Telegram-herald., 1891-08-01
CHAPTER yrn

~ tho depot l had just helped my
soasins into . coupe and taken isAvc u
then when saw Lapotin on the steo
Of shs next ons Ia earnest eonverSztioa
with one Of TIE passenrerA
The train was IN motion. when with
Q short ''good- 5y." he sprAng down lie
staggered and would have fallen hsd
aos held him
sAhl" cried I. Il have been able 70
acs e. guardian angel once"
You hereg' said he, assoaished snd
pressing my hand.
Yes. saw nay relatives or" I an
swered.
'And ! greeted some oue passing
sArough" Re seemed 10 me unusually
exeissd- Just think. he continued, Il
was almost persuaded - 80 along.
What would you have said II had dis
appeared ssns adieua Would you not
have taought me the dishonest game
ster7s'
laughed. bat asked uneas1-. "Are
you really thinking Of leaving 50 soon7'
Perhaps IN January, not before. We
shall spend Christmas together. II Is
celebrated very nicely q. the ho<al
Herr Metzler. our landlord. provides 10
Christmas tree and dinner. and N>s
guests make one another gifts. For
you. who are accustomed TO family
gathering, II is a poor substitute"
AS Lapotin Yves chatting he suddenly
ceased Close By bis side the dark blue
spectaeied man passed
The man has followed u.s." sad
Lapotin softly to himself 81 wonder
II be watched me at the station"
81 did not notice II" said I, land I
was there quite time; he must have
been in one Of the coaches"
Lapotin nodded
Yes said he, that was tho train
from Marseilles that touches at Cannes
did he not get in ss Cannes VIXEN you
travelled with hin?"
81 cannot Hay positiv ". / was half
asleep. Bus what have you 10 do with
him, my fitsnd9 Have you . reason TO
-to-what shall / call ito avoid or
face the man?''
More than you think" saad Lapotfn.
softly. ''and n different way from
what you think, he added with fnant
smile. al might easily be in such po-
sition as To be compelled to appeal 70
your frie ndship. could. could I nOt?"
Eat any time, and in any place." I
answered. warmly.
mo. no duel" said he. The man
fights against me with other weapons
but / am ON my quar-"
IL wos almost eleven O'Clock when We
reached the hotel. From the drawing
room rang out q mans voice, which,
without really sounding well. had o
great deal of nerve and was well culti-
vsted
drew nearer softly, and saw through
the half open door Count Degenfeld
seated at the piano singing French
couplets from the latest operettas.
whose frivolous poinas he well knew
ho~ 10 bring out.
Next him In roci1ing-chair reclined
Mrs. OXFORD in q kind Of house dress OF
light cashmere. a cap on her dark hair.
On her neat Ntele feet coquettish slip
p@., and iu her lap q quantity Of mag-
nidoDt fresh rosea with which she
Soyed plzytuily.
As she lny there IN idle, lAnguishfng
gracc. occasionally raising her spark-
ling eyes listening 70 the light couplets,
with hah smile about hsr lips, she
presented such an intoxicating picture
tha. could scarcely tear myself away.
II seemed to rne ss IL q little mocking
devil were calling TO me: 'You fool"
And i'll were not the first nor tho
lAst VINO might worship the image OF .
goddess-what did that matter? II
would skiil be sweet delirium.
wss voted with Lapotin. who had
w.rnea me. for be did not seem over
scrupulous about has inclinationA
The desire seized me To enter. 70 dis
turb tho loving tete-a-tete, and to try II
I could not regain the lost ground and
put asisss The old guard"
Just then the chcssmen were ratified
Mr. Clifford rose and approached the
pair at 10 piano.
IN VII locksd - al him wfth .
truly dove ehleo expression and ssked
IF NJ had lBisAcd at last. ~ wss 80
0rsd." sad Count Dsgenfeld, with a
tow bold spsnages changed from tho