Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-24

ned he had not understood a word: he
could not say word. For an instant he
nad wild Idea of Selling her hand and
leading her to his helpless horse and then
came what he believed was his salvation, a
sudden fash of recollection that he h.d
seen the word he wanted-the one worI
that would explain all. in placarded no.
tice at the Cirque of bracelet that had
peeh lost'-yes!-the single word "perdu"
He made step toward her, and in voice
almost as faint as her own, stammered:
"Perdu"
With little cry-that was more like a
sign than an outcry-the girls arms fell
to her side, she took a step backward
reeled and tainted aWay
LICK caught her as she fell What had
ne said!-but more than all-what should
ne DO now? He could not leave her there
alone and helpless-yet how could he iusti-
~ another disconcerting Intrusion He
touched her hands; they were cold and life
less-her eyes were half closed, her face as
pale and dropping as her lily. Well, he
must brave the worst now-and carry her
10 tha house even at the risk of meeting
the others and repeating the CHASTITY farce
He caught her up-he scarcely felt her
weight against his breast and shoulder,
and ran hurriedly down the slope to the
terrace which was still deserted. If he had
time to place her on some bench beside the
window, within their reach, he might still
ny UNDISCOVERED. But, as he painted up the
steps or the terrace with his burden he
saw that the French window was still open
but the light seemed to have been extin-
guished. 1t would be safer for her If he
could place her inside the house-if he but
dared to enter. He was desperate-and he
dared! He found himself alone in long
salon of rich but faded white and gold
hangings, lit at the other end by two tall
candies on either side of the high marble
mantel, whose rays, however, scarcely
reached the window where he had entered
He laid his burden on a high backed sofa
In so doing. the rose fell from her belt. He
picked 1t up, put it in his breast and turn
ed to 60 But he was arrested by voice
from the terrace:
"Renee"
1t was the voice of the elderly lady, who
with the cure at her side. had just rounded
the house from its rear, and at the further
end of the terrace was looking toward the
garden In search of the young girl. His es-
cape In that way was cut off. To add to
his dismay the young girl, perhaps reused
by her mothers voice. was beginning to
show signs of recovering consciousness.
Dick looked quickly around him. There
was an open door. opposite the window,
leading to hall which no doubt offered
some exit on the other side of the house.
1t was his only remaining chance! He
darted through 1t, closed 1t behind him, and
found himself at the end of a long nall or
picture gallery strangely Illuminated
through high windows, reaching nearly to
the roof. by the moon, which on that side
of the building threw nearly level bars of
light and shadows across the floor and the
delight he could see at the other end mar
row, lance-shaped open postern door show
ing the moonlit pavement without-evident-
ly the door through which the mother and
cure had just passed out. He ran rapidly
toward 1t. AS he did SO he heard the hur-
ried ringing of bells and voices in the room
he had quttted-the young girl had evident
ly been discovered-and this would give
him time. He had nearly reached 1t, when
he stopped suddenly-his blood chilled with
awe! 1t was his turn to be terrihed-he
was standing, apparently, before himself.
His first recovering thought was that it
was a mirror, so accurately was every
line and detail of his face and figure re-
fiected. But second scrutiny showed
some discrepancies Of costume and he
saw 1t was paneled portrait on the
wall. 1t was a man of his own age, height,
beard, complexion and features-with long,
curls like his own, falling over lace Van
Dyke collar. which. however. again simu-
lated the appearance Of his own hunting
shirt. The broad-brlmmed hat in the pic
ture. whose dropping plume was lost in
shadow, was scarcely distinct from Dicks
Dick was marvelous-convinciag! AS he
gazed at 1t, the wicked black eyes seemed
to fash and kindle at his own-lts lip curl
ed with Dicks own sardonic humor!
He was recalled to himself by a step in
the gallery. 1t was the cure, who had en-
tered hastily. evidently in search of one
OF the servants. Partly because 1t was
man and not a woman. partly from a feel
IAie VI Va o1o anu PoAIy AtOiH strange
sense, excited by the picture, that he had
| some claim to be there, he turned and faced
the good priest with a slight dash of i'm
patient deviitry that would have done
credit to the portrait. But he was sorry
for 1t the next moment! The priest, looking
up suddenly, discovered what seemed to
him to be the portrait standing before its
own frame and glaring at him. Throwing
UP his hands with an averted head and an
attempted 'Exorcis," he stopped short,
wheeled and scuflied away. Dick seized the
opportunity. darted through the narrow
door on to the rear terrace and ran, under
cover OF the shadow Of the house, to the
steps into the garden. Luckily for him, this
new and unexpected diversion occupied the
! inmates too much with what was going