Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-15

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~ T1iEAf growing rapidly
ESEKNN dark. but lights
A6sNAY II were only just be-
eyIN " ginning TO appear IN
u most of the houses.
In No. 2s the shut
tiers of the dining
room windows were not yet fastened.
but the blinds had been already drawn
down.
The bright lights inside threw upon
one of them the shadow of a man who
was evidently sitting at the rear end OF
the room; his left arm was thrown over
the back of his chair, and its image was
partly merged in the darkness which
represented the latter; his head was In
full profile. and bent downward in an
attitude Of deep thought. He was prob
ably at some little distance from the
table, upon which the lights behind him
were placed, for the shadow thrown up
on the blind was sharp in outline and
scarcely more than life-size. The fig
ure was in fact recognizable beyond
doubt as that Of Colonel de Montaut
himself, and Dick, as he stood upon the
doorstep, was almost startled at seeing
him apparently so close. At the same
time he saw that he had here good
chance of ascertaining at once that his
letter was safely delivered. He dropped
1t into the box and rang the bell. in
tending to retreat few steps across
the road so as to be out of sight him
self while still keeping the window in
view. A sudden movement of the sha-
dow stopped him. The colonel had
caught the sound Of the bell and had
disappeared from the room with as
tonishing rapidity; one might almost
have thought he had been waiting for
the signal. Dick heard a quick, stealthy
tread approach the door on the inside;
the letter was snatched from the box
in an instant, and when he looked at
the window again there was the shadow
once more in its former position, but
with both hands raised, as IL in the act
of holding up paper to read. And
now another step was heard coming to-
ward the door; it was, no doubt, that
of servant answering the bell. The
shadow figure hastily lowered its hands
and the letter disappeared. The serv-
ant at the same moment stopped sud-
denly and went into the dining room; to
which, no doubt, his masters voice had
summoned him. The conversation
which followed was inaudible to Dick.
Had it been otherwise, the colonel's la
Dor would have been worse than lost,
and Of this story there might have been
little or nothing to tell. Between I'M
Outstanding and misunderstanding, be-
tween the light within and the darkness
without, there was but pane Of glass;
but it was enough, and Dick remained
in the outer darkness. He was, for the
present, satisfied. The colonel had read
his note, and tomorrow would set all
TO rights. Alas for Dick! this hope was
but shadow too. The truth, which in
this deceptive light cast so false an
image Of itself, may be guessed from
what was actually passing inside the
house as he turned away to go home.
1T was who rang" the colonel was
saying to his servant.
The man apologized for installing be-
tween the two bells.
Go up to Madame de Montaut," con-
tinued his master, land tell her that
Captain Estcourt is coming here in
about half an hour. Ask whether she
wishes to come to the drawing room,
or would rather not be disturbed"
The man took the message at once.
When she heard it, Camilla's heart
hardened. She was angered at the idea
of Dicks callousness in coming so soon
to discuss the details Of his treason, and
what she had said to her brother-in-law
she still meant very decidedly. She
would not work in league with trait
or such as she supposed Estcourt to be.
Tell M. de Montaut," she replied to
the servant, in her iciest tones, "that I
prefer to be alone this evening. And
remember yourself that from this mo-
r
at home to any one"
every we'll, madame said the man
And added, hesitatingly. But il Cap
tain Estcourt should ask for Ma
dame-?"
repeated, with deliberate emphasis.
"And particularly not to Captain Est
court"
He bowed. and returned to report to
the colonel, who seemed neither sur
prised nor dissatisfied at hearing what
Camilla's answer had been.
Every WELL" he said; "then I too am
not at home to Captain Estcourt."
Dick, in the meantime, was on his
1nomeward way. The farther he went
the more impatient he became for the
night to be over and the present un-
, cOmIOrtdDle state OIL tnlnSS enQeQ. lie
went over this ground again and again,
and longed for the explanation to be
done with, that he might be free to for
get himself once more in the enjoy
ment Of her society. How long 1t
seemed since they parted! What an
age since their delightful meeting this
morning! That absurd but annoying
interview with old Wickerby had come
/, between, and all this worry about the
colonels preposterous invitation. How
ever, by this time the colonel. at any
rate, was undeceived. Probably he had
accepted the rejection of his proposals
in good part. and in spite of all would
welcome Dick again as a friend to-