Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-06-27
LINK BY LINK.
THRILLING STORY OF THE
FRANCO-PRUssIAN WAR.
ny MAURICE LEGRAND.
CHAPTER ".
THE SECRET.


limbs the girl hastenel on. She
cached the boat-house, and hurried
whisper told the hidden fugitive that
all was safe. He crept out and helped
hcS to unloose the clumsy, fat-bot-
toned market-boat, and they both CIV
tered it and drilted off into the swift
flowing current. The man took the
oars, the girl the tiller-rope, and,
without word save the viii spered di-
rections he needed, they iloated on
through tho hushed hot darkness.
''Is it far?" tho man asked present
ly.
"No."
"How have you managed to get
away" he whispered curiously. A
slight sob rose in the girls throat.
Il have made good beginning,
truly. My first act toward my husband
has been to deceive him."
"He will not discover you-you are
sure?' he questioned in alarm.
"No, did my work too we'll"
land you regret already?'
al never said 50"
''No, but your voice, your face, all
show it,"
"Since when have you learnt to read
them so accurately?"
Child. child, do not torture me.
Do you not know that every lock,
every accent OF yours brings back the
past as though it wore but yester-
dayP Do you not know that my
love-"
"Do not speak of love-" she cried,
with sudden tempestuous anger; "the
wrong l have done fortunes me sufli-
GENTLY. think of his love, and how
have already repaid it,"
"My claim is greater than his.
have a right stronger-surer. You
know it.
Il know it," she said, calmly, look
ing straight on, past the troubled,
pleading face TO the gloom of the
waters beyond.
"You arc sorry, grieved, that
came again. Oh, Ninette! and once
you told me your love and duty would
never iail.
Have they done SOP"
"Not in the letter. but in the spirit
yes"
"Can help il? The task is be-
yond my strength. When | stood on
the threshold OF new joys-of the
deepest bliss my life had ever known
you dashed the cup from my lips,
you stole the joys from my heart. 1t
is not for myself | care, even now, so
much as for him. He trusts me so ut
.terly."
"Pooh! thought you were above
such foolish weakness. Do you love
this man then?"
That concerns me only"
alt is trLe that he has many fine
points OF honor. Your little trick to-
night would shame you forever in his
eyes, once he knew of it,"
Ills it for you to utter such words?'
she asked him, passiouately. "Why
do you love to tor ure me?n
81 do not wish to pain you, Ninette, "
he stammercd, huskily. Heaven
knows'l have more need OF your re-
proaches than you OF mine!'
''If you know that, be silent now;
speech Is useless.
He leaned back and piled his oars
in silence. Thought was busy VITA
him, and some remorse touched even
his callous heart 70: the wrong and
the suffering he was bringing on this
girls young life. He remembered all
she had endured. all she must still en-
dure; and some dim sense OF shame
moved him, as he thought of the shad-
Ows be had cast on the morning OF her
youth, the Slories Of her womanhood.
trough the darkness doomed now q
square stone building, half in ruins,
and built upon the rivers edge In
winter the waters often flooded it,
Ghostly tales were told by the peas
ants, far and near, respecting the
spirits Of murdered men who haunted
its deserted chambers. The girl
pointed suddenly toward It,
That is the place, she said. "No
man or woman in all this country
round dare venture here.
The boat was steered close to the
walls, which were deep bedded in the
soil, and half hidden by the river
weeds and osiers which grew thick
and dense around. The girl. threw
the rope around the jutting stone
work; he then laid down his oars and
stood up.
'You can climb through here-can
you notp" said Ninette, pointing &c
the arch of window above their
heads. "The stones are like steps.
have often been in myself for curiosi.