Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-05-04
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5 FrozeQ Heart,
y A THRILLING LOVE STORY.
IN WALKER.
BY FRANCES WARNER WALKER.
CHATTER III. tContipucD
THRILLING LOVE STORY.


Meantime Madame Geryase's car
riago moved on, but her face was
white. even to her lips: and when at
last it stopped before her own door,
She wakcned as from Il sudden dream.
Hours passed. and her husband did
not return. Her dinner WAS served in
usual state. but she sat down to it
ale no. and made Il miserable feint at its
enjoyment.
.Aftcrward, followed by the long. I'M
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 a fire
which must be quenched or famed in
to tercer heat by what Louis might
say to her in explanation. 1t was for
this she waited.
Midnight had long struck when he
came. y 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 Il wood fire cracked. sending
forth Il pleasant warmth through the
rooms.
still up. florence" he questioned,
carelessly. Not vet learned the good
lesson | tried to teach you this morn
ing"
"Who was that woman with whom
you We're driving this afternoon?"
An elder. wiser woman. would have
put the question ditferently-would
have approached the subject With great
er tact.
Eu, Florence Gervase was but little
OLDER and no wiser than had been
Florence Vane.
y smile. more CALLING than a frown,
crrpt about the corners Of monsieurs
mouth, but the long muStache hid the
white teeth which gnawed so savagely
at his under Lip.
RATHER pretty. you thought her. did
You not:' he answered. with a scarce
ly perceptible pause. REALLY. L am
not surprised at your inquiry as to her
personality. BY Il strange coincidence.
She made the same concerning you. \
very pardonable curiosity, ma chere.
sum see no reason why you should not
be @ratitied. 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 yours she cried.
epringin% to her feet. for the spark had
i@ni1eh the fire now. and it was tercely
Burning. "Ah. you thought because
You had kept me Il bird. within Il cage.
I 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 | 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 ST.
full. so perfect. that she would never
know their need nor miss them? You
were looking at 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 l.
1, your wife--a Witness
"YOu are excited. Florence!' an
swered the man: but his cheek was
pale. The Countess d'-Aubigny is a
young widow. rich. titled and beauti-
full. Besides, ma chere. since you have
seen hit to develop Il new quality which
l did Lot know YOU pOSSeSSed-that OF
je:lunSy-I wish to advise you to con-
guer it at once. and to tell you, more
over. that ut the time of making Il very
rash and foolish marriage | did not
think il at all worth while to acGuaint
my friends With the fact; therefore.
really. | believe, | still stand among
them in the light Of an unmarried man.
and as such if the Countess d'Aubgny
honors me With her notice. you must
see that it reflects no possible discredil
upon her.
You mean that when this woman
asked you who | was. you did not tel
her." gasped the unhappy girl. totter
ing step forward and grasping tho
back of a chair for support "IOr
mean that when the world asks tho
same question there is no answer? Ant
when the question is carried home. ant
reaches the dear old fathers ears, car
he. too, find no reply? Louis. wha
have I done. that you should subjec
me to this cruel wrong? Ii l have
wronged you by my jealousy. forgive
me: but promise me that tomorrow
the world-your world-shall know my
right to the hold title of wife,
"To-morrow! All. my dear. to-mor
row already is to-day. and if you would
preserve your beauty, it is quite time
you sought your couch. Goodnight
ma belle. Happy Dreams.
And he went out. leaving her stunned
into silence where she stool.