The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-03

| 20 DE Lorgnac, but hld my curiosity ana
asked no questions. and there was no fur
ther speech between my husband and my
| self until we come 10 our destination. As
! We entered the courtyard OF the Hotel oe
1 Termes all appeared 10 be hustle and
| confusion within. and the nare OF torches
fell on moving figures hurrying 10 and fro
on saddled horses and packed mules ana
on the fash and CLEAN OF arms. My
surprise overcame my resolve of silence,
and / asked out aloud. Surely Nine. oe
Termes Is not leaving Paris?'
News has come that the vtcomte is
grievously III In his government or PERL
guex, and madame is Fastening there.
"And we travel with herr THERE IL
is impossible. monsieur. that l can face
40 long journey without some prepa-a-
tion. IL Is cruel 10 expect this OF me-.
1T is the kings order that we leave
Paris tonight. and have done my best"
Say your worst, monsieur II will be
more correct" And then we came TO
the door. We appeared 10 be expected,
for We ware at once ushered up the stair
way into a large reception room, whore
madame stood almost ready 10 start, for
her cloak was lying on n chair and she
held her mask I'm her hand. She came for
ward 10 meet US, but as the light fell ON
my face she started back with little cry:
"You, Denise you'll Ny dear | did not
know II was you who were to travel with
me. You are thrice welcome" And she
took me IN her arms and kissed my cold
cheek IL was but told" she went on,
that lady travelling TO Cheyenne would
join my party which would be escorted
by M, de Lorgnac. But what Is the mat
ter. child? You are white as a sheet and
shiver all over. You are not fit for long
journey
M de Lorgnac thinks otherwise. ma
dame"
luta a. \ 81 rlat Ao. H..
TO do with it?" And the spirited old
lady, one arm around my waist. turned
and faced my husband, who stood a little
way Off. fumbling with the hat he held
in his hand.
1T is a wlfe's duty to obey. madame.
not TO question:
felt her arm tighten round my waist.
and, j, too turned and faced DE lorgnac.
who looked like great dog caught at
"a wife's duty to obey!" exclaimed
madame But that does not concern
you. Stay What do you mean, child?'
II mean. madame, that / was mar
ried TO NJ. de Lorgnac scarce an hour
ago"
Her hand dropped from my side and
she looked from one to the other OF us
I'm amazement.
1T is for my husband to explain" /
said bitterly. 1T is for the gentleman
TO whom we are to trust our likes on
this journey TO say In bow knightly q
manner he can treat a woman"
And there De Lorgnac stood. both of
us looking at him, his forehead burn
Ing and his eyes cast down Even then
a little pang of pity went through me
10 see him thus humbled, so strangely
does God fashion the hearts OF us wo-
men. But l hardened myself / was
determined to spare him nothing and
to measure out in full TO him a cup OF
bitterness for the draft he had made
me drink.
Speak mani" exclaimed madame.
Have you no voiceT'
He works In silence. madame 1
burst in with an uncomfortable gust OF
anger; ''he lies In silence. Shall / tell
you what has happened? i Denise de
Mieux. am neither more nor less than
NJ. de Lorgnac's price the hire he has
received for business he has TO per-
form for the king. What IL Is / know
not-perhaps something that no other
gentleman would undertake. All that
know is that / and my estates of
Mieux have become the property OF
this man who stands before us and IL,
God help me, my husband Madame,
five hours ago | had not spoken ten
words to him I'm my life, and now /
am here as much his property as the
valse his lackey bears behind his sad
die"
Hush. dear BE still You forget
yourself" And madame drew me once
more TO her side and turned to my hus-
band
rs II true, Blaise de Lorgnac, or
Is the child Ill and raving? Answer.
manv
1T is,". he answered hoarsely, "every
word"
In the silence that ensued / might
have heard my glove fail, and then
madame. with stiff little bow to my
husband. said. Pray excuse me for a
moment" and stepped out OF the room
He would have heeld the door for her.
but she waved him aside, and he moved