The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-09-14

she thought she had forgotten, and see:
the tender Chances she imagined sh,
had ceased to regret; all given to hel
| young sister in her unregarded pres
ence. How is she to keep the peace
she SO prayed for if her future is To b.
haunted by this ghost from the past
She is very patient and used To suffer
ing. but at length she can endure n,
longer, and. not daring to leave tn,
room. She moves away to a distan
writing table where she is ut least be
yOnd hearing.
There is an instant pause between tn,
conspirators, and while DE Palissier'
| eyes wistfully follow Mime. dc MiramOn
| Lucille seizes her opportunity with /;
| promptness that would have done cred
it to II Richelicu or Talleyrand, or an,
other prince of schemers.
| Courage, monsieur" she murmurs
.'She has been cold to me ever sine,
your note came. You would make
| charming jeune premier ut the Fran
Gals, only when you do say anything
| very tender. do you remember To lOol
tat me instead of Jeanne" And sh,
| breaks into Il laugh so utterly amused
that he presently laughs too, and thu
sound of their mirth- causes an odd bio
in the poor chaperon's writing.
A month has dragged by wretchedl,
enough, both TO the conspirators an,
their victim, and, like all things earthly
| has come To- an end at last. Even LII
Giles energy could not keep DE Pals
| sier to his role, il he did not belicv,
that in surrendering il he must give III
the bittcr-swect of Jcanne's daily pres
| ence, which even in its serene inditfnr
encc had become the one charm of lif
| to him. Mime. de MiramOn and her
sister are spendiu" week ut her villa
rcar Paris. and De Pa!issicr, who is to
| accompany them on riding party, has
arrived little late. and finds both Sis
.crs already in the courtyard, with
some horses and grooms. when he en-
tcrs. Lucille comes to him at once rs
| he IiSmOuntS, with look of alarm in
stead of her usual coauctry.
do noS let Jeanne ride EtOile," she
sail anxiously. "She has thrown Gull
lar,ne This morning."
Nine. de MiramOn is standing beside
an old groom, who is holding the horse
IN question, and she does not look ut
her sister or DE Palissicr as they APP
proach.
'Let me ride Etoi.e. and take my
horse to-day, madame" DE Palissier
says eagerly. 81 should like to master
\ horse who has thrown so excellent a
groom rs Guillaume."
$50 should l." she SAYS, with hard
| little laugh. and she steps on the block
'.Jeanner cries Lucille.
Il entreat YOU for your sisters sake.
She will be terribly alarmed" DE Pals
sicr says, hurriedly.
Then you must console her. The
greater her alarm, the greater your de-
| lightful task, monsieur" and she looks
1t him with 4 defiant pain in her eyes
| like u stays M bay. IL shall ride
Etoilc.'
Then say that you shall not" he
answers, putting his arm across the
| saddle, and meeting her eyes with 4
sudden blaze in his.
For al instant they gaze at each
other in utter forgetfulness OF any other
presence than their own. Then she
springs from the block and comes close
to him.
IL hate yOu! she gasps, and, turn
ing. gathers up her,habit in one hand
and runs into the house, swiftly fol-
lowed by DE Palissier. In the salon she
faces him with gesture of passionate
pride.
Leave mel" she says. II forbid you
to speak to mt"
He is very pale, but the light of tri-
umph is in his eyes, and, like most men,
being triumphant, he is cruel.
"Whr do you hate me?" he asks,
mperiously.
Il beg your pardon" she stammers,
dropping the eyes which she knows are
betraying her. IL should have said
''You should have said,' Il love you, y"
he murmurs, coming close to her and
holding out his arms. ..Does it hurt
YOU that | should know it at last
who have loved you all these years."
But Lucille" she falters. moving
away from him, but with eyes that
shine and lips that culver with bewild-
cred joy.
Never mind Lucille" cries that
Young lady very cheerfully from the
doorway. '.lt has been all Il plot for
Your happiness, my Jeanne, which
would never have succeeded if you had
known Your sister rs well rs she knew
Won. To think that | would be content
with the wreck o! any mans heart
Il doNc! When my day comes.
Like AcX ninr, wi reign,
And will reign Il one.