Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-06-18

What am l to do?" said Constance,
a red flush rising TO her pale cheeks.
Join you here?"
"Herel What is the use of joining
me here? No. On the day when you
4 see your way clefar to getting the ru-
bies into your possession, telegraph or
write to me here-one word only,
Southampton.
And Join you at Southampton later
on?"
I Certainly not; the word is purposely
/ misleading. They will look for you at
Southampton after that You will get
off as quickly as possible to Harwich;
don't forget, Harwich win meet you
I there"
She would have asked him another
! question or two, but he stopped her
hastily. There, that will do. l will
write any further particulars. You
need not do it for the next two days
or so. | have business in london first
IF do it--you promise"
Promise what he said impatiently.
as she paused
You will take me with your
There was curious depth Of distrust
in her question.
"of course l will; you are necessary
to my plans.
"Ah, then there is hope" she said,
4 ironically, yet with a breath of relief.
You are uncivil, ne remarked, with
some sharpness. Have the goodness
to remember that expect good mar
ncrs."
''You shall have them at least, you
may be sure" she sali still ironically
! then turned toward the door, while he
stood regarding her with an air h,'r.
cynical, half-amused. But her hand
! slipped from the white knob and sac
came back to say almost passionately:
Rene, don't be angry with me. If
do this | shall have nobody left but
you. And you know that | would give
my life for you"
He smiled and put his arm round
her, then planted light kiss on her
forehead.
You are a curious mixture a" he said,
80 cold sometimes-so ardent. when
you please And you are certainly the
handsomest woman in the world.
\ Don't run any risks in your search for
the jewels: | should not like to think
of these white hands doing prison
work, or these fine locks being shorn."
How can you talk of such terrible
things? oh, Rene, it frightens me.
Will you not come down yourself and
help me--when--w when / make the at
tempt?"
She looked up into his face with such
entreaty in her eyes that De Marsac
was a little touched.
Il thought you we're afraid of moth
ing?" he said.
"Of nothing when you are with ms F"
We'll, he said, doubtfully, 'if you
sent me word beforehand | might
come down. | could walt for you in
the plantation and we could go away
together
yes, | should be SC afraid of that
lonely road. 1t is mile and half
to the station"
Perhaps ii would be scarcely safe"
he muttered to himself. Then in
louder tone; Il will come down. But
be sure you manage the affair properly
this time"
Indeed. will"
And then husband and wife said
goodbye.
q think / have her properly in
hand, said Rene, to himself, when she
was gone "She was little inclined to
kick over the traces ahis afternoon. But
If She can manage the affair this time
it will be well. | wish l could have a
word or two with Despard-I should
like to know why he surrendered the
garnets when he had them"
1t was a curious coincidence that at
this moment Oscar Despard announced
himself. De Marsac turned to him
with smile.
- was just wondering what had be-
come Of you, my dear fellow he said,
in his usual way. Sit down, wanted
word with you-eh? What is the mat
ter?'
For Despard, assuming a high and
naughty manner, had refused to take
his hand, but had bowed solemnly and
then stood still
IN de Marsac' he began, frigidly,
Il have come to tell you that / wish
henceforth to renounce your friend
ship"
How? Rather late in the day, is
it not?'' said Rene, 5landly.
Il find, sir, that you deceived me.
You informed me that the rubies which
Miss EslerI beg her pardon, Nine. de
Marsac attempted to take away from
Hurst the other night belonged to her
by right and that she was only possess
ing herself of her own jewels. Sir, /
believed you ! find now that tile ru-
bieg were Lady Esler'S and that v0t,r