The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-06-03

49," 6he said to Guy. still on the
offensive, AL the men are vicomtes in
your family?'
Guy was simply superb. He entered
into lengthy discourse on heraldic
science to explain the case. And SO.
you see" he concluded, "Gontran and
l both bear the same title. But Con-
tran is the younger. He is twenty
| eight at the most That is about
right isn't 1t, Rohert?-you ought to
know. for my cousin served with you,
believe"
Not more than that, certainly"
said Hertel.
This reply. which was 'whopper,"
| dissipatcd all doubt from the mar
quise's mind for the present and for
the future. She regarded Hertel as the
soul of honor and esteemed him highly.
The mystery explained, she gave him
cordial reception, and rcproachcd him
for coming to sec her SO seldom. 1t
was perfectly apparent, however, that
she would liked to have asked him
what had put it into his head to visit
her on that particular day.
When the two friends were in the
street again. out of range Of all suspi-
| clous glances, Labanere stopped and
the Lieutenant did likewise. In spite of
everything, Labanere wanted to laugh;
ihc sailor was angry as only sailor
can be.
Il shall not be able to go home with
out having fight with some one-Td
like to Lick myself. for ! have lied TO
that woman like piclpockct."
well, fight it out with 'Gontran,
your former subordinate Come, be
calm, won't joke any more. But
| never be surprised again when n man
says he is afraid OF woman. You
know what 1t is now.
Yes, and may the devil fly away
with me If | ever get caught in such n
pickle again. To think that woman
| could make Il man act So
The crisis WIS past for the present,
but the explosion must come one day
or another. II would have been i'm
possible for Guy to continue to play his
double role so long as he did II chance
had not aided him. Every year the
marquise's mother came TO Paris for n
few weeks and stayed with her daugh-
ter. who naturally modified the habits
of her household to n considerable eX-
tent.
Free, or almost so, Labanere could
TRANQUILITY and honestly attend upon his
lianccc. and could even accompany her
on some of her shopping expeditions,
One day, rs they We're choosing some
Jewels at RavHut's who should enter
the shop but the Marquise Sansedoni
and her mother! The nurquise gave
Marguerite such Il look that the poor
girl felt cold chill run up her back
The Sanscdoni marched boldly up 10
Labancre and gave him her hand. fix
ing him with her eye, for n suspicion
had again entered her mind.
What trcasurcs,' she said. not car
ing If she We're overheard ut seems
10 me, my dear vicomte. that you are
doing the thing in style" AS she spoke
she kept her eyes steadily on the young
girl.
IF | don't get ont of this" thought
Guy, in five minutes there won't be n
whole window left in the shop"
But he did get out of il. With the
steady nerve that had distinguished
the former tiger hunt, he replied in II
loud tone: 1T is no great credit to do
| things In style, when one is not acting
on ones own account"
To Marguerite and her mother this
meant: This parure ia the wedding
gift of my old aunt who has commits
stoned me to purchase 1t for her" For
the marquisc 1t significd: Il am here
II, the stead and place of my cousin
This was, in fact, the explanation he
gave her later more in detail. not with
out having taken the prccaution to be
guile the marquise into corner of
the shop. He told her that Gontran.
having been compelled to go to his
lawyers to see about some legal papers,
had charged him TO accompany Mile.
de Pont-Croix to the jewelers.. The
story was accepted, and the two ltai-
ians left. after having made pretence
of looking at some rings. and Guy re-
Joined his future cousin
Goodness. what n terrible womanv'
Marguerite exclaimed; she quite ter
rified me do hope you will not want
me to meet her"
You enay rest easy on that score,
replied Labanerc
But for him to rest easy was not so
simple. The days flew by, and the bans
were published. Happily tho presence
of her mother absorbed the marquisc's
time and made her visitors few. Those
who knew the state OF affairs believed
that she had accepted Guys marriage
and was consoling herself with iilial
devotion.
He, after repeating every day for
two months 81 will tell her tomorrow.
finally began to wonder, as he saw
how events shaped themselves, what
If | don't tell her at all!'
lnuouDleuiy his lHi'hoh was nv
commendablc. But Lahanerc had for
long time hated the marquise cor
daily, and. on the other hand. he was
absolutely determined on his marriage
with Marguerite. But of what extrava-
gance was not the marquise capable
at the last moment
on the eve OF his wedding, the very
morning before it. in fact. he was still
debating the question, when he received
a letter, the handwriting of which
made him trcmblc. 1t ran:
MY mother is to be away all day
shall we have luncheon together! 1
count on You. 1t Is weeks since l have
had you all to myself
Would to heaven that the old Italian
had put of her absence for twenty-four
hours muttercd Labnnere, as lie pro-
cccded 20 indite the following note:
DO You not read the papers nova
days? My cousin is to be married
tomorrow. and. of course. l am to be
one of the wedding party. After the
ceremony there are the reception and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. mt the Pont-CroiXs'.
When can / escape? i do not know.
but as soon as am free ! shall post oil
to you
AT any rate" he said. as he sealed
the note. unless death or divorce
comes to the rescue. she Will wait Il
long time for ne.
Al I o'clock the following evening the
| newly married pair left for Italy. In n
day or two they had become greater
friends. so much 50 that Guy made GER
tain condolences to which
was, indeed, no more than prudent,
L.. cod IN