Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-12-11


French lieutenant pleased him little.
She was playing a part perhaps, but it
to him that she entered into
the fun, II fun it was, with a quite un.
called for amount of zest and enjoy
ment. Cordelia only replied, Every
well.' in her coolest tones and took up
the running with Francois immedi.
ately.
Now, Francois had had his own prep
to make for the reception of
his fair guest Early in the morning
after shaving he had occupied himself
in lis cabin by taking down the photo
graphs of the girls of yesterday, his
former conqUests, and hiding them in
a book. 1t was not desirable that the
present and the past should meet. So
Coralie Of the Opera Comique and
handsome Marie Girrol of Aarseilles,
the girl who lives beyond the market.
were deposed.
Now, it must be understood that
Francois in the depth of his conscious
ness recognized the tleeting character
of his own regard for the English girl,
yet he desired above all things on earth
to leave upon her memory q tender
recollection of himself that should new
err be effaced. In the future he would
dwell with delicate pleasure upon the
knowledge that faraway Cordelia Len
nard still sighed for his loss. still treas
ured his words and looks in her heart.
Even when married to some dull,
coarse grained British husband she
would turn back through the years
with appreciation of the superb young
lover of long ago.
Filled with these praiseworthy inten-
tons, he fluttered about her, eLdeavor-
ing to deepen the impression he believ-
ed himself to have already made. The
wind had blown the soft chestnut curls
about her brow, her ears, her neck. and
she seemed more than ever adorable.
He took her below TO show her where
her lieutenant lived. He fancied she
would always picture him there, his
hair wet with the spindrift of the
stormy seas and other heroic concomi-
tants. She would make that cabin the
home of her romance. AS a matter of
fact, she didn't. She merely thought
it stuffy, but was too civil (and inter-
ested to say SO.
BY an unfortunate mistake she put
her hand upon book that lay upon
the table, the book into which Fran.
co.'s had put the yesterdays. A yester-
day fell out. 1t was striking photo.
graph of Coralie of the Opera. Fran.
co.'s picked it up skillfully.
"My beloved mother" he said, "be.
fore her marriage to the hero. my ia,
Their"
"Which?" asked Cordelia innocently
She had caught sight of more thar
one.
"The others are my sisters" he has
tened to add.
you have great many sisters" she
remarked, with interest. How many?'
Now, Francois had no means Of
knowing the exact number of yester
days which Miss Lennard's sweet blue
eyes had seen, SO he left an easy mar
gin and answered.:
"Fourteen!"
Really? Fourteen? Do let me SCI
Them
Spare me your eyes. your
"Where are you. Cordelia? Time.
up" Tho colonel's big voice roilet
through the open door from the mess
room.
"You are coming ashore tomorrow
asked Cordelia timidly. "We-wc coul,
20 over the fort. Your friends nigh
like to come also?"
Francois was transported with hi
luck.
"Alas, dear mademoiselle," he re
| piled, with what joy and dispatcl
| would l come. To see the fort nat
urally affords me precisely the eXcus
/ need to bring some of my comrade
with me. but that favor is denied to L
by your jealous country"
Cordelia stood for second thought
full.
"Should you really care to come:
she asked demurely at length.
The ardor Of his reply left nothing t
be desired.
"Then l think can manage it. NJ,
| father always allows me to do us
like. Why should we not go owe. til
fort?" She looked inquiringly at him
"But Captain Cannon : what o
him?" Some instinct told Francoi
that Cannon's red head held the acute:,
| material available at Fort Tcheu.
Cordelia opened her eyes with Ger
| tain digaiiied establishment.
Are you not aware that my father Il
the commandment
Had Francois belonged to any othe
race he must have betrayed his rea
meaning by sorle useless denial AS /
was, he tried TO touch the fingers tina
somehow elnded his. while he reptile,
with Il fine theatrical earrestness:
Il comprehend that. dear mademoi
selle. but were NJ. lie Capitaine Can
non | should use every ;srtitce to keel
other men from worsliring at til,
shrine Of my own devotion"
Cordelia colored.
My father is calling me-" she an
swered coidly.
He followed her on deck, trying t.
soften her evident annoyance. but i
was only al the last moment. when sh,
was already on the gangway. that hi
ventarcd to Whisper. ~ demain?" bu
Cordelia gave no sign.
Thus cactlle. day passed. The Re
becca arrived with coal and the littl,
gunlcat WIS Cling NJ her bunker.
when Francois in desperation sent al