The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-13
I.
A Chance Rencontre.

had gone by the previous boat. An old mar
Ike, woman with her basket. a fat priest III
a shabby cassock, Two or three American
girls, ard a boy artist who was sketchihs
the old woman as she sat, half asleep, VILE
her dog curled up beside her; a sprinkihe
OF men of various sorts, and at the emu VI
the bench Il girl who was not French nor
American. but Enthusiastically English, al
though she was not a tourist. for she was
reading and not gazing at the white build
irEs, the green trees or the long quays
bordering the ripping river on either side'
nor regarding the dim towers of Notre
Dame. relieved in delicate, gray unts
against n blue and white sky.
The steamer was nearing the landing
place. and the official had roared out in
stentorian tones, Observation-Disclosures
rde." when the English girl shut her book.
SHE was evidently going to land there.
Then one of the other passengers, a tall.
dark man. with a complexion bronzed by
much exposure TO tropical suns. and who
had been watching the girl. attracted by
her fair beauty, noticed a slight flush pass
over the face, a look of anxiety gather in
the large. clear eyes. She felt in her glove;
she felt in her pocket; she looked round her
ia INV uCNh a. Su6SA
Have you lost anything?'' he said. speak
ing In English, SO sure was he of her ma
tionality.
Yes: IL have lost my ticket-the little
brass token they give one" she answered
hurriedly. Il paid my penny. and I know
the man gave 1t me, but I must have
dropped It and 1t has rolled away"
He will remember and let you pass. 1
expect said the stranger.
ut wouldn't NATTER she continued. ''but
I have not another penny with me. I forgot
to put my purse in my pocket. Well. I
must try"
The boat had stopped now. n the few
passengers were fling of on to the wooden
pier. The girl stepped ashore and began
explaining her loss to the collector, but the
man was inclined to be rude and insisted
on repayment. Then the strange inter-
vened.
ALLOW me" he said. and he put two coins
into the officials dirty han Then they
passed on the bridge connecting the land
ing stage with the quay.
II am very much obliged to you," said
the girl earnestly: ''but-but how can I re-
pay your"
'.Oh, never mind that" ne said, smiling.
WE are fellow-country people. and you
must take the penny for old England's
sake. Good morning; I am glad to have
been of use to you"
. He lifted his hat and turned toward the
great square. and she stood a minute watch
ing him
Where have I seen him before?" she
said to herself. II know his facet know
his voice. Something about him makes me
think-I can't imagine why-of old Faim-
ford Church and the peaceful, old days
there" She still stood thinking. Then she
rave Q sudden start, and exclaimed almost
audibly:
why, I believe It IL he. OH! what a dolt
10 recolect beforel 1t IL he-the lost
man that they "a 30 badly. Oh! how
stupid. how frightfully stupid. I am! Is 1t
too later Can I catch him up?"
She hurried In the direction that the
stranger had taken, looking %anxfously
round to try and catch a glimpse Of his
tall form. h thought that he had intended
to cross past the obelisk to the corner of
the Tuileries Garden, but In the wide open
space. flooded with the May sunshine, the
and goers looked all alike, Just
blaok dots on the almost white
ground. But she felt cure he had gone In
direction. and she ran on, just as
she Wa near the Strasburg statue she
caught . glimpse Of q tall man, who GER
tafnly strongly resembled her friend Of the
steamer
II wish his legs were not quite 80 long,"
she thought - she painted after him. trying
not to attract public notice by overmuch
haste. u Jet determined not to lose sight
~ hlNH n0nfa se0ht hA O. ~atn~ !, <ha~> e.
her
The gentleman went lsisurely up toward
the Place vendome; then he turned into tho
Rue g. Honore. He was making for . GER
tain hotel favcred by quiet English folk.
The girl saw him turn In at the door
ere she VA able to overtake him. She gave
a little groan a. he disappeared into the
portal
TT b horridT" she muttered to herself;
''but I must do It." 80 she went boldly in.
That gentleman. M. Dennis" she said
hastily to one Of the walters who was stand
ing there. will you ask him-wiil you say
that I wish to speak to himf"
The mar went after the gentleman, who
turned back. He looked, she thought an
noyed a. he saw her.
You wish to speak to NOR he said
coldly.
The color famed up IN her cheeks As she
saw his expression. but she looked almost
densntiy In his eyes.
Yes" She said distinctly, though her
voice shook . little with the nervousness
which she sternly repressed. II aid not re-
member you Just now-not at frst-but you
are Mr.. godfrey Dennis."
BE stared. You know meis he said, IN
tones OF great astonishment.
Il nav you at Naiinford two years ago.
she said. ''but-but I should not have taken |
the liberty Of speaking to you-only-only I
feel sure that you do not know tho trouble
they are In because Of you"
"Troublei' he exclaimed. .Troublsb> |
cause Of met"
because OF your disappearance. rather
she said. ''They ave been seeking you ev-
erywhere. There has come q man who
claims to BE- III heir. who rays that he In
Maurice Dennfs's SON: and there is to be . !
lawsuit, and they are searching for You
everywhsre."
But you" he said. Yes. I remember |
you now. You once played the Dead |
March in Saur to me in Faimford Church. !
Are You living In Parish"
Yes: I Am At a Pension in the Rue de-
rUniversite. I am learning French there. I
C1cely E~vershed."
And 10 Frank Forwood marriedr'
mo: no- likely to be till this IL settled. |
But I u 90. oh, please. write home and
tell than where you are. You will, won't |
you?"
.syes NJ eorr,> = I'm ~.