Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-03-27

6be Ne6e,
Arabian !
., Nights


| was 10 project tneSe tnlC he laQ ntteo
the place with steel shutters, elaborate
fastenings and chevaux de frise along
the garden wall. He lived much alone
in spite Of some strange visitors with
| whom it seemed he had business to
transact, and there was no one else in
the house except mademoiselle and an
old woman servant.
lis mademoiselle his daughter?" in
quired Francis. ~
"Certainly." replied the porter. MA
demoiselle is the daughter of the house,
and strange it is to see how she is made
to work. For all his riches, it is she
who goes to market, and every day in
the week you may see her going by
with basket on her arm"
"And the collectiOns?" asked the 9th
er.
"Sir,'' said the man. they are i'm
mensely valuable. More cannot tell
you. Since NJ. de Vandeleur's arrival
no one i'll the quarter has so much as
passed the door,
suppose not" returned Francis.
"You must surely have some notion
what these famous galleries contain.
Is it pictures, silks, statues, jewels or
WHAT"
MY faith, Sir said the fellow, with
a shrug, lit might be carrots, and still
l could not tell you. How should I
, know? The house is kept like a garri-
son, as you perceive"
And then as Francis was returning
disappointed to his room the porter
called him back.
Il have just remembered. Sir" said
| he. M. dc Eandeleur has been in all
parts of the world, and l once heard
the old woman declare that he had
brought many diamonds back with
him. II that be the truth, there must
be a fine show behind those Shutters"
By an early hour on Sunday Francis
was in his place at the theater. The
seat which had been taken for him was
only two or three numbers from the
left hand side and directly opposite one
of the lower boxes. AS the seat had
been specially chosen there was doubt
less something to be learned from it's
position, and he judged by an instinct
that the box upon the right was, in
some way or other, to be connected
with the drama In which he ignorantly
played a part. Indeed it was so stu
ated that it's occupants could safely
observe him from beginning to end of
the piece, if they were so minded,
while, profiting by the depth, they
could screen themselves sufficiently
we'll from any counter examination on
his side. He promised himself not to
leave it for a moment out of sight, and
while he scanned the rest of the thea
| ter or made show of attending to the
business OF the stage he always kept
a corner of an eye upon the empty box.
The second act had been some time
| in progress and was even drawing to-
ward a close when the door opened and
two persons entered and ensconced
themselves in the darkest of the shade.
Francis could hardly control his emo
ton. 1t was Mr.. Vandeleur and his
daughter. The blood came and went
in his arteries and veins with stunning
activity; his ears sung; his head turned.
He dared not look lest he should awake
suspicion. His playful. which he kept
reading from end to end and over
again, turned from white to red before
his eyes, and when he cast a glance
| upon the stage it seemed intellectually
| = gestures of the actors to the last de-
gree impairment and absurd.
From time to time he risked a mo-
mentary look in the direction which
principally interested him, and once at
least he felt certain that his eyes en-
countered those of the young girl. A
shock passed over his body, and he
saw all the colors of the rainbow.
What would he not have given to over
hear what passed between the Vande-
leurs? What would he not have given
: for the courage to take up his opera
glass and steadily inspect their attitude
3 and expression? There, for aught he
knew, his whole life was being de-
cided, and he not able to interfere, not
even able to follow the debate, but con-
demned to sit and suffer where he was
in impotent anxiety.
|! At last the act came to an end. The
[ curtain fell, and the people around him
began to leave their places for the inter-
> val. It was only natural that he should
follow their example, and If he did so
it was not only natural, but necessary,
y that he should pass Immediately in
: front of the box in question. Summon.
ing all his courage, but keeping his eyes
& lowered, Francis drew near the spot.
His progress was slow. for the old gen.
= tleman before him moved with incredi-
bic elaboration. wheeling as he went
What was he to do? Should he ad-
dress the Vandeleurs by name, as be
:,E.s!,s 81. Rxh $b9Ma: IS;