The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-05-16
THE RED FLAG.
NJ. E. BRADDoN.
Author OF Lady Audley's Secret"
etc etc. etc.

The evening at the Ambigu was enchant,
ment; but both girls refused the luxury of
ices at Tortoni's. How were lovers to be
thrifty II their betrothed were ready to ac-
S.pt costly attentions? Besides, as they
passed the famous confectioner's, Rose
caught sight of q couple of carriages setting
down some ladies and their cavaliers at a
side door, and those painted faces and rust
ling silks belonged to a world from which
Rose O'Hara recoiled as from a pestilence.
So they all walked home in the August
moonlight, talking Of the play, and were
safe in the Rue Git le Ceur before mid
night.
Rose did not forget that look of Madame
Michel's. Her intense affection for Kath-
leen made her suspicious of Kathleen's
lover. Such a look as that in a young wo-
mans face could but have one meaning. It
meant jealousy; and there could hardly be
jealousy without cause. The look suggested
a history, and Rose set herself to find out
that history. She consulted Madame Schu-
bert, the n friend whom she could trust
in SO delicate a matter, and the good Schu-
bert was not long in enlightening her. One
does not live in such a place as the Rue CIT
10 C9ur for five-and-twenty years without
knowing a good deal about ones neighbors.
Eyes, my dear, there is no doubt this dear
Mortemar had once a tenderness for the
Michel. He used to breakfast at her shop
every morning-aleIsurely breakfast during
which those two t%alked-ah, great Heaven,
how they talkedl one could hardly get
properly served while he was there. And
he danced with her In the winter ut the
Butler balls, and he used to take her to the
theatre. Friends of mine saw them there,
as happy as turtle-doyes. But what Of that?
A mar must sow his wild oats; and Gas.
ton is not the less fond of your sister be-
cause he has played fast and loose with the
Michel"
My sister shall not marrya man who has
played fast and loose with my woman"
said Rose.
THAT is rank nonsense" answered Ma
man Schubert. MARK my words, Rose; II
you try to part those two, you will break
Kathleen's heart"
Better her heart should be broken than
by a bad husband" said Rose.
HE will not make a bad husband. Do
you think a man is any the worse for a tlirta-
ton or two in his bachelor days? That is
the way he learns the meaning of real love"
Rose was not easily appeased. She saw
CASTOR next day, and taxed him with his
d~ishonorable conduct to the widow. He
was indignant at the charge, and declared
that there had never been anything serious
between them. She had been attentive to
him as a customer at her cremcrie; he had
been civil to her--that ia ell, The visits
to the theatre meant no more than c!vility.
"There was something more than clvility
on her part, and l think you must have
known it, answered Rose, intensely in
earnest. 'If you knew it AM fooled her,
you are not a good true man; and %oG shall
not marry my sister"
CASTOR protested against this absurd de-
cree: but finally admitted that ne had been
to blame. Yes, perhaps he had known that
him, inclined to like his society, and to be
Jealous and angry when he deserted her
shop. The shop WA convenient; the wo-
should not a man who was heart. whole, who
had not one real woms2-flieId inthe world,
talk and laugh with a pretty s!iopkecper9
1t could do no harm.
TT has done harm. l saw as much in
Madame Michel's face the other evening"
And then she told CASTOR the story of that
encounter on the quay.
"Mademoiselle Rose, you ~exaggerate the
situation. The Michel has a spice of the
devil in her, and can give black looks on
very slight p%rovocation. For the rest, she
and l have seen the last of each other. ]
have never crossed the threshold since
was betrothed to Kathleen; l never shall
cross it again.
sPromise me that" said Rose.
II promise, from my heart
This happened in the year GO; and now i
was midsummer in the fateful year 70, and
France was treading daily, step by step
nearer the edge of the abyss.