Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-10-03

There. there, cease struggling. Clarice.
You wish to be left alone for the pres
ent. will CO.
Shirley kept him waiting longer than
he had anticipated, and Mowbray had
just begun to ask himself If the des-
perate lover had taken UP station at
the front door step, to wait there until
.Clarice should make her appearance.
when he caught sight of Austin slowly.
dejectedly crossing the street and turn
ing the corner.
His walk and general appearance In
dicated so much desol:tion and disap-
pointment that Mowbray congratulate
ed himself on having prevented Clarice
from obtaining even a momentary
glance of her lover.
At the same moment he gently re-
Taxed his grasp and allowed her to free
herself Clarice flew to the window
and gazed wildly out up and down the
street.
But it was too late; there was no
trace of him whom her eyes sought.
She turned upon her father. her face
af'ame with anger and indignation.
"Your treatment of me is more than
cruel-it is monstrous!' she said. Be
ware, father! You will try my endur-
ance too far, and then I shall break
through all restraint!
AS the master of the house-for such
Mr. Mowbray was acknowledged to be
by every one in it-proceeded leisurely
along the wide corridor, he presently
met Leonce, the French II aid, at the
head of the stairs leading from the low
er hall, and directed her to go at once
to her mistress, who was not we'll and
required her care.
She had been the immediate cause of
Shirley Austin's delay in reaching the
corner of the street when Mowbray was
watching for him. Leonce had over
heard Susan's message to Shirley, and
she had run down stairs and out the
area way, where she had intercepted
Shirley and whispered to him:
Don't be discouraged, sir. My mis-
tress loves you still. and has always
loved you. That message never came
from her. don't quite understand
but she has been threatened. And there
are people who believe you killed Mr..
Grayson. You must imagine the rest
for yourself. Only be sure of one thing
madame loves you more than ever,
and you can win her yet. Take cour-
age!"
Before Shirley had recovered his
breath sufficiently to answer, she had
turned and was flying up the area
steps again; but he caught her hand
and whispered:
Heaven bless you, whoever you are.
Tell her that love her-that I adore
her-that I have never ceased to love
!, DIT 70 D13S1 lin
Grayson's death-No, say nothing!"
II will tell her that you are as limo
cent of that crime as she is herself, and
that know it, Leonce whispered back
again; then, wrenching her hand from
his grasp, she disappeared, and was the
next moment on the inside of the closed
door, where, for nearly minute Shir-
ley stood gazing after her, as though
she had been an apparition in broad
daylight.
Leonce fastened at once to her mis-
tress, and she was not surprised at
Clarice's agitation ana tears. Closing
the door carefully she crossed the
room rapidly, and flung herself at Mrs.
Graysor's feet.
ooh, madame!" she cried, in low,
fervent whisper, cit breaks my heart
to see you suffer; but have courage. He
knows now that the cruel message Su-
san brought was not from you. told
him so. Forgive me if it was forward
and mcddlesome, but I told him you
loved him still, and would always love
him, and he babe me tell you that he
had adored you always, and would love
you while he lived"
''Oh, you good girl-you good girl! I
shall love You forever for this kindness.
But, hush! No one in this house must
know what you have done-it would
only bring danger and suffering to the
man love more than my own life-a
thousand times"
Leonce colored with pleasure at her
mistress 'affectionate gratitude.
only forgive me, madame, for what
I am forced to do now, and believe me
that I am forced by a power beyond
my control to act as do. I am about
to leave madame's service, although
heaven knows I would rather imperil
my own life than do So"
ITO leave me, Leonce-to leave me
now, when you have become of such
value to me? Impossible! cannot let
you go! You are my only friend in the
house.
IF madam will pardon me for talk
ing so much of myself, and excuse the
telling of some painful facts, will try
to explain, and then madam will see
that l have no choice"
'Rise, Leonce" said Clarice, kindly,
and, pointing to chair, she bade her
n aid be seated. II will listen to you
with sympathy as well as with atten-
ton. Speak, and don't be afraid to tell
me the whole story of your life. I will
not be a hard judge"
Leonce caught her mistress slender
hand and pressed it to her lips.
Madam is goodness itself,'' she said.
And then she began her story, in
quick, hurried tones, dwelling little on
any special point in it, but giving it
with swift directness more effective
than the most elaborate preparation:
II never knew any parents. I was
founding. and reared as such. At the
age of twelve one of the ladies interest
ed in the institution observed that l
had small and delicate hands and
keen sense of touch, and through her
influence I was taught the art Of maxi
ing artificial flowers, and for time 1
did we'll at that work, till a season
came when there was a rage for foa Al