The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-12-24
EHAPTER Nv.


ranking in her breast for hours The
interview between her father and Rose In
the morning the hint at a confession. the
thousand slight yet convincing tokens or
feeling witnessed that afternoon ana
evening in her close yet silent and
stealthy watch over actions and words.
something peculiar in the manner of the
marquis. aud the occasional gay yet mys-
ferrous tests of the Count de Clairville-
all combined to awaken within her the
Interest and most tormenting dlStrust
and suspicion
II will know will know she said
to herself. A little while she waited. till
she was able to assume manner of per-
feet composure, and then. lifting an ala
buster lamp from the toilet, she crossed
the gallery and entered the apartment OPP
tosite.
Rose had dismissed her maid and was
brushing out her hair whose rich folds,
falling around her light shape, almost
concealed it with their shining veil She
turned from the mirror as Mademoiselle
Montauban entered. aud lovely smile
frightened over her sweet face.
"Ah, | am so glad you have come,
Helenr' she said, running TO her and
throwing those fair, snowy arms about
her in an innocent. loving and happy en-
brace.
Add Helen Montauban, bending her
beautiful head, calmly and with seeming
kindness and affection. kissed Rose on her
forehead. The girl shuddered.
How cold you are. Helen Are you
fill? Your lips are like ice!''
mo, | am not ill. dear child, and |
think It must be because you are so
warm so excited. so happy, that you inn
sgine me to be cold. l have come to sit
with you little while before | retire"
you were kind to come | wanted to
see you was waiting for you" She
sat down by the side of MademOiselle
Montauban and put her arms about her
again.
well, you wished to see me-is that
ALP asked Helen. attempting something
like playfulness in her manner.
II wished TOTO tell you something,
and now | have not the courage" Rose
hid her face on her companions breast
again. Helen, it was about-Louis."
Those sweet eyes were hidden: it was
well; they could not see the stony fierce
ness of that Wild white face above. that
timid confession was made.
Helen Montauban. crushing with calm
and terrible force the Thousand mad emo
tons In her breast, that struggled to have
way. compelled herself to utter, softly:
Go on, Rose: am interested-I am
listening: go on
And Rose told her all-al, from begin
ming to end, with her fair head lying on
that stormy heart, whose gathering fires
her innocent. whispered. bashful words
fed with fearful sustenance. Helen
Montauban listened She heard all this
every word. every syllable of this con-
fession. and each word. each syllable,
struck her with a deadly blow. The de-
hberate stab Of the midnight murderer
tells with no deeper power. Yet she list
ened. and stirred not: she spoke some
times, made some remark or comment.
and then listened again. There was n
Kind of savage agony within that dwelt
upon that simple love story in its every
detail, and cOmprehended 1t with sharp
aud greedy eagerness: but al the close, all
memory OF those details departed All
that was left of that story. gathered into
three w0rds-three single words. that
Rose. with bashful joy, whispered as she
tnished: He loves me-Louis loves mew
And Helen Montauban said to herself.
He loves another: he does not love mer'
The words were branded into her heart:
they were written there in characters of
FIRE; they were ineffaceable.
You are not going YETI do not go yet.
dear Helen murmured Rose. Stay
with me little longer"
Her soft eyes. raised so tenderly. 40
pieadingly, to that face, shone with a
divine beauty. The gold-tinged tresses.
flowing about her graceful head, were
like the glory that surrounds the brow Of
saint. Thus seemed this young girl. as
she stood before the dark. stately Helen
whose proud face was calm and quiet.
whose splendid eyes shot forth no shaft
of the smothered fire within.
But Helen MOntauban uttered some
gentle words and turned away. She babe
Rose q pleasant good night before she
went out. and then. taking her by the
hand. bent down once more and kissed
her. With that kiss she swore hatred
undying. eternal; revenge. speedy and
sure. to the one who had robbed her OF
his love. And Rose sought her pillow TO
dream such dreams as youth and joy
may bring. even while hate and revenge
with sieepless eyes, watched over her.
Helen Montauban secured herself In the
privacy and stiffness OF her chamber. and
putting her lamp on her own dressing
table. threw herself upon the couch, not
to sleep. The spirit OF rest fed from
those eyes, that gloomed upon vacancy.
There was no peace for that heart, beat
Ing with hard. fierce. heavy throbs be-
meath its silken vesture. Still those words
burned upon it their scorching characters
he loves another
~.