Evening star., 1899-07-29

he must come! Remind him of his prom
iSe to me-"
But if he will not Gomez" Valerie forced
the words
Then ask him to give you the cigarette
case of Maasaun leatherwork. That will
remind him of many things. But he will
come she ended more confidently
Valerie rose.
Il am ready. I know the passages are
watched. l saw no one, yet l felt the
shadows We're full of eyes. Lend me your
sable cloak. Isolde; every one will recog
nize that, and with this lace about my
head L shall be free to go where l please
as the Countess Sagan.'
Valerie'-Mme. de Sagan held the girl
oack-'listen to me; you must make him
come. | must tell you ALL Rallywood is
in danger; nothing can save him unless
you separate him from the duke She
stopped painting, then barred her arm. RE
mind him how he promised me-with his
lips upon the hurtl Now go,'
The next second Valerie Selpdorf found
herself alone in the dim corridor in which
the lights burned low. She stood quite
still, the shock of the last sentence. with
his lips upon the hurt" still ringing in
her ears. Rallywood Rallywood, with
the. clear gray eyes and that look in them
which remained persstently in her men,
ory. Her father had taught her to suspect
the whole world. But she had chosen to
think differently of this man, even when
she told herself she hated him. Different
from others-exemp from the universal
were possible to trust any. Then she turned
upon herself After all had he deceived
her, had she not rather deceived herself?
He had spoken openly to her of his despair
ing secret, of the woman he could never
hope to win. And she had concluded what?
Nothing definite, but there had been dim
thought. Oh, it was unbearable! But why
did she linger to think of this while Maasau
itself was in danger.
She hurried along the passages moving
with soft swftness of silken garments,
and as she passed the hidden eyes of the
watchers looked out after the muffied fig
ure Nine de Sagan was free to come and
From the head of the great staircase
narrow corridor branched away to the
dukes quarters. very dim light shone
from the embrasure at the end as she
hurried along, and before she could stop
herself she ran right into the arms of
tall man who was coming out toward her.
He put her gently back against the wall
and looked at her, but the lace was drawn
close about her face.
q must pass, she said
The mans back was to the light. but she
knew the shape of the head and shoulders.
mo one can pass, madame
The relief of knowing Rallywood was
safe Jared in her mind with the hideous
suspicion that Isolde's allurements had, af-
ter all, conquered his allegiance to the duke.
He had clearly recognized the cloak and
believed her to be the countess. She would
have been more than woman not to take
advantage of the mistake. She bent for
ward a little.
Come with me- she whispered.
"I cannot"
DO you forget your promise?"
Under the circumstances. he glanced
back at the dukes door-'you know L
could make none"
But 1 am in danger-and you promised,
surely you promised, with your lips there
Rallywood stared at the shapely hand
and firm white wrist thrust out from the
dark sablcs, with a great leap at his heart.
The sight took him unaWares.
''Valerie!' he exclaimed
CTo be continued)