The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-10-10

will not betray me- Will y0us On, promise
me you will never betray mcw
Those beautiful eyes became flooded with
silent tears, while her pathetic, beseeching
manner would have touched much harder
heart than Aliens.
II will never Detray you'll swear never
will" be answered, with unmistakable
earnestness.
A silence fell upon both. The beautiful
visitor nervously started at the slightest
sound, while Alien, having partially re-
gained his composure, sat gazing at her in
astonished embarrassment
The beauty and mystery which ever how
cred over the girl seemed TO have increased,
and Aliens perplexity had grown greater
with them. Like panorama the events of
the past few weeks in which she had SO
conspicuously figured seemed to pass be-
fore him. Again he saw the mysterious
chateau on the hill, ana heard anew the
strange wall OF stories which were wont TO
brighten the children and make the old peo-
pie shake their heads with doubtful misgiv-
ings. Once more the sunlight fell on the
deserted turnpike which led TO the great
house, and he was wandering along from
the beautiful spring and the rustic old sea,
to the plateau above. In an instant the
scene had changed and he was on the great
bluff overlooking the river, with this beau
tiful being at his side. The recollections of
the happy moment when two loving souls
first met is ever sweet to the memory.
Then, again, on that dark, wild night, when
they so strangely met in the garden. Her
fac, was scarce less white than on that oc-
casion.
Could it be possible that that beautiful be-
ing-who had seemed as far removed from
him as the stars were in his presence-sat
before him aionel Was she on the eve Of
disclosing the terrible mystery which, like
pal, enshrouded herr Fate seemed to have
worked a similar destiny for them, and de.
spite all they might do their paths would
tend to the same direction. No Won
der Allen Gray's heart beat violently. A
few moments more might see him the hap
piest man living, or the most miserable. A
great crisis was coming, and it is no won
der that he trembled at its approach.
II was her place to speak and he could
only sit and gaze at her. Her white face,
however, wa, troubled, and that iron re-
solve which had supported her in this un-
timely, and seemingly unladylike, call was
evidently about to fail her, in her hour Of
need. Allen at last realized that unless she
was encouraged she might not reveal the
purpose of this visit, and with all his sym
pathetic soul i'll his face, he said:
"Have no fears, Bertha, for by all hold
sacred, swear that will prove brother
to you in distress"
Poor, tempest-tossed Bertha; long had she
searched tor loyal heart on whom she
could contide. In this editors flashing eye
was manliness and truth; she would trust
once more. Scarce could she restrain her
natural inclination to fly to his arms for
refuge from the relentless enemies who
pursued She could not have found strong
err or more willing arms to defend her.
Having partially regained her composure
she sad: .
81 believe you; had | not unbounded
faith IN your honor and courage l should
never have run the great risk do in com
ing here"
"Then 1t is riskl
"A greater risk than you can imagine
Should | be discovered here it would be
fatal to my plans-plans which are more
than life TO me-"
VIVA. were the plans to which she al
ludeds Doubtless some request sim
| pie service she wished him to perform fol
her Knowing that one so pure and nobl,
rs she could not make an evil request, ht
resolved to do her bidding
Have no fears to speak boldly to me,
| So z2eD Your wishes, if in my power
shall be granted"
"Can you leave the villagel" she asked
Starting in amazement, the astonished ed
itor gazed at her for moment, repeating:
leave the villagel'
~ mean only temporarily-for two o
three days at the longest"
| "Y.y-yes; can --and-and l will II II
necessary
at is necessary. Some one must 80, an
can trust no one but yourself"
"Where do you wish me to go!"
do you know where the French settle
ment or French town isl"
~ have heard Of it, and can find it YER
easily. 1t Is about fifty miles down tn
river"
ayes, sir; it is fully that far" the gil
answered, gathering up the folds OF he
apron In her embarrassment and wit
nervous fingers folding them down into Ii
tie plaits.
"what am to do when get therel
Allen asked.
| "You are to 60 to the house Of MAIDEN
oiselle Camille" said the girl, still hesita
ing TO make her request fully known.
IAN to take message to heri" sske
Allen.
| &alr n sotA In nsr
slowly turning her great blue eyes upo
him.
Amusement, wonder and curiosity wer
raging like so many fres in Aliens breas
"A childw he gasped.
ayes, sir; little boy six years old"
"when am to starts"
"This very night"
Could he believe his sensesi Was all tn
Q strange, wild dream from which b
would awake before he knew how 1t q
came out, or was it indeed arealityi
In his helpless bcwilderment he aske
hims elf what this child was to the people
the French settlement Could he be accuse
Of kidnapping for secretly undertaking tn
taski While all these conflicting thought
were surging like tempest in his min
he vividly recalled the remark Of Tone
Barnes few weeks before. Toney, sha
ing his head in his weird manner, said:
Never trust yourself in the power
those people. tell 20 the whole family
blighted by curse. No good ever come
any one who had any thing to do with 'er
II you ever bcfricnd one O. EN- in any WI
you'll repent it the longest day you liv
They're blighting curse TO anybody wi
has any thing whatever to do with EN-"