The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-19
81 am willing Prepare the way" was her


himself on the hearthrug, leaning one elbow
on the mantelpiece. Rene Laroque took a
seat beside Lady Lillian, who gave him
most radiant smile, while Mr. Thorne entered
into lively discussion with Madame La
rogue, as to the merits of English and French
horticulture
Thus, for few moments conversation con-
tlnued With the usual ripping muTmur of
sound, and none of those present except the
earl and Odlle-unless perhaps, it was Mrs.
Thorne whose loving watchful eyes scanne1
anxlously her daughters pale, troubled face
had the slightest idea that all was not as
usual, or that thunderbolt was about to fall
in their midst. At the sound of the earrs
voice, speaking rather louder than was his
wont, all eyes were turned towards him IN
Quiringly, and conversation ceased as if by
magic.
Now that we assembled together, my
friends, l will take the opportunity of say Z
ing something that it is important you all
should hear he began, very quietly, looking
round upon them as he spoke. This after
noon went in search of Monsieur Laroque,
ana asked him to accord me half hours
interview There is no reason why L should
not tell you frankly why L wished to have a
little conversation with him. Before l do so,
however, it will be necessary for me to ex-
plain to you that for several months past
1t has been my most ardent desire and hope
to win Miss Odille Thorne for my wife. 1
loved her, and something seemed to tell me
that the feelings with which she had in
pred me were leciprocated. On the very day
When L met Madame Laroque in the hunting
held and invited both to dine Roseraye /
mad made up my mind to put fate to the
test, and offer my hand and my heart to
Miss Thorne What hindered me was this.
AS presented Monsieur Laroque to her NAT
urally Supposlng them to be strangers to each
other, L saw her change color and start be-
traylng such signs OF violent emotion that
1t was evident to me they must have met be-
lore Undoubtedly there was nothing sur
pTlSing or unusual in the fact What | could
not explain with any satisfaction to myself
Was-Why neither OF them openly proclaimed
it
For some time watched them BOTH say
ing hothlng. L saw that Miss Thorne avoided
Monsieur LaroQue as much as it was possble
10 40 without attracting attention, but from
MS lace or manner L CLEANED nothing NV
suspicious We're sufficiently aroused for if to
pe Impossible Tor me to ask the lady in oues-
tlon TO be my wife until the mystery which
oaHleo ana tormented me had been cleared
up. Beng an EEglshlnan, L did not beat
ABOUT the puSh Dut asked Monsieur I.aronue
as a favor, to confde IN me all he knew re-
sPectlhg MISS Thorne, and to tell me where
ana IN what circumstances he had first met
ana maze her acquaintance. Monsieur La
rogue replied to my enquiries with what
seemed to me the most perfect frankness-au
the more frank and generous on his part be-
cause the confession he made nlaced him in
an unfavorable light
is it possible that after all he-n heeon
Oollie' stepping forward, but the earl lrIed
MS hand to impose silence, and continued
ne tolo me that he met Miss Thorne for
a
seaside place in France where she was stav
ing on visit to a relative of hers, and that
she was greatly admired and surrounded
having the entree to the house where she
lived, he had the opportunity of seeing eraat
deal OF her They were on friendly terms"
L. Is needless to repeat the word for word
the Frenchman's confession, which the reader
10 already acquainted with. 1t will be enough
to say that Lord Roseraye repeated if to 6Is
listeners. - ~ 1't'
during the course of it, Rene Larooue,s
race was a study. In spite of his self-controi.
ne looked ghastly. The smile he forced to his
SUFFERING lips was nothing but a grimace.
once he glanced towards Odille bnt onIv
nee. Her answering glance of Witherin, con-
tempt caused him to SILVER Gladly would
ne nave risen and left the room had he dared
out IL was impossible. His retreat would
nave been tacit acceptation of defeat
Inc earl meanwhile went on to relate how,
Monsieur Laroque had asked him to consent
70 an engagement between himself and LADY
IldI f1ereWard-a consent which, subject to
certain conditions, he had granted
Nothing, let it be observed par parenthese
could exceed the establishment of Mr. and
MRS. Thorne at this announcement. They
siareo at each other in positive stupefaction.
,ron wnen Inc interview between myself and
!uoHSlsur H4aroque came to close I re-
NAMED forN nearly an hour alone refectine
ueepiy over what he had told me- felt nm
speakaply relieved by his confession NJ,
eaSue suspicious mad been entirely removed.
anu pnefe seemed no reason Whv T sbouId
hesitate any longer in asking Miss Thorna
W oecome my wife, 1 proposed to her tbis
venlng, and was firmly refused and aIthoneh
coulu see mat the refusal cost her an eff
iort, she would not confde in me the reason
of it. 1 was about TO leave her saeine 80
uselesSness OF further opposition when T han
pened to tell her that Monsieur Laroona had
asked for the hand of my sister No sooner
old she hear this than she warned me most
urgently against him, as an adventurer and
fortune hunter