The Portland daily press., 1898-11-10
PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
BY WILLIAM LE QUEUN,
COPYRIGHTED. 1897. BY WILLIAM LIE oUEUx.

his, then sinking back with slight yawn
upon her silken couch. In the half light,
as sne Teclined in graceful abandon upon
the dlvan, her head thrown back upon a
great cushion of rose silk, she looked
nuch younger than she really was.
george had guessed her age at thirty five
Wheh sne had called at his hotel but in
5haS dliniy-lit room with her veil, re-
moyea ana attired in thin lighD-col-
oured gown she looked quite ten years
nently handsome.
he had taken seat near her, and was
apologising for calling during her siesta
mo, no, she exclaimed, with light.
laugh. II am extremely glad you've
come. / retire SO late at night that |
generally lind an afternoon doze uenef-
cial. We women suffer from nerves and
other such things of which you men
know nothing.
.But then we are liable to a maiauy of
the heart of far greater severity than
that to which your sex is subject
Women IS hearts are seldom broken: men IS
often are A woman can forget as easily
as child forgets; but the remembrance
of a face, of a voice, of pair of eyes, TO
him brighter and clearer tnan all others,
is impressed indelibly upon a man S mem.
ory. Every woman frorl the moment she
enters her teens is, regret to say, a
the chances are all against the man.
"Why are you SO pessimistici" she
asked, raising herself upon her elbow and
looking atshim amused. HAll women are
not heartless. Some there are who re-
member, and although evil and vicious
themselves are self-denying towards
others. -
"Yes..' he answered. A few-a very
few =
"Of course you must be forgiven for
speaking thus" she said in a soft, pleas
ant tone Your choice of a woman has
been an exceedingly unhappy ONE
"Whyr' he exclaimed, with quick sus-
pioion. 'Nhat allegation do you make
against Liane. f''
IT make no allegation whatever,
m ,sieur," she answered, with a smile.
sit was not in that sense my words were
intended. I meant to convey that your
love has only brought unhappiness to
you both. 20
Unfortunately it has, he sighed.
In vain have l striven to seek some
means by which to assist Liane to break
asunder the tie which binds her to Prince
Zertho, but she will not explain its
nature, because she says she fears to do
So"
81 am scarcely surprised she an
sw cred. Her terror lest the true facts
should be disclosed is but natural.
"WhyP'' he inquired, hastily.
But she shook her head, saying: 'sAm
not striving my utmost to assist herr Is
it therefore to be supposed that I shall
explain facts which she desired should
remain secret? The object of your present
visit is surely not to sndeayour to entrap
me into telling you facts which, for the
present, will not bear the light? Rather
let US come to some understanding where
by our interests may be mutual.
"It was for that reason have called" !"
he said, in a dry, serious tone. Her gaze
met his, and he thought in that half Light
he detected in her dark brilliant eyes
keen look of suspicion.
"I'm all attention." she answered.,
pleasantly, moving slightly 80 that, she
faced him.
"tWell, mine is curious errand, y he
began earnestly, bending towards her, his
elbows on his knees "There is no reason,
as far as I'm aware, why, if you are real
ly Liane's friend, we should not be per-
fectly frank with one another. First, I
must ask you one question-a strange
one you will no doubt regard it. But it
is necessary that should receive an an
swer before proceed. Did you aver live
in Paris-and wherel" 8
She knit her brows for an instant as if
questions regarding her past were entirely
distasteful
"Well yes.'' she answered, after some
hesitation. II once lived in Paris with
my mother. We had rooms in the Rue
Toullier, number eighty nine"
aThsn there can be no mistake, y he ex-
claimed. quickly. "You are Mariette
Lepage. &
.sOf course am," she said, puzzled at
the straugeness of his manner. "Why?'
Because there is a curious ciroum-
stance which causes our interests to be
mutual he answered, watching the
flush ofsexcitement upon her face as he
spoke. briefly. my father, Sir John
Stratteld, was somewhat eccentric, and
because he knew / loved Liane he left me
penniless. g, however. added an OK.
traordinary clause to his will, in which
you are mentioned. Then drawing from
his reast-pocket copy of the document,
he glanced at it.
Il am mentionedl' she echoed. raising
herself, and regarding him open mouthed.
aYes." he said. by his will he has
left me one hundred thousand pounds on
condition that. become your husband
within within two years of mis- DEATH"
"You-my husEandl" she cried. "Are
you mad?'
sNot so mad as my father when he
made this absurd will,'' he answered
calmly. sYou are, under its provisions,
to be offered twenty thousand pounds in
cash if you will consent to become my
wife, This offer will be made to YOU
formally by his solicitors in London as
soon as inform them that you are at
last found. Read for yourself, . and he
passed to her the copy of the will.
Ito be continued.