The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-11-30
CHAPTER III.

"The next train for Luxembourg,
mcnsieuri Tomorrow morning, at six
o'clock"
The official bustled away, the horn
sounded, and the train which had de-
posted us upon the platform of the lit.
tie station of Pastal steamed slowly
away.
"Your luggage, messieurs?" inquired
bloused and flat-capped porter, bear
ing upon the arm with which he point.
ed brass plate, on which was inscrib-
ed "TIotel-de rEtoile."
"Yes."
"The messieurs go to the hotel :"
IL am not sure" l answered. "Wal-
ter, one moment. We will be back di-
rectly, Mary"
led Walter aside, and as l looked
at him saw that the trouble in my
face was reflected in his own.
'1s there any other hotel in the placef"
"No."
His face was white, and he pulled at
his moustache with an uneasy hand.
Then there is no choice" said. ave
must 90 TO the Etile."
"You may CO." he answered, 81
won't. I'd rather spend the night in
the fields.
was angry at his cowardice, and
showed it.
"It is five years since we were here
since we met Madame Malines. OF all
unlikely things in the world, it is the
least likely that she will be here. And
even if she is, we may avoid her. You
surely have no fear of yourself at this
time of day. Be a man. We must
find shelter for Mary, and you must
60 with u.s."
He yielded to my arguments, and we
mounted to the ramshackle carriage,
the very same as had borne me, that
day five years ago, to my first and last
interview with Madame Malines. Chan
ges had come about since then. Wal
ter and Mary were married, and hap
pier together than had ever dared to
hope. We were on our fourth yearly ex-
cursion to the Continent in each others
company, aud had discovered, when
too late, that the only route from
Brussels to Luxembourg lay through
Pastal Walter had been 80 discom-
fitted by the discovery that he had
aroused Mary's anxiety, and explana
tion was impossible, as we had long
since made compact never TO mention
the name of Madam Malines in her
presence. We proceeded in almost
unbroken silence to the hotel. As we
entered the salon | could not help
glancing huriedly at the place where
the remarkable woman who had dwelt
so much in my thoughts had last stood
in my presence. The room was empty,
save for the hotel servant, who came
forward to welcome us.
| 1t was close upon the hour of dinner
and after short retirement to our sep
arate chambers to clear away the stains
of travels we returned to the salon, to
find that meal in progress. The guests
were of the ordinary type of the hdbi
tues of Belgian summer resorts-re
spectacle native tradesmen from Mech
lin and Brussels and Namur, with thei
wives and children, with sprinklins
of Germans, French and English, whose
warning tongues created a veritabl
Babel. At the conclusion of dinnc,
the majority of the guest betook them
selves to a neighboring room, to lister
to the strains of a piano presided at b.
a young Euglishwoman, to lounge an
chat and flirt, after the immemoria
custom of miscellaneous assortments G
humanity in general The hotel ga'
den seen through the glass doors of tn
salte-a nadnger, which opened on to i
looked peculiarly cool and refreshin
after the sultry heat of the day order
ing a cup of coffee and a cigar, l wei
thither, and took my seat at littl
r iron-topped table, hidden behind
bouquet of rhododendrons and my
. tie.
g The moon low down in the violet
Q the evening sky, was as the full, Il
e air was still as death, and an occasion
al muffied note from the little woo
: which clothed the swelling rise of Il
4 hill, whose thick growing clumps
r. LEAKAGE were gilded by the evenir
j. beam, was all that broke the broodir
l. silence of the Summer night. The fiji
II flies wheeled and dashed and dart,
n in the myrtle leaves about me al
e overhead, the stars shone out wi
e deepening lustre in the infinite dept
% of the armament 1t was a time a.
l. place for peaceful dreams, and n
thoughts were happy. But sudden
m half doing in my deep content, !
ear caught a rustic Of the boughs n,
at hand, and, as ] turned, form 9
ded into the moonlight before me, a
voice fell on my ear.
a. "BOn soir, Mr.. Gordon"
sprang TO my feet, half doubt
h. my waking state. The voice laul
Ie ed.
OF You have forgotten me, then, a
your memory is no better than oil
es people's1'
ve "Madame Malines :"
IS, The same. Are you glad or sorr
Nv TO meet me, Mr.. Gordon 7"
/ did not answer the query in
II trouble, and she laughed again.
'S' Troubled as was ly her sudden
partition, | thought detected so
ly thing in her laugh which was not
"A bitterness or self-mockery, thougl
od was principally prompted by those
'lll rowful emotions. | was about to
in peal to her, when she spoke again.
"You need have no fear for me,
i'm Gordon. | will not harm the pr,