Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-06-22
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
Had .Arkwrght lifted again the vel
vet curtain of Madame Florences will
dow. which had fallen behind him just
when that low cry Smote his ear. he
would have found her sitting, just as
he had left her, and dreamed only that
his senses had deceived him.
The smile had not vanished. Her
eyes were undimmed by that moisture
which, later. had sprung to his own.
He would have looked and gone again,
but that quick glance would not have
betrayed to him that the smile had
frozen on her lips, and that her eyes
were hot with pain which only the
tears which We're dried up in their
channels might assuage.
For the first time in all these weary
months. when her heart had fed only
on the just retribution it had wreaked,
she had believed it stone. In this mo-
Tent a sharp and sudden pang of ag-
ony darted through it, Arkwright had
day he scarce had crossed her memory:
t)-day-She would pursue the thought
no further.
''ii' lcSt- duIl rang lOI Hti llllNl I'LL
breakfast she left untouched. except
for the fragrant Mocha. which she ea-
gerly drank. She ordered her horses;
then donned her sables.
II would look my loveliest today
she murmured: Sin honor of the lieu
tenant and the prince. Where is the
battle ground. l wonder? And who
knows: Perhaps. if NJ. Gervais is in
st. Petersburg. he and l may chance
to meet. Does he carry vitriol? 1t
would be vulgar revenge, but sure"
But her drive was unmarked by any
incident, save the curious gaze of adj
mjration which ever followed her.
The afternoon was late when she
stepped from her carriage at the palace
gate.
"A lady waits to see madame" said
the man who held open the doors that
she might enter
Doubles some privileged friend had
taken this liberty. perhaps the count,
ess," was her thought. as. vouchsafing
to tie lackey no reply, she swept on
into her drawing room.
For moment she thought it deserted
"a moment only, for, on hearing the
rustic of her skirts. someone standing
in the deep embraSure of an allowed
window. turned. and came quickly. i'm
pctuOuSly forward With low cry,
which she knew not betOkened joy or
pain.
The face. the figure of the stranger
We're young and girlish. but a womans
anguish was painted in the lines about
her mouth. a woman's pain in the
brown eyes which fixed themselves up
OH her. half in horror. half in imploring
petition.
Yet there was something about the
face that seemed familiar to her sight.
Surely, she had seen it befcre-some-
where met the gaze Of those great. vel
vety eyes, and felt their innocent love-
illness smite her with sudden pain, in
bringing back a girlhood which lay in
numbered years so short a time be-
fore that on which she had gaZed, but,
marking time by feeling, seemed to in
terpose between the two segment Of
eternity.
A dim recollection swept over her,
too. that if, indeed. the two had met
before. it had been in happier scenes.
when the color had not been blanched
from the young cheek. now so color
less. and the smile on lip and eye had
not been shadowed by grief's black
pail.
You wished to see me? asked Flor
ence. in her sweet. low tone. which had
swayed so many to her will. and which
now struck on the girls ear with all
the magic of its music. and sent a ray
Of hope and renewed courage to her
heart
A woman with voice like that could
not be all hard. all cruel.
II have waited to see you. madame"
she answered while, unconsciously the
two little gloved hands locked them
selves tightly waited. while
every moment. every hour, has been
torture in its long-drawn agony. If
you had not cOme-Oh, God. if you hat
not come. l should have gone mad"
A momentary thought crossed Flor
ence's mind that already some trouble
had ,nseated the girls brain. else why
should she. stranger, address to her
words like these.
You We're so impatient Of my COM
ing:" she asked.
And there was now tender pity in
her tone.
$50 impatient. madame, that mo-
.ments heightened into endless days! 1
shave lived a year since l entered this
room. and vet. already. we waste time
tee precious in this idle talk. Madame.
You do not know me. but I know you
l know your grace. your beauty. your
fascination, Do not let me learn that