Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-05-04

bend her head, as IL listening for some
haR-uttered whisper from someone
seated behind her, or would open her
own lips, with smile. and reply.
| Who held that coveted place?
Florence's breath came quickly. In
stantly she had recognized her as the
woman whom her husband had called
the Countess dAublgny
| A crimson spot slowly formed itself
on her white cheek: her violet eyes di-
lahd and darkened. She leaned for
| ward, her glasses steadily fixed. ana,
forgetting that her marked gaze was at
| tracing the attention Of others about
! her.
| But presently, on the plush curtain
which screened the interior Of the box
! from view. mans hand was care
lessly placed. half holding its heavy
folds. as though he wished to gain n
certain view of the house.
| The hand itself was unmistakable:
but, to make certainty more sure, on
| its third finger was n curious sapphire
ring. 1t was the ring Louis Geryase
always wore. and about which he held
a strange superstition-that its loss bf$
! tokened evil to him. -
Florence dropped her glass. For a
moment deadly faintness Overcaine
her, but she forced it back. Then the
curtain fell upon the second act. and
| the house broke into wild and tumultu-
ous applause. But of the music the
| wretched girl had heard no single note.
All her senses had been concentrated
in one. For few moments she sat
dazcd and bewildered. @
The people poured from the boxes
and seats into the vestibule and foyer
beyond. The places about her were al.
most deserted. Presently she looked
toward the spot which fascinated her
gaze rs a serpent the birds.
The countess was rising. That invis-
ible presence behind made IA tender
movement. as If to throw wrap over
the beautiful shoulders, but she mega
tived 1t and passed out from the box.
Still n moment longer Florence sat
quiet Then she, too. rose to her feet.
"Come with me. Marie" she said. end
swept out into the foyer.
1t was densely filed. She scarcely
knew why she had come-what SHE
was about to do. But yesterday she
had been but child. wax to mould as
he would, In Louis Gervase's hands.
lo-ulSlt slit WIS u NIthSth anu out
ragged woman. with her love to make
the stronger the current in whose cold
waters she SO suddenly found herself
plunged.
With head erect and the carriage of
queen she walked slowly down the
passage. Almost at ii farthest end,
where the crowd was densest, she and
her husband met. face TO face. She
alone, save for the presence and pro-
lection Of her maid; he. bending with
tender devotion over the beautiful wo-
man whose gloved hand rested on his
arm. his eyes gazing down into hers.
which were upraised to meet them his
whole attitude that of a man loving
and beloved.
The blood turned to instant Ice in the
young wife's veins. Imperiously. she
took one step In advance; then stood so
directly in front that 1t was impossible
to pass her.
Louis" she said. in tones SO loud.
so clear, so distinct, that not only he
and, his companion but all around
could hear: Louis, may l ask that
you will present your wife to the
Countess dAubingy? | have long been
desirous Of the honor: and. at the same
time, shall claim the protection of the
other arm
| The little crowd Of promenaders
stood still. One would have fancied Il
thunderbolt to have been launched in
their midst. On which of that little
group Of three would it expend itself?