Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-05-11
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER vi.
All day he and Marie watched beside
her SO quietly did he adapt himself to
| the strange post that not even among
! the little household did it awaken sur
! prise. Doubtless it was some old friend
of madame's. and he had brought her
news of her fathers death.
! Florence's condition gave him great
unCaSinesS. She was wholly conscious
but sat staring before her with wide
open eyes into vacancy, neither speak
ing nor moving. In vain he tried to
reuse her.
| Toward evening he summoned Il
physician. The latter instantly ad-
ministered a powerful anodyne.
six hours more of such strain
he said. might result in hopeless i'll
sanity
At noon the next day he came again.
Harry Arkwright was already at his
post
"She is bettcr?" he asked. anxiously.
Yes, better: but her mind must be
distracted. Where is monsieur?'
| Monsieur Gervasc is out of town."
y
Il remember reading in yesterdays
journal that he was spending Il few
days ut the country seat of the young
] Countess d'Aubigny--''
"Hush!" interrupted Arkwright.
casting an anxious glance toward the
couch; but, if Florence had heard the
words. no change betrayed it in the
beautiful. rigid featuros-only little
later. when the physician had depart.
ed, she softly called Marie.
Send everyone away. Marie I
am quiet. 1 want to sleep, and there
must be no one in the house. Send the
servant out, and ask Mr.. Arkwright to
go. too. 1 will see him later in the
day.
When the girl returned from the err
rand on which she had dispatched her,
she found her mistress sitting half up
on the lounge.
81 want you to dress me quickly,
Marie, and give me my plainest dress.
l must go out Immediately"
But, madame, you cannot co." re-
monstrated Marie, ''you are not able.
Madame has been and is still very ill.,"
1T matters not; l must go at once
at once, do you hear? We are losing
time. and every moment is precious to
me!
Half an hour later, Florence Gervase
unattended found herself alone upon
the broad avenue where was situated
the house she had so long called home.
Marie's prayer to accompany her, she
had refused. She had in her mind one
definite purpose, and it must be ac-
complished alone.
Reckoning to the driver of an empty
carriage. she sprang in and gave direc-
tons to be driven to Il distant railway
station.
Leaning her head back against the
cushions and closing her eyes, she paid
no further heed until the carriage stop
ped; then. passing the man the first
coin she found i'll her purse. regardless
Of his blank look of amaZement at it's
value she entered the station, to find
she must wait there an hour before a
train left for the place she wished to
make her destination.
Quietly she took her seat in the COM
fortress waiting room. and seemed to
again sink into a sort of lethargy. from
which she was reused with start by
the hustle of passengers hurrying from
their places in the train.
Mechanically she followed them,
many curious glances following the
beautiful woman who was so ObliyiOus
to all about her.
The trst-clasS carriage which she
entered was empty. The guard closed
and locked the door, and the train
moved off.
| Two hours later she stepped out at 4
little, quiet wayside stopping place.
One carriage stood near.
"Iou know the Countess d'Aubig-
nys place." she said.
/ The man smiled. and answered yes,
respectfully touching his hat.
| 1t was not often lie drove such a fare
to such 4 destination. Generally the
countess own carriage met her guests.
But the season was late now. and the
chateau was almost deserted. 1t was
but whim of the countess to run
Gown here from time to time.
1t had grown quite dark when the
lodge was reached. She babe the driv-
err stop outside the gates. and entered
them on foot. A powdered turnkey. in
gorgeous livery, answered her peal al
the bell.
Madame la comtesse, is she at
home?' she asked
The man stared in undisguised amaze
at the beautiful woman who came on
foot to the chateau of the countess
alone and unattended. and vet adj
dressed him with the imperious man
ner of a princess. He hesitated mo.
ment in uncertainty.
MADAME Dimes" he said.stammer
ingly. "Unless important. she would
not wish to be disturbed
But as he spoke Flornece stepped