Hutchinson gazette., 1902-02-13

"Ahl you do not know what Won
dcrs love has wrought ere now" she
said, slowly, and just at that moment
Paul had q 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 shlpwrecks Of mortal
hopes
The countess smiled mocklngly,
"Ahl know whore your love has
strayed. | have watched you and the
whlte.faced doll you fancy, Listen!
| have implicated the sweet and unso'
phlstIcated Hildegarde with the polit.
ical plots that keep the pot boiling and
seethlng, Long ere you left the gar.
den q paper sent to her was In the
hands of the secret officials of Bis
marck,"
Paul started as II shot.
He began to understand the vlllainy
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 Hlldegarde was
instructed to pass on to the next agent,
who would carry It swiftly over the
border to Paris"
"And the cpher-what was II
about?' savagely.
"oh! simple recapitulation Of the
number Of men available whom Ger.
many could place on the border, and
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 authorlties?"
1T would only be fair In that way
| might save your intended victim"
"Ah! you do not dream what u 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 fIildegarde? At this very mo-
ment agents are watching this house.
believing | have come here to have a
secret conference with you about po
lltical matters"
81 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 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 stornly 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 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 II has aroused
all the devil in my nature. shall
have terrible revenge, do you hear
me, revenge best suited to such an
insult And now | will relieve you
Of my hateful presence, but you can
depend upon 1t, you are already q
marked man among the Kings sol.
diers, and guard will remain to
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 adventures glded from
the room and was escorted by him to
the lower door of the house.