The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-04
THE LOST PROVINCES.
How VansitatC Came Back to France.
BY LOUIS TRACY.
ospyrssAG 1898. " ES-t. zroy.
XII.
THE CHAIN OF EvuNrs.

S1NT F0AN
Evelyn received II In the morning and read
II. The description OF the continuance did not
convey much meaning to her mind: IL might
be OF importance. Il might not. She hesi-
tated as to whether she should show it to VAN
sittart. She had promised something to the
ehild-but not that. She felt nervous about
II and wondered why. The sweet face Of
Marie rose before her. Then she thought OF
the strangeness that the child should live at
No. IL Rue Plgalle; then OF the strangeness Of
the fact that at the moment when vansittart
had appeared at the door the girl should have
said: He may return sooner than you ex-
pect." OF course. she argued. It must have
been q mere chance. The gentle girl. though
she lived in that house. could have had no FORE
knowledge OF the blowing up OF the railway.
Yet. II the expression was q mere chance. o
coincidence. IL was a singular one; so singular
that It seemed to her like an omen. q warning.
She hesitated.
At 10 she decided that she would not show
# to him that day. She would wait and think
tomorrow would do. About IL she heard
that all Paris had turned out to mend the rails.
that they would soon be finished. that Van
eitturt would be able to set out in the after
noon. This increased her sense Of responsi-
bility she must show him now. II at oil. What
did she known The thing might. in reality. be
OF the greatest importance to the Issues Of the
war. now bu0 WOulu TOkEOO ~ IL WNEu
It was proved that her hesitancy had cost to
France o single life! At II che showed the
letter to Vansittart.
They were sitting together In their little
sanctum. where Marie had the day before
been received by Evelyn. As soon rs Vansit-
tart began to run his eye over the scribbled
leaf. his brows knit. He read It through; bent
closer over 1t. read It again. Then he threw
his head backward and cried aloud:
Good heavens. what q brilliant ideal'
rs it's III" painted Evelyn.
The man who wrote this letter is q very
great genius. that's all" he answered conf
IDENTIFY.
And you viii see himr You will see the
model"
'Oh, ratheri"
When. today"
This is the only day I've got"
'Jerome-dear-I have certain fears. half
s~uspicions-I don't know how to tell you'-
Come. sit here-no. the other knee is the
whole one-now. out with It,"
Then Evelyn told him about Marie and her
Madonna face. and how abe lived at the wrong
house. and how. to the minute. she had proph-
esied his return.
But you liked herr" he said: you liked her
9aceP'
Yes"
You trusted her2'
Yes, wholly"
Then that is enough. You never yet
trusted anything that was base. Evelyn. I
can't help thinking that. Of all the women in
che world. my darling is the most sensitive and
instructive to the approach Of the eviidoer.
oh. I have noticed. you know. 10 so. II
you like her. Marie Is true to the CORE
Still Evelyn was restless and foreboding.
Yes. 1 do not doubt 1t" she said. but
But what:"
She may be the dupe Of others"
She may"
And this plot to keep you in Paris"-
IT do not forgetit."
IT,
1T may"
Puff. puff, came the smoke from his lips. he
blowing it away from her face.
Then you will not go?"
Yes. 1 will"
"Ah,o bstinatei"
No, not that. 1 reason in this way: Marie
is true to the core. for you trusted her till
chance circumstance turned you against her.
And, let me add, Armand is true to the core
for no man would reveal to me an idea like
this-itis one OF the grand inventions Of time. I
tell you-if he were at all hostile to me and
France. Very well. then. Armand and Marie
are true; that's settled. Now. suppose I go
and visit Armand without any human-being
but you and them knowing Of 1t; then I
think 1 shall be in a positionsto defy your plot.
Eh2 What do you say now
She had nothing to say. She buried her
head on his shoulder. murmurinR. God pre-
serve my dear!"
vansittart's reasoning about Armand and
Marie was good and. indeed. infAllible. He
was not aware. however. Of the strange will Of
N. Carhaix and the legacy of strife and Bit
terness which this gentleman had left to his
nieces.
BY / o'clock Evelyn had written to Marie.
The moro direct way would have been to write
to Armand. but time pressed. and there was
the probability that Armand. q man and a
bachelor. would be away from home. without
having left behind any indications OF his
whereabouts. She chose her messenger with
great care. q man Of prudence. whom she knew
n trusted. She described Marie infinitely to
him, and told him on no account to deliver tho
letter into any hands but her own.
At that time Vansittart did not imagine that
the enthusiasm OF the Parisians would finish
the work on the railway so early as 3: he
thought, however. that late at night II would
be done. A about 10 he might set out for the
station with all secrecy. for he had nc inten-
ton, II he could help 1t, OF being assassinated
on the way. Armand's lodgings lay in an OBJ
acure street not far from his route. 30 he
told Evelyn to make the appointment for
1890.
This, than. wrote Evelyn. Marie. on the re-
ceipt of the letter. was at once TO run and find
her lover. tell:him and bind him to absolute
secrecy. She. Marie. as soon as she had read
the letter. was to tear It up and scatter the
pieces, She was warned that II she mentioned
the matter even to her closest relations she
might do infinite harm to her friends. The
messenger had a hint to await and sec that
the letter was destroyed before his eyes.
A little after / he reached No. 11.Rue PiRalle.
He rang the bell and the wicket was opened by
Jeanne. Evelyn did not know. had not sus-
pected, that Marie went out to any business.
II want to see Nile. Marie Carhaix." said the
footman. He had on no livery. he was In plain
clothes. some one wishing to see Marie was a
rarity. Jeanne was Infinitely surprised al
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