not tell whether
his honor had been slain or had been
spared lor another round.
“I'll want you In my office at tbe Cap
itol at 11 tomorrow, Robert.” ho said
to me. nnd there wns a cold sternness
In bis gituice as they pnssed by me nod
tbe old Cato Into tbe ballroom.
“At 4," murmured tbe beautiful
Madam "Whitworth as she swept past’
me With a soft smile, but In a tone of
voice too low for any eurs save my
0WU ' '
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