Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-09-24
CHAPTER Tv.--tcopsInued.D !

hose was very proud OF her fi0weri
and she loved them. too. This mornin
she had brought the first OF the rar
white roses which had opened In th
warm sunshine on her favorite tree. sh
was continuing her way, when q shade,
fell across the sunlIt path, and startle
her. Raising her head, she beheld he
cousin Gasparde.
Good morning, Mademoiselle Rose,
he said.
Carelessly and briefly she returned hl
aalutatIon, and was hurrying on to "a
cape from bis unwelcome presence, whel
he laid bis hand on her arm.
stop a moment, Cousin Rose: wan
to ask you = question. came over 4
the cottage n moment ago, and foun'
neither your father nor yourself at home
| wanted TO see him on business.
caught sight OF you coming along the roa,
here. and 70 hurried on 10 overtake 20,
10 ask you where he H."
He IL ut the house Of neighbor An
tolne, | believe" answered Rose, coldly
"at least, he said he was going there. Bul
let me go, II you please, Gasparde." ant
she slipped her arm away from his hand
whose llghtest touch was dlsagreeablC
TO her-"let me go; am In a great hurry
] am going TO the chateau"
20. are your he said. coldly; then
will accompany you AS far as neigrbol
Antolne's, where may meet your faith
er One always likes company on SC
lonely road as this"
a al A.s IL Il. s..Lt
some gay air from time TO time; but he
did not speak again for long while
Rose was In dread lest the subject OF dis,
cussion which had arisen between them
the night before should be renewed But
he kept on, whlstling and mcditating by
turns, without recurring 10 Il; aud hop
Ing, as they went on. that he did not
mean to trouble her with Il again, she
began to feel somewhat relieved.
At length, however, he stopped whist
ling and glanced down at his compan.
Ions face.
"They say the Count d'Artois has ar.
rived at the chateau" he remarked.
Rose was silent, though she saw some
rejoinder was expected.
II suppose there will be gay doIngs
there now" he went on. seeing that she
ala not mean to speak; "for the eonnf
Ia gay man, and not a very good one,
either" he added, malieiously, though
he knew nothing whatever OF the counts
character. people tell that he Is a
great spendthrift."
Yet Rose was silent, though her cheeks
grew hotter. 1t was nothing to her what
character the gentleman might bear;
for was she not almost an utter stranger
TO hlm2 But she had seen him, and con.
ceived 9 good opinion OF him. and she
was ashamed aud indignant at Gas
parde's mlschievous, ill-natured remarks,
Report says, too" continued Gas
parde, "that he Is about 10 marry his
beautiful cousin, Mademoiselle Helen.
The contract was made years ago. What
do you think OF all that, Cousin RoseT'
for he was determined, by direct ques.
tion, to make her speak TO him.
II think you are very wicked and very
disagreeable." she answered plainly, "in
pulling other peoples characters to
pieces, and . gossip who NEEDLES with
other peoples affairs. Fie on you, Gas
parde! am ashamed OF you;" and she
hurried on.
Hard words-hard words, Mademoi-
selle," said Gasparde, speaking In a care
less tone. and biting his lips to conceal
the vexatIon caused by her sharp reproof;
"hut coming from such pretty lips, | new
er could take them for earnest In the
world. Do you know, Cousin Rose,
have heard 1t said that woman ever
treats worst the man she best likes; SO
take your hard handling for so many
compliments, and feel quite fattered by
them"
Rose grew little paler; but she neith-
er looked at nor answered him. And still
she hurried on, glad that she was so near
the end OF her walk, for she had almost
reached the ascent to the chateau.
"Well, cousin" said Gasparde, II hope
you have thought better Of the offer
which l made to you last night"
"No, nor ever shall" she answered, res
olutely, though with slight tremulous
ness of tone.
"That IL a great pity; for am resolv'
ed to have you, at oil events, my dear
so you need not be shy. And now,
there Is another question still, Rose.
suppose you haven't seen this rascally
young count OF whom we have been
speakingP
There was a sneer in his tone. His
evil glance, in a sidelong direction, scan
ned the young girls countenance.
20, you won't tell, eh2" he said, 81
suppose II should ask closer question
might get you to talk. Was he at the
cottage last night, or this morningT
"I will not tell you," she uttered, trem
bling In every limb with fear and indig
nation. And she attempted to spring W
the path; but he seized her hand anG
prevented her.
"Not so fast, my dear. must keeT
Won a little longer. Listen, now.
know he was there, although you have
been very careful not to tell me; for the
tracks Of horses feet and gentle
mans boots are In the soil outside, tbs
latter belonging to the count, l am pref
ty sure. ! have his measure. But ht
won't come there again, mind that! Now
my pretty cousin, you may give me q
kiss"
"Gasparde, let me gov she cried, IN
terror and disgust, as he held her hand
20, you won't give me one, will you
Why, then, I must take It."
Must your There are two words tC
that bargain, my manW
1t was light form that sprang out o.
the thicket by the wayside; resolutC
voice that uttered these words; grace
ful arm with iron force that laid the ras
cal, at one stroke, PROSTATE on the earth
And Gasparde, lying at the feet of his
assailant, was almost insane with rage
He had seen that form, heard that voice
felt the weight Of that arm, to his cos
before.
And Count Louis stood there quietly