The Red Cloud chief., 1880-03-04

of lamps kindlea. one sitter another. ans
replaced, with their blAze ths sanishes
sun. Major E~lphins.one and his mother
in-iaw sat talking in low whispers; tn
infant slept; every household nofse wa
hushed or held back, To further Mary
rest.
81 think / must just peep in upOr
her," said Mrs. Aske, at last, movins
softly toward the bedroom door.
She did ~. and in another moment
terrified exclamation called Major
Elphinstone 10 her side. Mary wa
gone, On the toilet lay = Zip Of paper
with these WORDS in pencil:
IS will not stay where my only friend 1
shut out. ". ""
Good God, She has gone to tbs
woman" gasped Major Elphinstone
while Mrs. Aske wrung her hands il
despair. Maryl their petted, delieat'
Mary, Mary, who had not set foot or
the pavements since her Illness. ou'
alone in the streets Of Paris after night
fall,
"Oh, Archie, What shall we do I" sh,
groaned.
"Do? Why, 90 TO the Prefecture a
once" rejoined her s~on-in-law, hi:
stupor Of surprise yielding To indigna'
ton. "This il some Internal trick
They say the police of Pari, Is worth
something. IL so, they shall bring me
face TO face with that woman before thu,
night is over, or I will know the reason
why"
The police did its best; but the Ioge'
nlent Of Madame Olympic Was at first un'
certain, and, when ascertained, proved
to be in n distant quarter, 50 that il was
morning before the anxious husband
found himself at length on the right
track. IL was Ia an obscure street in
the district below the Boulevard ST.
Michel that he was at length escorted
by the Sergeant dc IilLe, who halted at a
dingy door, on which, amid various
other signs, appeared a modest green
plate, bearing the words Madame
Oiympc, FrotcuSe and CIatrroyant. Ia
cinquietHe," which sign was repeated al
the top Of the five weary s~taircases, up
which they proceeded to climb.
Madame herself answered the bell.
"Ah," she said, a world Of meaning
in the mono.yllable, and stepped aside
10 let them enter.
IL was a small room, gaudy with
paper flowers and cheap, snowy drap-
cries and extremely close and warm
On a sofa near the window lay Mary.
She started up at their entrance, flushed
deeply, and then paled.
My darling" began her husband,
all his anger melting AT the sight Of the
beautiful, fragile creature, "why did
you give US such a fright? have been
up all night searching for you. Your
mother is almost i'll with worry: You
will come home with me now. Will you
not?"
Barely glancing at him, never meeting
his eye, Mary retreated To the side of
Madame Olympic. "No," she answered,
shaking her head.
my dear, you really must" went on
her husband, still kindly, but with de-
termination in his voice. alt is out of
the question that we should leave you
here with this-this person. Ii is utter
~ unfit for YOU and you are causing us
all great distress by your absence. l
shall take you home at once"
No." said Mary again retreating still
further behind Madam Olympic.
MADAM, must insist On your using
your influence" said Major Elphinstone.
Pardon" replied Madame, with n
cruel little smile. IL not so inhoSpee-
table. l not invite; but if your wife de-
sire me to make a yeeset, | nOt say her
no. Influence. Bah. | sail not exert
noting of the kind, noting"
"Mary, put your things on at once.
| will not endure this" cried her hus-
band, holly, seizing her hand As he
spoke, and using some gentle force to
draw her from behind Madame Olympic.
She gave a wild shrek. ~ will not!
/ will mott" she reiterated, freeing her.
self with a struggle and flying to the
other end Of the room. Her eyes were
dilated with m excitement which terri
fled him. Madame Olympic stood by,
remorselessly cool.
"Dat is right" she said, pointing
her finger first at him and then at Mary.
$50 on. Lay your commands. Fright
en-, brighten, till you sail drive her mad.
| wash my hands of the result. | not re-
sponsible."
The threat was needless. Major
E%lphinstone was so thoroughly alarmed
as To be only anxious to sooth and tenn
porize.
"My darling. don't look SOL" he
pleaded. "Did l ever make You do
what you disliked. that you should seem
so frightened of me? You shall stay
here for a little while, since You desire
it so much Though how in Heavens
name you can," he interrupted himself.
MADAME Olympic, l will leave my wife
here for another day, as she Seems to
wish it: but remember l make you re-
sponsible for her safety. The police have
their eyes on you. II harm comes TO
her, they will know where to look. BE
worry careful and tender of her and Twill
pay"
'.7renst" interposed Madame. ''You
sail not pay. i take noting. Madame
is nv veesetor. She come of herself.
1t are great honor of me TO have lady
to veeset me, who am a 'pairson,' rs
Monsieur did say"
ave will settle the question of pay
ment afterward. The main thing is
the safety and comfort of my wife.
Remember" he went on, sternly, al
will have no conjurings. The po-
lice"
"Ah! Monsieur does me the honor
to threaten me with the police, does
hep" Kissed Madame. "IMerci Jien ,
l not afraid. l do no wrong. l am re-
specteeble. My house is known. and
my-what YOU call-profession. 1 can
not be drag to prison because an En-
glish lady take fancy to come to stay
wiz me. That are no crime. She
come of her own accord, as Monsieur
knows"
"Mary, how can You bear this wom-
ans in~solence?" cried the excited
husband. But Mary, pale, mute, press
ing herself tightly against the far wall,
made no reply. He was helpless, As he
admitted to himself. There was moth
ing to do but to 60.
81 viii come back for you to-mor-
row." he declared.
"An piaisir," rejoined Madame
Olympic, TRANQUILITY. MADAME viii
consult her own dispositions tomorrow,
as to-day"
Major Elphinstone did return On the