The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-17

hPoht OF picking Tie lock of on occtf-
ped house, as IL he were talking ~
opening snuff-bOx. lie was utterly
Indifferent TO the rain and sleet driv.
en- In his face by the gusts of wind
as he splashed about in the mud. try
ing TO find some way of entrance.
y must get a peep into that win.
dow he said, 'ahd will, cost what
st mayi"
Prosper seemed to suddenly re-
member something.
There is a ladder here" he cried.
why did you not tell me that be-
fore? Where is it?"
At the end Of the garden. under
the trees"
They ran TO the spot, and in a few
minutes had the ladder standing
against the wall
But TO their chargiu they found the
ladder six feet too short. Six long
feet of wall between the top Of the
ladder and the lighted window was a
very disccuraging sight to Prosper;
he exclaimed:
eve can not reach il
We can reach &c." cried NJ. Yer
durct, triumphantly.
And he quickly placed himself a
yard of from the house, and seizing
the ladder. cautiously raised it. and
rested the bottom round on hi,
shoulders, at the same time holding
the two uprights firmly and steadily
with his hands The obstacle was
overcome
Vow mount he said to his COM
panion
Prosper did not hesitate. The en-.
thusiasm of difficulties SO skillfulIy
conquered, and the hope of triumph.
gave him a strength and agility which
he had never iAagincd he possessed
He made a Sudden spring, and seizine
the lower rounds. quickly climbed up
the ladder, which swaye and trem.
bled beneath his weight.
But he had scarcely looked in the
lighted window when he Uttered cry
which was drowned in the roaring
tempest, and dropped like log down
on the wet grass. exclaiming:
''The villain. the villainl"
With wonderful promptness and
vigor, NJ. Verduret laid the ladder on
the ground, and ran toward Prosper.
fearing he was dead or dangerously
injured
What did you see? Are you hurt?"
he whispered.
But Prosper had already risen. AL
though he had had a violent fall, he
was unhurt; he was in a state when
mind governs matter so absolutely
that the body is insensible to pain.
II saw" ne answered. in a hoarse
voice, Il saw Madeleine do you un-
derstand, Madeleine in that room,
alone with Raoul"
N. Nerduret was coufounded Was
it possible that he, the ipfalible ex-
pert, had been mistaken in his deduc-
tions?
He we'll knew that NJ. de Lagors'
visitor was woman; but his own
and the note which Nine.
Gipsy had sent to him at the tavern,
had fully assured him that this wom-
an was Nine. Fauvel.
You must be mistaken" he said to
Prosper,
'No, monsieur, no. Never could /
mistake another for Madclcine. All /
you who heard what She said 10 me
answer me; was I 20 eX-
Pect such Infamous treason as this? /
You said TO me then, She loves YOU,
she loves you! Now do you think Sho |
loves me? Speak"
NJ. Verduret did nor answer. lie had
irst been 2tupened by his mistake, I
and was now racLing his brain TO dix |
cover the cause of it, which was soon
discerned by his penetrating mind.
This is the .ecret discovered hv
Nina continued Prosper Madeleine.
this pure and noble Madeleine. whom
| believed to be as immaculate as an
angel, is in love with this thief. Woo
has even stole the name he bears, and
l, trusting fool that l was, made This
my best friend. / conhded I
to him all my hopes and fears; ana |
he was her loyerl or course they |
amused themselves by ridiculing my /
silly devotion and blind confidence!
He stopped, overcome by his yio- |
lent emotions. Wounded vanity is the |
worst of miseries, The certainty OF
having been so shamefully deceived
and hefra.-ad rnadc pro-ntar almost in.