The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-11-26

The obstacle was
"Now mount" he said to his compan-
ion.
The situation was distressing for
Prosper, but he did not hesitate. He
made n sudden spring and, selling the
lower rounds, quickly climbed up the
ladder, which swayed and trembled
beneath his weight But his head had
scarcely passed above the lighted win
dow when he uttered Il cry which was
drowned In the roaring tempest and
dropped like q log down on the wet
grass, crying:
1.-THE villaini The villainl'
With wonderful promptness and Wig
or NJ. Verduret laid the ladder on the
ground and ran toward Prosper, fear
ing he was dead or dangerously In
jured.
"What did you seer Are you hurt2"
he whispered.
But Prosper had already risen. AL
though he had had q violent fall, he
was unhurt.
al saw" he answered IN q hoarse
voice-"I saw Madeleine-do you I'M
derstand, Madeleine?-in that room
alone with Raoul."
NJ. Vcrduret was COMPOUNDED. Was
it possible that he, the infallible ex-
pert, had been mistaken in his deduc-
tions2
He we'll knew that M. de Layers Wis.
itor was q woman, but his own conjec-
lures and the note which Nine. Gypsy
had sent to him ut the tavern had fully
assured him that this woman was
Nine. Fauyel.
"You must be mistaken" he said to
Prosper.
mo, monsieur; no. Never could I
mistake another for Madeleine. All,
you who heard what she said to me
yesterday, answer me. Was / to eX-
pect this infamous treachery? You said
to me then, She loves you, she loves
your"
M. Verduret did not answer. He had
first been stupeficd by his mistake and
was now racking his brain to discover
the cause of it, which was soon dis
ccrned by his penetrating mind.
"This is the secret discovered by
Nina" continued Prosper. "NGadeleine,
tLiiS pulS uIll DOOiC AtlutiClSiilt, w HULL Il
believed to be rs immaculate as an
angel, is alone with this thief who has
even stolen the name he bears, and ],
trusting fool that L was, made him my
best friend. 1 confided to him all my
hopes and fears, and he was hey loverl
OF course they ridiculed my absurd de-
votion and stupid confidenceT"
GLOW do we know" said M. Verdu-
ret, "that Mile. Madeleine is here on
her own account? Did we not come to
the conclusion that she was sacrificing
herself for the benefit of some one9
That superior will which compelled her
to your dismissal may have brought
about this step tonight"
That which comedies with our secret
wishes is always eagerly welcomed.
This superstition, apparently improba-
BILE, appealed to Prosper.
"That might be the case" he said.
"Who knows2"
II would soon know" said M. Yer
duret, "if I could see them together In
that ROOM"
Prosper thought a moment.
"Will you promise Inc, monsieur, to
WI iiS tIS SAtS XII ShaS sou
see and hear, no matter how painful 1t
may be for me?"
II swear 1t, upon my word of honor"
Then, with n strength Of which a
few minutes before he would not have
believed himself possessed, Prosper
raised the ladder and placed the last
round on his shoulder.
Mount" he said.
NJ. Vcrduret rapidly assembled tho
ladder without even shaking 1t till his
head was on a level with the window.
Prosper had seen but too well. There
was Madeleine at this hour of the
night alone with Raoul de Layers.
She still wore her wraps. She was
standing In the middle Of the room,
talking with great animation. Her at
titude, her look, her gestures, betrayed
indignant scorn. Raoul was seated on
a chair by the fire, stirring up the
Goals with q pair Of tongs. Every low
and then he would shrug his shoulders,
like q man resigned to everything he
heard and had no answer except, II
cannot help It,"
M. Verduret would willingly have
BlNSIl Nv Nittlilollt IlllS hO WIN VII Liz
finger to be able to hear ten words Of
what was said, but the roaring wind
completely drowned their voices, and
he dared not place his ear too close,
for fear of being seen.
"They are evidently quarrellng," he
thought, "but it is not q lovers quar-.
rel"
Madeleine continued talking, and 1t
was by closely watching the face Of
Layers. clearly revealed by tho lamp
on the mantel, that M. Yerduret hoped
to discover the meaning Of the cen
At times Layers would start and trem-
BILE in spite of his apparent indiffer-
ence; then he would strike at the fire
with the tongs, doubtless giving vent
to his rage at some reproach uttered
by Madeleine. Finally Madeleine, clasp
ing her hands, knelt before him. He
turned away his head and refused to
answer save In monosyllables. Sever
al times she turned to leave, but each
time returned, as If asking a favor and
unable to go till she had obtained 1t.
At last she seemed to have uttered
something decisive, for Raoul suddenly
rose and opened n desk near the fire.
place, from which he took q bundle of
papers and handed them to her.
"H'mW thought Nj. Yerduret. "What
does 1t mean? Is 1t n compromising
nN IN, Do,ND~11 s.Do xrIt.I H. ....A L. -.