The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-12
CHAPTER III.
Search Thou NV Heart.


Search Thou My Heart.
"Only believe me, Lady Catharine and |
shall do everything I promised years ago
shall lay all France at your feet. But II
you deny me thus always, l shall make all
France a mockery."
Monsieur is fresh from the south Of
France" replied the Lady Catharne
knollys. Has Gascon wine perhaps put
Gascon speech into his mouth?"
''Oh. laugh If you like exclaimed Law
rising and pacing across the great room
In which these two had met. Laugh and
mock, but shall see
Granted that Mr. Law is we'll within
his customary modesty,' replied Lady
Catharinc, and granted even that Mr.
Law has all France in the hollow of his
hand to day. to do with as he likes, 1
must confess 1 see not why France should
suffer because l myself have found it diff
fcult to indorse Mr.. Laws personal code
Of morals"
1t was the third day after Laws entry
into Paris. and the first time for more
than two long years that he found himself
alone with the Lady Catharine Knollys.
his eagerness might have excused his
mpetuous and boastful speech.
AS for the Lady Catharine, that one
swift, electric moment at the street curb
mad well-nigh undone more than two
years or resolve. She had heard herself,
as 1T were in a dream, promising thai
this man might come. She had found
herself later In her own apartments pant
ing. wide-eyed, afraid. Some great hand,
unseen unlimited, mysterious, had swept
IuthleSSly across each chord of Womanly
reserve and resolution which so long she
had held well-ordered and absolutely I'M
der control. 1t was Self-distrust, fear
now compelled her to take refuge in this
woman's fence of speech with him.
'Surely.' argued she with herself, III
love once dies, then 1t Is dead forever.
and can never be revived. Surely" she
insisted to herself, my love is dead.
Then-ah. but then was it dead? Can nv
heart grow again?" asked the Lady Cath
arine of herself, tremblingly This was
that which gave her pause. 1t was this
also which gave to her cheek its brighter
color. to her eye a softer CLEAN; and to
her speech this covering shield Of badin-
age.
Yet all her defenses We're in a way to
be fairly beaten down by the intentness
OF the other. All things he put aside
or OVERRIDE, and would speak but Of him.
self and herself, Of his plans, his op-
portunities, and of how these were con-
cerned with himself and with her.
There are those who judge not SO
harshly as yourself, madam" resumed
Law. His grace the regent is good
enough to believe that my studies have
gone deeper than the green cloth Of the
gaming table. Now, I tell you, my time
has come-my day at last Is here. I tell
you that shall prove to you everything
which I said to you long ago. back there
In old England. I shall prove to you that
/ have not been altogether an idler and
. triher. I shall bring to you, as prom
ised you long ago, all the wealth, all the
distinction" ..., go
but such speech is needless, Mr.. Law
came the reply. II have all the wealth
! need, nor do I crave distinction, save
OF my own selection"
But you do not dream! This is a day
unparalleled. There will be such changes
here as never yet were known. Within
week you shall hear of my name ir
Paris. Within a month you shall heal
of 1t beyond the gates of Paris. Within
year you shall hear nothing else il
Europe"
LAS hear nothing else here now, mon
sieur?''
Like q horse restless under the snaffle
the man shook his head, but went on. III
you should be offered wealth more thar
any woman Of Paris, II you ha6
precedence over the proudest peers Of
France-would these things have nc
weight with your
You know they would not"
Law cast himself rsetlessly upon sea
across the room from her. II think do,
said he, dejectedly. "At times you drive
me to my wits end. What then, madam
would avail?'
why, nothing. 50 far as the past il
to be reviewed for you and me. Yet,
should say that. if there were two herr
speaking as you and I, and If they tw'
had no such past as We-then I coul(
fancy that woman saying to her friend
Have you indeed done all that lay within
you to do -
rs it not enough-?"
There is nothing. sir, that is enough
for a woman, but ALL"
II have given you ALL
"Au that you have left-after yourself.
SHARP, sharp indeed are your words
my lady. And they are most sharp be
cause they come with justice"
"Oh." broke out the woman, zone ma.
use sharp words who has been scorned 70
her own false friend! You would give m
all, Mr.. Law, but you must remember tina
It Is only what remains after that
that"
But would you, could you, have care,
had there been no that? Had done al
that lay in me to do could you then hav
given me your confidence, and coul
you have thought me worthy Of it?''
."Oh, ~
Yes If! IT, and as though and ii
that case'-these are all we have TO con
sole us in this life. But, sweet one"
''Sir, such words have forbidden" sal
Lady Catharine, the blood for one caus
or another mounting again into her cheek
"You torture MEL broke out Law.
LAS much as you have me? Is it s
much as that, Mr. Law"
He rose and stood apart. his head fall
ing in despair. ''As I have done thi
thing, so may God punish mel said he
IT was not fit, and am not. Yet I wa
bold enough to hope that there could b
some atonement, some thing-if my SUI
fering-'
There are things, Mr.. Law, for whic
no suffering atones. But why cause sui
fering longer for us both? You com
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