The Lamar register., 1902-04-23

"Ah! you do not know what won.
ders love has wrought ere now" she
said. slowly, and just at that moment
Paul had a faint glimpse of the natural
woman beneath the coquette.
Such remarkable women have
lived at all times since the days of
Cleopatra and Anthony. and their pass
age through the world is always
strewn with the shipwrecks of mortal
hopes
The countess smiled mockingly
"Ah! l know where your love has
strayed. l have watched you and the
white-faced doll you fancy. Listen.
| have implicated the sweet and unso
phisticated Hildegarde with the polit-
ical plots that keep the pot boiling and
seething. Long ere you left the gar
den paper l sent to her was in the
hands of the secret officials of Bis
marck"
Paul started as il shot
He began to understand the villainy
of which Jealous and INSCRIPTIONS
woman might be guilty.
What did that paper contain? de-
mand that you answer mel" 'he cried,
showing signs of excitement at last.
Apparently cipher which could be
easily read. and which Hildegarde was
| instructed to pass on to the next agent
who would carry 1t swiftly over the
border to Paris"
And the cipher-what was it
about?" savagely.
"Oh! simple recapitulation of the
number of men available whom Ger
| o,,II 81, a
some hints as to the best line of march
French army could take on the road
to Berlin"
| Paul hated her at that moment worse
than he had hated any one in all his
life.
She read his thoughts. "You mean
to betray me to the authorities?"
TT would only be fair In that way
might save your intended victim"
"Ah! you do not dream what hor-
nets nest you would bring down about
your ears II you attempted that. And
do you think they would believe you,
whose name was signed to the note
| gave Hildegarde? At this very mo.
ment agents are watching this house
believing l have come here to have a
secret conference with you about po.
litical matters"
Il am LOST" he groaned.
walt. There is a chance of escape
You mean you have terms to pro
pose"
Fly with me. can outwit even
Bismarck's bloodhounds. We can reach
Russia. where we will be safe. Only
promise that you will be faithful to
me while life lasts. 1t is all ask
all l care for. With that | can well
say good-by to the world"
Eagerly she waited for his answer.
1t came speedily enough.
Paul folded his arms. he drew him
self up to his full height, and looked
her sternly in the eyes.
Before | would reward such base
treachery would thrust my hand into
the fire and let 1t burn to the stump
His words completed her demoraliz
alton. and she threw aside the mask.
You cast the offer of my love away
like a tattered glove Well. | shall
live for revenge. Monsieur Paul. You
will curse the stupidity of this hour
shall find means to wiring your proud
cold heart. No man ever treated me
as you have done. and it has aroused
all the devil in my nature. I shall
have terrible revenge. do you hear
me. a revenge best suited to such an
insult. And now I will relieve you
of my hateful presence. but you can
depend upon it. you are already a
marked man among the Kings sol
diers. and guard will remain tc
watch your future actions. Mine you
were. and no other shall possess what
fortune has denied to me-" and. with
flashing eyes, in which he saw murder
rampant the adventuress glided from
the room and was escorted by him tc
the lower door of the house.