The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-11-22

expression of wicked meaning. one
returned the look, laughing petulant-
ly.
What of that?" she asked.
do you not perceive? So long as |
remain in my mother country, where
no ceremony has taken place, this per-
son is not my wife at all. The law is
very convenient, is it not? A marriage
in England with an English subject IS
no marriage unless it has been proper
ly ratified in France.
ooh, but you are traitreux, she cried.
cit is abominable Why do you not
do what is right, and acknowledge her
according to the French law
For a very good reason. There IS
some one | love better, as you know"
But the actress drew herself angrily
away
"You love no one. You have no love
in your heart tell you, Leon | am
sorry for her and for her child. There
is a child too, is there not?
EYES," replied Caussidiere.
''Does she know, this poor betrayed,
Certainly not. 1t would only-dis-
tress her!"
cit is infamous!" exclaimed Sera-
phine
mot at ALL" he answered. "She is
very happy in her ignorance, I assure
you. When the time comes. and it
may come when you please, | will tell
her the truth and she will quietly go
home"
There was a long pause. Seraphine
continued to smoke her cigarette and
to glance from time to time with no
very admiring eagerness at her COM
panion 1t was clear that the frank
confession of his villainy had not
raised him in her esteem. Seeing her
GOODNESS, and anxious to change the
subject, he rang for the waiter and or
dered the bill While that document
was being prepared he opened his
purse and looked into it. The act
seemed to remind him of something he
had forgotten. He felt in the pocket
of his coat, and drew forth a small
cardboard box.
II have something to show you,' he
said smiling.
Seraphine glanced up carelessly.
what is it, pray?"
ct is this" replied Caussidiere open
ing the box and showing gold brace
let richly wrought. do you think
it pretty? STAY Let me try it on your
arm!'
So saying, he clasped the bracelet on
Seraphine's left wrist. Holding out
her arm, she looked at it with assumed
carelessness, but secret pleasure, for she
was a true daughter of the theater,
and loved ornament of any kind
Il see" she said, slyly. "A little pres
ent for madame!'
"Diable No, it is for you-if you
will accept it,
mo, thank you. Please take it
away. I will not take what belongs
to another
''Then 1 will throw it into the
street,
At this moment the waiter returned
with the bill. 1t amounted to a consid-
cradle sum, and when Caussidiere had
settled it, and literally feed the bring
er, there was very little left in the
purse.
"You will wear the bracelet for my
sake said Caussidiere, softly, as he
assisted theactress to put on her cloak.
mo, no." answered Seraphine, but
without attempting to take the brace
let off. "Apropos, Leon, where do you
get your money? You do not work
much, think, and yet you spend your
cash, sometimes like ar English mi
Ior.'
II wish | were twenty times as rich,
for your sake!" cried Caussidiere, evad-
ing the question. "Ah, my Seraphine,
l adore you!"
He drew her toward him and kissed
her on the lips. The present of the
bracelet had prevailed and she suffered
the salute patiently; but there was an
expression in her face which showed
that she rated her admirer exactly at
his true worth
A few minutes later Caussidiere. with
the actress hanging on his arm, gayly
quilted the cafe.
CHAPTER XVIII.
t - N the morning aft