Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-10


You are sure, Alphonss, there is not the
remotest possibility Of his running across
us in Londonf'
Have not told you repeatedly that Il
Is an impossibility7- said her brother,
impatisnfly. He and his country friends
can have no affinity with the sort Of tish
we are to net. Moreover. We shall be Is
secure under our London aliases as We
have herstofors been
And this Is to be the last, the very last,
co-operation of this sort that is to be de-
manded Of me7"
I have repeated that TO you oftensr
than the other"
Don't be angry with me, Alphonse.
You can't think how my anxiety, In this
regard, even more than keeps pace with
my mad love for Noel-with my growing,
haunting dread lest some unforeseen
revelation should sunder us hopelessly."
Forgive me, my sisterl and be con-
tent with my assurance that such q thing
shall never be" said Boncourt, softly
kissing her in the dark, for the one
chivalrous element in the mans hard
nature was his fondness for his sister.
This last venture in London is abso-
lutely necessary for me, or you should
have been disenthralled ere this. have
to make up the ten thousand pounds,
called for by your marriage settlements,
in order to have in presentable form the
genuine ban vouchers for the same at my
next interview with Marlowe-fixed for
next week-when the joint funds are to
be invested in Noel's name.
+There is no other way than this, since
my bad luck at the races, or you should
not be again dragged into my schemes,
not even for this once. The next inter-
view, however, will clinch everything.
The day shall be fixed for your marriage
"a devilish early day at that-and your
mind shall be at rest"
She pressed his hand.
-Ahl what happiness when shall
feel so at rest-without any anxiety,
without fe ri" she murmured.
j tell you it shall be so! When has
my vigilance ever failed you, Adele?
And as for Noel, or any man, ever ventur-
ing to trife with your feelings-welI, it
would be black day for him to dream of
such thing, as you are aware. You
know how quickly would throw every
thing to the winds-fortune, prospects,
money, even life itself-rather than let
slight to you go unavengedi"
She again pressed his hand, though
she had no need to be assured Of his af-
fection, or of the relentlessness with
which the slightest wrong to her would
be resented by that dark nature, to all
the rest of the world 80 impenetrable
and stern.
Then there was long silence between
them. 1t was not until the coachman
had been ordered to shape his course for
return, and they we're rolling easily
through deeply shadowed road back Of
the town and the cliffs, that the silence
was broken.
-Ahl" said Adele, with little start, as
| though suddenly coming out of q troubled
revere; that would simplify everything.
What would? And what is there to be
simplifed2' asked her brother, also SEEM
| ing to start out of deep preoccupation.
An odd idea struck me. I'm going to
risk telling it, even if it may offend you.
Il sha'n't be offended"
She gave nervous little laugh.
Are you SO sure Of that2 Well, it is
| this: why can't you marry the beautiful
Miss Alworth yourself?"
He laughed low, contemptuo=s laugh,
| whose cold. metallic bitterness caused
even her to shudder. If he had ever felt
athrill of tenderness for any other woman
than herself she had never known of it.
| In this regard his character was as much
Of mystery to her as to the rest of the
world.
4Of course, shall make no reply to
such an idiotic question, Adele" said he,
after pause. But to show you that
| even that has not offended me I will give
you an agreeable piece of intelligence" :"
You're always kind, Alphonse."
Il only want to say that dropped
Rollingstone few lines tonight, telling
him that his place is to be filed BY an
other, SO far as his connection with me
is concerned. further orderes him
never to show his face at our London apart
ments again, on pain of we'll, he under
stands me well enough to accept the warn
ing.
1Oh, am so grateful. Alphonse. more
than can speak, But, dear mel lookl
Was not that fash OF lightning?'
| Yes; we shall have storm, said Bon
court; and, leaning forward. he called out
| to the coachman to hurry the pace.
| It was to be a storm rather Of wind
than rain, though the thunder began to
| roll menacingly out to seaward. and the
electric flashes grewrapidly more frequent
and vivid.
4 They were returning by way Of the
CAlAbs WulCA us u C6Ibhlu pViHt lou tnelH
suddenly down through wild. rocky gap,
after which they began to skirt the trees
and hedges of Jasmine Lodge, in the ap-
| proach to the sea.
| They had just entered this gap when
there burst out an exceptionally brilliant
| fash.
AT the same instant Adele started up in
| the landau with cry. n
Look, look, Alphonsel' she exclaimed,
| pointing to the roadside. That face
| that horrible facel"
fro BE Continued