The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-13

the most trihing Incident mas destroy
the traces we are following up"
". Nerduret suddenly stopped be
fore door bearing The number ST.
1--WE arc going in here,' he said tc
Prosper; Come
They went up the steps.and stoppct
on the second floor. before a door ovei
which was a large sign, Fashionable
Dresstaaker."
a handsome bell-rope hung ON th,
wall. but NJ Nerdnret did not toucl
it. lie tapped with the ends Of his
fingers in peculiar way. and the door
instantly opened as f some one hat
been watching for his signal on the
other side.
The door was opened by neatly
dressed woman of about forty She
quietly ushered NJ. Verduret and Pros
per into neat dining-room with sew
cral doors opening into it,
This woman bowed humhly to VI
Nerduret, as If he was some superior
being
He seq y noticed her solutotion
but questt~ncd her with a look Hls
look said:
"Wel?"
She bowed atirmatiyely
Yes"
"ln there2" asked ". VerIuret. il
low tone. pointing To one of the
doors.
NO" said the woman, in tie same
tone; "over there, in the little par
lor"
NJ. Nerduret opened The door point
ed out aud pushed Prosper into th,
little parlor. whispering is he did So:
go in, and keep your preseace oi
mind"
But this injunction was useless -rht
irstant he cast his eyes around the
room into which he had so mnceee.
moniously been pushed without wara
ing, Prosper exclaimed in startled
voice;
Madeleine"
1t was indeed NJ Fauyrrs niece
looking. more beautiful than ever
Hers was that calm digni6ed beauty
which imposes admiration and ne.
spect.
Standing in the middle Of the room
near a table covered with silks aud
satins, she was arranging a skirt Of
red velvet embroidered ia gold; prob
ably the dress She was to wear as
maid OF honor 20 Catherine dc Medi.
els.
At sight of Prosper AN the blood
rushed to her face, and her beautiful
eyes half closed, as if she were about
TO faint; she chung 10 the table to pre-.
vent herself from falling.
Prosper well knew that Madeleine
was not one of those cold-hearted
women whom nothiHg could disturb
and who feel sensations, but never a
true sentiment.
OF a tender. dreamy nature, she be.
trayed in the minute details of her
life the most exquisite delicacy. But
she was also proud. and incapable Of
in any way violating her conscience
When duty spoke, she obcyed
She recovered from her momentary
weakness, and the soft expression OF
her eyes changed to one of naughty
resentment.
In an offended tone, she said:
what has emboldened you, mon,
sieur, TO be watching my movementsi
Who gave you permission TO follow
me, 10 enter this house2"
Prosper was certainly innocent. He
would have given worlds to explain
what had just happened, but he was
powerless, and could only remain 81.
lent
you promised me upon your hon
or, monsieur" continued Madeleine,
''that you would never again seek my
presence. Is this the way you keep
your word?"
II did promise mademoiselle,
but"
He stopped.
"Oh, speak,
$50 many things have happened
since that terrible day, that | think
l am eNcusable in forgetting for one
hour, an oath torn from me in mo.
ment of blind weakness. II is to
chance, at least TO another will than
my own, that i am indebted for the
happiness of once more finding my.
self near you. Alas. the instant
saw you my heart bounded with joy.
I did not think-no, could not think
that you would prove more pitiless
than strangers have been. that you
would cast me of when I am so mis-
cradle and heart-broken"
Had not Prosper been so agitated.
ne could have read IN the eyes Of
Madeleine-those beautiful eyes