Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-06-15
CHAPTER xv1-tCont7nucd.)

The dinner drew to its close. The
flowers began to droop under the glare
of the waX-lights, the air to grow OPP
pressive with their perfume. Another
minute. and their lovely hostess would
leave them to the solace they might
discover in her absence in their alb
sinthe and fragrant weed-solace SO
small that they would quickly follow
where she led.
Was it accident or design that in this
moment her eyes and these of the
young lieutenant met? I)il she feel
some reproach. some pity? The ques-
ton only her own heart might answer:
but, as the blue eyes rested Oh that
young. handsome face. they smiled so
sweetly- so graciously. that to win such
smile it were worth the purgatory he
had suffered, thought the boy.
The prince scowled, but she deigned
him no glance. Perhaps his latest gai
ETY. had displeased her. She rose grace
fully, and all followed her example.
but she motioned bancroft that she
4, might leave the room upon his arm,
and when. a few moments later. he re-
Joined the group. who had resumed
their seats. the crimson rose which she
had worn lent it's brilliant color to the
glittering gold of his uniform. He
Wore it more proudly than the prince
the decoration of his emperor. Every
eye turned upon it. The one vivid spot
of scarlet seemed to concentrate unto
itself every minor object in the room.
A dark flush swept over the princes
face: then the blood slowly recedeu,
leaving the skin CHASTITY i'll its white
ness. That one minute he seemed to
have aged ten years. His eyes and
those Of the young lieutenant met.
Once again the same deadly challenge
passed between them. as on the night
when Carlo had left the side of Beat
rice to obey Madame Florence's sum-
mons to her box.
The prince sprang to his feet, and the
two men stood confronting each 9th
er. An insolent smile played about the
mouth of bancroft. The dinner had
been long-drawn-out torture to him.
it was now his turn. The memory of
his torture was too fresh to permit him
to spare his rival now. All saw a scene
was imminent.
"You wear a flower. l see" said the
prince, and his voice was hoarse with
passion. May l inquire how it came
into your pOsSeSSion?'
"Freedom of speech is NATURAL he
reIOfteu. 1OuiS is tile IlSHl W III
quire and mine the right to leave the
inquiry unanswered"
"Rut | will know! That fiower-is it
tine one which Madame Florence wore
but a moment ago. which she took
from the bunch of roses which were
my gift? If so. you have gained pos
session of it by no honorable means,
and | demand that yon at once relin-
quish it..
The two men were now equally
matched in pallor. Carlo had whitened
to the lips.
"You scarcely know whom you adj
dress, Prince Carnorach. when you ac-
cuse a bancroft of dishonor | make
no boast of ladies' favors. but this rose
withers on my breast. Deny it if you
daTe!''
'tSay that she gave it to you, and YOU
lie!' Missed the nobleman. in low.
sibilant whisper, more terrible than
airy louder note.
But scarcely had the words left his
lips than, lifting glass half-filled With
wine, the boy maddened with rage and
excitement, dashed it in his face.
Arkwright sprang between them.
"WOuld you make her name the COM
mon talk of st. Petersburg, Russia and
all Europe?' he asked.
The question Gained them. though
they stood confronting each other with
heaving chests and eyes fairly blazing
With fury.
The prince stopped for his napkin
and wiped the wine from his face. He
was speechless from rage. Dameroff
lrew "a case from his pocket. and talk
ing fherefrom card, threw it on the
table before him.
'"rhis is my address" he said.
"'You shall hear from me tomorrow,
replied the prince. But for fear of her
fair fame we would settle it now and
here.'
Then, as though nothing had occur
red, the gentlemen returned to the
drawing room:The countenance of the
prince had resumed it's old suavity, al
though his eye cleaned with sinister
light, which betokened small weakness
on the part Of his right arm when it
should grasp the sword on the morrow,
as he saw not only that the crimson
rose had vanished from the lovely
breast it had adorned, but that a blue
ribbon bancroft had Worn i'll merit of
O. certain order in his butttonhOle now
fastened string of pearls upon Mad
anne Florence'S waist
Yet, singular to say, his love grew by
feeding On it's jealousy. Stronger than
ever was his determination to win for
his wife the woman who could thus
brave him. Once his wife, she should
suffer due punishment for this hour-a
punishment which should begin on the
morrow, when he, the most noted
swordsman in Europe. should see that
Carlo bancroft expiated his insolence
only with his life. Therefore he smiled
and murmured langnidly in bis fair
hostess ear.
The younger man was a poorer dis
eembler His check was paled and
flushed by turns. Madame Florence.
too, wore a certain air Of cOnstraint
unusual to her, and her gaze often wan
dered toward Dameroffs face.
But he avoided her glance, and rose
early to take his leave.
$50 soon?' she said, as he APP
preached her.
And as her hand languftlly Law an in