Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-12-22
| The C0ntrabandist;;
One Life'S Secret!
CHAPTER XvJII.-(Continued.)

1uey TedcQeQ FdrlS ana SnOrLly were
established as in another home, at the
Hotel de Clairville. Here the kind-heart-
ed Count Frederic and his amiable wife
congratulated themselves upon having
gathered together so happy family par
ty; and no pains were spared to con-
tribute to the enjoyment of each. Rose
had never been in Paris before; its splen-
dors and gaieties were novel and pleasing
to her. But every enjoyment had its
chief source from the presence of Louis;
nothing was complete if he were not at
her side to share in her pleasure; and it
charmed him to perceive this.
'You shall dwell here, some day, my
Rose" he said to her, with his own
bright smile that the young girl loved so
well.
And she smiled in return; while Helen
Montauban turned away, with a dark
gleam in her eyes-a darker frown on
that splendid brow. ....-.-.-.-
"Some day! How little," said the
naughty woman, mentally, show little do
they dream that the will Of another is
to exercise authority theni They count
confidently on their future-upon the fate
that Is awaiting them. All, if they knew
what 1t Is to be-that fate!'
Now that Paris was gained, she was
nearer to her purpose, and the fierce i'm
patience she had felt subsided as she
approached to the consummation of that
purpose. Not because she Quailed, or
shrank from it, but that now she was
able to contemplate it more nearly-to
look upon her revenge as almost accom-
plished, and she was content to wait yet
longer.
"Helen, you are i'll, I think" said Fran
els Egerton in alarm.
She had been sitting in the same atti-
tude for a full hour, with her head rest
Ing on her hand, and those dark, calm
eyes fixed on the floor. But her lips were
very pale, and her face marble white.
'You are ill, Helen" he repeated, gent
ly, bending over to attract her attention,
and laying his hand on hers. But the icy
coldness of that hand chilled and startled
him.
"You are not quite right, my lord" she
answered; "for am not i'll exactly, and
yet am not well. have merely Sc
we're headache" And she pressed her
hand to her brow.
"a headaches that all? Nay, you
are feverish, for now your cheeks are
burning. Let me ask your father to send
for physiciain. Y oue mary; -perhspss
have taken the fever which is prevailing
in the city. Dear Helen, be advisedr'
FRANCIS, I command you to remain
where you are" said Mademoiselle Mon
tauban, imperatively. 81 have assured
you that am not ill, and l do not wish
either. to attract attention or to interfere
with the enjoyment of others. Since you
are so anxious, l shall endeavor to rest
10 or%y mt nd
regain my usual spirits by evening, in
which easel will rejoin the family. Pre-
sent my excuses to them, if you please"
She left him and ascended to her cham
ber. -..- -. -, . f..
Night came. The rest of the family
were ito attend the opera. Helen Mon
tauban assigned severe headache as
her reason for not accompanying them,
and remained at home. From the case
ment of her room she looked down and
saw the carriage roll away from the
gates.
An hour afterwards there emerged
from the hotel a youth, wearing a broad
hat slouched over his eyes and a cloak,
which he drew about him, half concealing
his face with it's folds. He looked back
with a hurried, nervous glance as he
gained the portal. mo one has seen me-"
he muttered, "and the rest is sufficiently
easy" At rapid pace he FASTENED on.
1t was dark; but the lamps in the streets
poured flood of light along his way as
he proceeded, and crowds of pedestrians
passed him and the way was thronged
with carriages and vehicles of every de-
scription. He only drew his hat further
over his eyes, arranged the folds of the
cloak so as more fully to hide his fea-
lures, and hurried along, passing from
one street to another, and never looking
at single face in all the jostling multi
tude about him.
At length, in a retired street, he reach
ed the door of a building, half shop, half
dwelling, at this door he knocked. A
domestic appeared, bearing a light, which
she held up to survey the features Of
the youth; but he shrunk further back
into the shadow, and gathered the folds
of the cloak more closely about hits face
as he asked, in a low and somewhat
hoarse voice: ., - 'F-s>if . e7s*=- wa
3FIs the alchemist at homeY
'He is, monsieur. Will you come in ?'
The youth entered, the woman looking
at him with ha1f-curious glance for an
instant; but then muttering to. HERSELF
''Well-well, ISheed not trouble my head;
ne IS QOL the urSC HaSk CnaC mas come
hither," she added aloud: "This way,
monsieur; you will find my master in
here" and led the way through the room
into which he had entered from the street
to a back one, opening from the first.
Here was an old man, bent half double,
seated at a table, and engaged in poring
over a rich and curious volume of an
tique appearance. About the apartment
were arranged in different places, vari-
GUS stuffed figures Of animals, and some
of them reptiles SO hideous as to send an
involuntary shiver over the boy as he be-
held them. Strange and horrible forms
were everywhere about him; he turned
from contemplating them in disgust. The
old man laid aside his book and looked
up.
you want me e?-well, what is it?" he
said, leaning back in his chair, and re-
garding his guest closely with the pierc-
ing dark eyes that seemed still darker
and more piercing from the bushy, snow
white brows that overhung them.
The youth spoke not, nor removed the
cloak from his face; but silently advanc-
ing, presented a folded paper to the old
man. He received and glanced over it.
IL - L. &C.