Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31
CHAPTER XXI.
Madame Dupre's Story.


CHAPTER XXI
Madame Dupre's Story.
Madame Dupre's visit to Phil that Sum
day evening resulted In the old lady con-
ceiving so great . Hiking for the orphaned
and friendless boy that as soon as he was
able to 60 about the house she insisted upon
his spending much OF his time in her
rooms.
Usually Cover was included In the invi-
tation, and then he INDUCED In much nod
ding and winking in the direction Of the
hidden ring, but when Phil looked toward
the secret panel he shook his head In SOL
emn warning.
One day when he was feeling quite well
he went for drive with his mother. and
Phil was left alone with the old lady. To
her he had related the story of his life and
elected her warmest sympathy.
"And you have never heard from your ia
Their since your mother died! How very
strange" she said, as he finished his mar
rative.
Never: and he used to write so often
when mother was alive that feel sure he
must be sick, or-dead," he finished with a
sob, and the tears that had been bravery
suppressed now burst forth.
Poor child poor child exclaimed Mad
anne Dupre, quite overcome by this out
burst. But she said what she coaid 10
comfort him, and presently the sobbins
ceased.
"TIl go to Mr.. Glover now. madame, If
you'll please ring the bell"
/ In answer to 1t the tutor came and car
ried him away to his own room.
II don't see what ever made me such
baby!" Phil said when his friend had sue
ceeded in soothing him. I'm afraid mad
anne will never ask me to visit her again.
"And do You enjoy going there?'
Indeed I do; 1 like her room better than
any place except yours" answered he, ana
then lay back among the cushions with
closed eyes, until Mr.. Glover thought ne
had fallen asleep, when he suddenly opened
them and asked, DO you think she would
forgive me for being so foolish If should
write her a note and explain why l acted
so?"
ST am sure she would" said Mr.. Glover.
placing writing material on the table be-
side him.
Dear Madame: I hope you will forgive
me because made you so much trouble"
Phil wrote after many unsuccessful at
tempts to express himself. II did not
know what made cry; but Mr.. Glover
said it was because am so weak, and that
was why I could not stop, too. You were
very kind to me, and made you unhappy.
i0f WHICH an u " Phil" PHI LEWIS"
1.-THE dear boy!" cried Madame Dupre,
after reading the note that Mr.; Glover car car
he shall have it. cannot write now,
Mark. Just tell the lad there is nothing to
forgive, and he shall come to my room and
tell his troubles to me. He Is charming
charming!
After. that Phil spent many happy hours
with the old lady. She delighted to relate
the stirring events Of her past life to the
eager listener.
One day. when both were in her room,
Cover said: Nov, grandmamma, do tell
us the story of the ruby ring and about
your lost son. Phil has not heard 1t, and /
never tire of listening to II"
A shade of sadness passed over madame
face as she replied: VERY we'll, you shall
hear it. These old lips will not repeat 1t
many more times. I had hoped to i've
through the final chapter, but have lin
gered long and the book Is not yet I'M
ished."
Cover kissed his grandmother. begging
her not to talk so sadly. She returned his
caress and began:
"Your great-grandpapa and i were mar
ried in 1925. He was of an old family IN
France, as well as I, Cover, but he was a
younger son, and our income was 10 small
little chateau on the banks Of a clear,
sparkling river and here we lived con-
tented life, surrounded by friends ana
happy in each others love. We had been
married two years when one day-hoW well
1 remember it!-my husband. bidding me
goodbye, left for a days hunting. His
uncle and a servant were to JOIN MIN at
the edge of a forest near our home. On
tainment was in progress, for no other
than the king himself, with his court and
many of the great nobles were visiting at
a castle some miles away.
"For me the long hours OF the DAY drag
ged slowly by, and when twilight fell l
walked forth in the direction of the forest,
hoping to meet Jacques, whose return T!
was expecting every minute; twilight
faded into night, and I retraced my steps,
wild with anxiety. 1t was not till near
midnight that my husband returned-his
clothing torn and bloody. and suffering so
severely from a terrible wound In his shout
der that I forbore to question him until 1t
was dressed, and he was somewhat re-
| lieved.
az have, indeed, had an adventure to-
day. dear-so serious one, that as recall
| It I wonder that you are not a widow this
night! said he Uncle Victor and had no
sooner eaten our lunch than we parted; he
returned home with his servant, while de-
| cided to remain and finish out the days
| the morning.
"'About o'clock. as was preparing to
| go home, heard the baying of dogs in the
| distance. and concluded that party from
| the castle was also hunting in the forest
"I gave no thought to the mat
ter-save to wish that I might see
| the king-until a company OF eight or ten
| horsemen broke suddenly through the trees
and galloped directly toward me. wish
| ing all the time that they would follow
their own sport and leave me to mine.
when the man who was riding at their
head stopped before me, he appeared fear
| fully excited; so much so, that when he
attempted to speak he could only gasp. and
before he recovered another had spoken
for him, demanding If I had seen man rids
| by in mad haste. He described his dress
and said he was mounted on roam horse.
"T had seen no such person and so in
formed them. For a moment they eyed me
suspiciously, then the leader. speaking eau
tiously, told me to be on the lookout TO:
such man, as spy had entered the castle
and stolen some important private papers
of the king, that must be recovered at all
hazards.
"'How regretted that was not mount
ed that I might join In the pursuit! But
the horsemen, with scant courtesy, dash ed
away to the north. They were not gone
five minutes when the sound of galloping
hoofs was borne family to my ears from
the west-as 1 thought, and SO fast did they
approach that before I could collect my
wits, I saw through the branches OF the
shrubbery a man mounted on a roam horse.
1t was the thief! My first impulse was to
shoot him as he sped by, but I decided on
the instant that I must use other means
stop the horse and take the papers from
hinl-or lose my life in the attempt.
"'Quickly stepping behind tree await
| ed his coming. Fortunately he passed so
| close to me that to seize his horses bride
| was comparatively easy.
" Startled by my sudden appearance, the
| animal reared. throwing his rider to the
i L.