The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-26
The Garden ofI,ies
By Justus Miles Forman
Copyright 1902 by Frederick A. Stokes Company.

not my fault" protested Won Altdorf sad
| ~ I was put into the profession while
still very young, by misguided parent
| . DO you know" he continued presently
| lit is IN my mind that came here for a
purpose. to discuss something of impor-
tance, but upon my word. the thing has
quite gone from me. 1 don't know what it
anything at ALL" ' ~ "
why perhaps. perhaps" cried the girl
with dramatic astonishment, perhaps
you came just to see me! Fancy
THAT said Colonel Won Altdorf, tug
ging at his moustache, lis quite possible.
I wonder it hadn't occurred to me before.
Are all American young women, brilliant,
mademoiselle-as we'll as beautifully
| "All of them" nodded the truthful Miss
Mannering gravely, all brilliant and all
very. very beautiful. You should visit
America, colonel
! ALAS, mademoiselle," .. protested Won
Altdorf, eff one of them. and only a little
one at that is sufficient to upset my peace
of mind, what should I do among so
many? A man loves his peace Of mind at
two and forty, mademoisele.'
Miss Mannering did not dispute it.
She looked at the rug. 1t was a very good
rug, as rugs go. g.
How is the princess?" inquired Colonel
Won Altdorf presently, ,s-...~
''She's living in bubble of happiness,
a Spanish castle of joy" said the girl.
Alas, she doesn't know the bubble must
burst and the castle tumble about her
ears. She thinks she's on the Threshold
of heaven that will last her life. long.
All. what cruel trick it was, Colonel
Won Altdorf.
Necessity is always cruel. Mademoi-
selle." said the diplomat. Happiness is
usually bubble, and joy a chateau en-
4 Espagne. And. everyone knows, bub-
blpS a
Il away"
She was greatly shocked when the
prince burst into the garden the other
day pursued Miss Mannering. She
| can't get over the feeling that she has
known him or seen him somewhere be-
fore, that he has played some part in her
life-indeed it's far from strange. Sir
Gavin calls it by some long and dreadful
name. the partial recollection. He was
quite excited over it,
But she's Better in a general way?
She's stronger" asked Won Altdorf..
'Oh. infinitely better! She's almost her
old self again. The color is. back in her
cheeks. and the roundness to her neck
she's gained wonderfully in weight. All,
yes. she's almost strong ever. now,
just in these few days, and all because
) she's happy. Oh, Mr.. Creighton told me
of Mr.. Mallory's duel with the prince in
the garden the other day 1t must have
been wonderful
Hes the most marvellous sWOrdsman
1 ever saw" said Won Altdorf warmly.
He was born to it. No man. even with
the career that Denis has had, could ac-
, quire such skill by practice only. It's be-
yond words -.
And he might have killed the prince
, and made his own way easy" mused the
girl. Mr. Creighton told me that for one
little moment he thought it would hap
: pen
YES said Won Altdorf "for one little
moment I thought SO, too. No man is
, above temptat ton. We saw him tempted,
and by Heaven we saw him put temp
, tation away as few men could have done.
, But as for that there are few men like
him. I'll tell you something I saw yes
terday. I was in his studio waiting for
him to come up from the garden where
he walked with the princess. 1 sat in a
.Itblg deep chair that stands in a rather
dark corner. and. sitting there grew
=. drowsy bit so that 1 didn't hear Denis
when he entered. The first T knew he
was standing in the middle of the ROOM
in the light from the big north windows
and while l live, Mademoiselle, l hope
v never again to see upon a mans face
y such a look of hopeless agony, such a
struggle of the greatest love man car
+ own, with the call of honor that means
remuneration. His soul was in. his
g face. Mademoselle, there in thai
moment when he thought himself alone
, and it was a soul that had been led, :te
: Heavens gate and shown what was with
s in. only to be hurled deep into hell -
He threw himself, face downward
= upon the big divan that stands in a cor
ner Of the room, and lay there with his
hands over his eyes, and his shoulders
q twisting from time to time. -.
II dared not move. show myself, for his
n own sake, and 1 couldn't get away with
: out his hearing.
n ''Then, after a time, he rose to his fee
and went across the room to little cup.
board In the wall, which he opened. He
c took out a bottle, an absinthe bottle. ant
!, glasses and a carafe of water: and filled
r one of the glasses, sitting at a table. Ht
| faced the light again that I could sec
the struggle in his face. 49,.
/ MademOiselle, you who a woman
q carefully bred. delicately nurtured, car
f know nothing. appreciate nothing of sucl
a struggle. the struggle of rac1ed ant
:. Quivering nerves for the relief that lie:
r before them. of a will weakened by bat
tie. of a mind ravaged by passion that j
knows is hopeless
q II say he sat long time with the full
glass in his hand. head bent a bit owe
n it. every nerve in his body. as I knew well
g shrieking for the rest. the calm. the ca So
that q few glasses Of that liquor Woul,
. give them.
Then all at once he gave his head
a little jerk and tore his fingers from tn
;, glass with effort
O. No" he cried aloud. No, by Cd. no!
And he went over to the divan again all;
= threw himself face down there and la
q still. | crept out after time very softly
], I don't think he heard me. perhaps-n
W deed hope, he was even asleep. But M
e heart bled for him, Mademoiselle. He is
- man.
q 5" No" he cried aloud. No. by God. no.
A I,
+ for him too. Colonel What will becom
% of him-when it's all over?- Some live
seem marked for tragedy, don't they? Hi
,s life has been a tragedy, heaven knows
young as he is. and it seems as if it mus
q be a crueer one still. Have you seen any
thing more of those men who came to sp
- upon the prince?'
Won Altdorf shook his head
. (To Be Continued Tomorrow