, 1879-10-09


quite alone with Madame Rosis.
what makes you 50 whiteH she
asked, stopping short in her walk.
"Why, he has gomez
"Who has gomez
"The gentleman who walked beside
you"
"Indeed, who so honored me ~ she
said, increIuously. II was busy with
my thoughts"
"a strange gentleman walked with
you-near you-and as I started to-
ward him he disappeared"
Madame laughed low, musical
laugh, but | saw that the white hand
that clasped her scarlet mantle over her
heart was shaking. Her lips grew white
and dry.
II hope he was handsome.
every; with al mouth like girls.
Her foreheard grew puckered into
scowls.
"And what elsel'
"He wore ring with blood red
heart y
pray that 1 may never on earth see
a face so fearful as was madame's at
that moment put up quick prayer,
for | thought she was about to kill me.
She clutched both my hands about my
arm and held me closely to her,
Glow dare you, girlP
II could not help seeing him." said.
"There he is now outside, looking in at
the window"
She covered down at my feet, and
covered her eyes with her mantle. L
do not know how long stood there, or
how long she knclt without moving. [
know the figure stood motionless at the
window, looking at us with steady, un-
wavering eyes Would he never gol
Would he hold us forever with that
quiet, unfinching gazeY
At that moment [ shrieked, and
madame sprang to her feet. A crowd
came to see us, and | fell back fainting.
In the morning we started. 1t was
Summer time, and our way through the
richest of earth's gardens, All was
beautiful from the sky downward
birds, flowers, fruit, and velvety green
sward, In spite of everything, 1 was
happy.
"We will soon have long rest"
madame said, as we whired along. "You
shall hear from the brother and sister at
home"
I was looking out of the window as
she spoke. AS I turned my face toward
her l felt some one touch my shoulder.
I turned around quickly. The stranger
was sitting near us in the train.
His presence seemed so real to me
that I spoke out angriIy:
"It you please, sir"
Madame turned around
"To whom do you speak, Louise2'
knew,l then, that whatever 1 saw,
whether man or evil one, Madame
Rosis was conscious of nothing. l
looked over the face--at the blue eyes
and gentle mouth, down at the white
hands and red ring, without word.
"Monsieur Rosis," l thought. "But
why does he follow madame y
We rode the day through with the
fair, immovable figure beside us, and
the doctor in the next carriage. The
one seemed to comteract the influence
of the other, Nothing could harm me.
At night we came to our resting
place.
"Here we shall find the ring !" said
madame, as we hurried out of the train.
at is like an inspiration. / feel it
through and through"
We did not go to a hotel, but to
house near the outskirts of the town.
| know the coachman of the fly stared
at madame when she told him where to
drive us. The night was very dark
Looking around for my friend, / could
not see him, and / thought that l was
lost.
Warm as was the night, the place to
which we went was chilly, Madame
had fires made in the CRATES and ordered
wine to be brought
"Where are we y | asked.
Pardon me for not saying. This is
my home. No one dare intrude here"
No onel Was madame SO surel As
she spoke the pleasant-faced stranger,
ghost or man, came noiselessly in, and
sat down by the fire He wore the
snmn nxnression rs whom | had first