The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-26
PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
by WILLIAM LE QUEUX,
COPYRIGHTED. 1897. BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUX.

ply. During tho years l nave known
you, LANE" he went on, "the thought OF
total disbelief in the possibility of
woman's fidelity. knew then that I
revered you with my better self all the
while-that, young as you were, be.
lieyed in you. / believe in you now. Be
my wife; and from this instant I will
devote all the love in me-and l have
"Prince Zsrtho,' she said. in honest
distress, 81 beg you won't go onl I re-
spsct your devotion and your kindness,
and I.don't wasn't to inflict any hurt upon
you; but oh indeed, You must not ask
this"
livery WE'LL" he said sadly, rising TIC
his feet. "Let all be. I will not despair.
You know now that love you, and ere
long shall ask you again as have
asked. Defer your answer until them"
''Let us go back she urged, shivering
as she rose. 1.-THE wind has grown cold /"
and in silence they together retraced their
steps along the deserted Promenade.
Ankhour later, when Lame had gone to
walked along to the Villa Chevrier, and
found his friend awaiting him in Ii the
handsome salon.
When the servant closed the door the
Prince was the first to speak.
Tonight have asked Liane to become
my wife, he said harshly. standing
with, highlands in his pockets.
"She refuses
GAS I expected, answered her father
coldly
CAS- you wish. you mean," retorted
| Zertho.
81 have already explained my views. -
the other answered. In deep, strained
voice.
"From her attitude it is evident that
you have not spoken to her, as we ar
ranged" said the other angrily.
ST have said nothing"
| "Well, you know me sufficiently we'll,
Brooker, to be aware that when l set my
heart .upongdoing thing I will accom-
plish it at all COST" the Prince OK.
claimed. "I'm no longer an outsider,
your disinclination to allow Liane tc
become Princess d'Auzac. Surely you
must see that 1t would be distinctly tc
your own advantage. She would take
care that you'd never be hard up for a
few hundreds, you know"
'She does. not love you, Zsrtho"
Love be hanged !" Dried the other;
repeat my proposal to her; II she does not
| accept, we'll"
"Wenp'' echoed BROKER, paler than
before, the hand holding the Cigar trem
bling, for he was feiRning a GOODNESS
which he was unable to preserve.
For q moment the Prince paused, then
crossing to the escritoire which stood in
| the window, took therefrom folded
newspaper, old and tattered, together
with several other papers folded together
lengthwise.
Reorossing to where BROKER stood, he
held them up to his gaze. with sisnistel
smile upon his lips, and look full OF
menace.
mo! nor' cried the Captain, glarine
at the innocent looking papers. and draw
Ing back with gesture of repulsion.
"Very WE'LL" Zartho answered, with
lnonchalance. "Strange though 1t may
appear, your only chance of safety is in
becoming my father-in-law. 1t will be
easy enough for you to persuade Liane te
eager to remain your friend. But IT your
prejudices are so very intense and indis-
Greet, well-you know the rest
The two men who had been fellow ad
venturers faced each other. In the coun'
tepance of one was confidence. in the
other abject fear. :.
81 never expected this Of you, Zertho, y
him with eyes in which flashed the fire Of
anger. "You apparently heed nothing
Of my feelings as her father. You know
nay past; you know that Lame brings
into my life its only ray Of brightness. .
1--WE are no longer partners" the Other
answered harshly, with strangely-deter.
mined expression upon his dark counte
nance. "You are playing against me
now. therefore J am your opponent
You've thought fit to deal the cards, it'll
true /" he added, with q short derisive
laugh; "but think you'll have to admit
that 1 hold all the trumps.'
To be continued,