The Washington times., 1902-12-07

swerved him aside by sheer force OF
muscular power. Was the man a giant
in disguise or an apparition? The coach
man saw him stoop quickly and pick up
a small child. who had stumbled and
fallen directly IA fruut Of the horsss.
Having thus plueked the child as light
ly as feather from under the heels Of
the stiH rearing and pIungiug animals.
the stranger deposited his human urden
in place OF safety ami now approached
the carriage. He was prompted 70 do
this by seeing the anxious aud inquiring
faces OF the two women through the
open window. Il was Just at this mo-
ment-he had taken of his hat upon
coming mar the carriage and was pre-
plring TO explain the narrow escape Of
the child-that the moon came out from
behind a cloud and revealed his face
Nine. Le Garde and Jeanette saw re-
markable face-paIe with the unnatural
pallor Usuel1y associated with proIracted
study and indoor. life. But the face b.
lied the powerful physique OF the stran-
ger, who had picked up the child with
one hand and with no more apparent ef-
for- than a duelist welding a rapier.
had thrown one of the Dlunging horses
of his feet with the other.
But it was his strangely piercing eyes
that at once attracted and fascinated
both the women-eyes that seemed to
color with the varying thought Of their
owner. They would glow one moment
until they gave one the impression OF a
jungle animal at bay and the next mo-
ment were entirely devoid Of Iustre.
Jeanette was particularly affected, as
the stranger now rested them upon her
with a searching and yet furtive per-
sistence. Where had she seen the man
before? CoulA she be mistaken in the
familiar features ana bearing OF the
stranger thus suddenly accosted2 She
was vaguely conscious OF note being
struck upon her heart striugs-a note
that had been struck by someone some
where before. All this flashed through
her mind with telepathic instancy. She
was recalled to he-seiif by the man. with
an air Of apology, saying:
There Is no harm done. It was only
a child who stumbled and fell in the
road So Madame and Mademoisene
need not be at all alarmed"
But are you not hurt yourself. mon
sieur?" inquired jeanette.
mo. But it is kind OF madem0iselle to
ask-very kind"
Something in the vibrant resonance
Of the voice carried Jeanette back 10 the
forest Of Fontaine5leau-to the scene OF
her remarkable adventure with the
young man whom she had thought mad
at the time. Surely she was not mistaken
in the eyes, and particularly in the
voice that was addressing her.
Madame La Csrde broke this tran
sient reverie by saying;
only for your presence OF mind and
promptness, Monsieur, we might have
had a distressing accident II Monsieur
will call at the Chateau de Cour-Neuve
tomorrow. he may expect a suitable re-
ward" Perhaps it was the slightly pa
tronizing tone in which this was said
that prompted a response in which
amusement and a shade Of reproach
were mingled:
"One deserves no reward for saving
a life, Madame. But Mademoiselle has
already promised me one reward"
Surely you are mistaken" Jeanette
managed to calculate.
"MademoseHe vaubernier does not re-
member our meeting at Fontainebleau?"
"Yes-yes. remember now the queer
fortune that was told me there"
My reward-I will come for it at
Versailles.
Versailles? What Jeanette. the fell
low is either a fool or''-Madame La
Garde continued. sinking her voice into
whisper sorcerer. What does he
mean?"
Before Jeanette could frame a reply
the spirited horses. growing more rest
less and unmanageable as the delay was
prolonged. started Of. leaving the mys-
Iterious stranger alone in the road. When
Jeanette looked back soon afterward the
man had disappeared as though he had
| been swallowed up by the darkness-for
/ the moon had hidden her face behind a
cloud.
] (To Be Continued Next Sunday.)