Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-05-04
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I rozeD Heart,
A THRIhLInG LOVE STORY.
By FRANCES WARNER WALKER.
CHAPTER II. tcontlnuen

NHhA
Meantime. Madame Ceryase.s car
riagc moved on, but her face was
white, even to her lips; and when at
last II stopped before her own door.
she wakcned as from a sudden dream.
Hours passed. and her husband did
not return. Her dinner was served In
usual state, but she sat down to II
alCne. and made miserable feint ut It's
enjoyment.
Afterward. followed by the long un.
endurable evening. Henri d Augmont's
card was brought In, but she declined
TO receive him.
She could not bear his hidden inuen-
does, now that she knew that they
might not be foundationless. There
was smouldering within her n fire
which must be quenched or famed In
TO flercer heat by what Louis might
say TO her In explanation. 1t was for
this she waited.
Midnight had long struck when he
came. A SHADE OF surprise swept over
his face, as, opening the door into the
library, he found her still In dinner
dress, seated before the fireplace. In
which wood fire cracked, sending
forth a pleasant warmth through the
rooms.
.'Srill up, Florence?' he questione,i.
carelessly. Not yet learned the good
lesson tried 10 teach You this morn
ingg'
who was that woman with whom
you were driving this afternoon
All older, wiser woman. would have
put the question differently-would
have approached the subject with great
err tact
But Florence Geryase was but little
older and no wiser than had been
Florence Vane.
A smile. more calling than n frown,
crept about the corners OF monsieur's
mouth, but the long mustache hid the
white teeth which gnawed so savagely
at his under lip.
Rather pretty. you thought her. did
you noty' he answered, with scarce.
ly perceptible pause. "Really, l am
not surprised nj your inquiry as to her
personality. BY strange coincidence,
she made the same concerning you. A
very pardonable curiosity, ma chere,
and ] see no reason why you should not
be gratified. The lady is no other than
the Countess d'Aubigny, said TO be-
barring yourself, my love-the most
beautiful woman In all Paris"
And the woman whose name all Par
Is is connecting with yoursr' she cried,
springing to her feet, for the spark had
ignited the fire now. and it was fiercely
burning. "Ah, you thought because
you had kept me a bird, within a cage,
would not see or know; but you can
not force me back into my old blind
ness, nor my old ignorance You say
this woman asked who l was! Did she
blush when you told her l was your
wife--the wife whom little more than a
year ago you took from home and
friends. swearing to make your love 81
full so perfect, that she would never
know their need nor miss them? You
were looking mt her. Louis. as thought
you could look at none but me--looking
at her as though you loved her! How
could you? How dared you? And Il
], your wIfe--a witness!'
.You are excited Florence an
swered the man; but his cheek was
pale. .'The Countess fAubigny Is a
youEg widow, rich. titled and beauti-
full Besides. ma chere, since you have
seen fit TO develop new quality which
did Lot know you possessed-that OF
1ealousy--I wish TO advise you TO con-
qler II at once. and to tell you, more
over that at the time Of making n very
rash ana foolish marriage | did not
think 1t at all worth while to acqualnt
my friends with the fact therefore,
really. believe, I still stand among
them In the light OF an unmarried man,
and as such, IL the Countess dAubigny
honors me with her notice, you must
see that 1t reflects no possible discredit
upon herr 49,
..You mean that when this woman
asked you who was. YOU did not tell
herr gasped the unhappy girl. totter-
ing step forward and grasping the
back of a chair for support. "You
mean that when the world asks the
same question there is no answer? And
when the question Is carried home. and
reaches the dear old fathers ears, can
he. too, find no reply? Louis, what
have DONE that you should subject
me to this cruel wrong? IL l have
wronged you by my jealousy. forgive
me: but promise me that tomorrow
the world--your world-shan know my
right to the hold title Of wife!"
>.'To-morrowl All. my dear. to-mor-
row already Is to-day, and II you would
preserve your beauty. II Is quite time
you sought your couch. Goodnight,
ma belle! Happy dreamsw
And he went out, leaving her stunned
into silence where she stood g