Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-12-03
CHAPTER XIV.

porn OF q uiru SUSPICION, Whlcn nhu Deeu
ranking In her breast for hours. The
interview between her father and Rose In
the morning. the hint At confession, the
thousand slight yet convincing tokens OF
feeling witnessed that afternoon and
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-
terious jests OF the Count de Clairyille--
all combined 10 awaken within her the
bitterest and most tormenting distrust
and suspicion.
II will know--I will know she said
TO herself. A little while she waited, till
she was able 10 assume q manner OF per
feet composure. and then, lifting an ala
baster lamp from the toilet, she crossed
the gallery and entered the apartment OPP
poslte.
Rose had dismissed her maid and was
brushing out her hair, whose rich folds.
falling around her light shape, almost
concealed 1t with their shining veil. She
turned from the mirror as Mademoisellc
Montauban entered, and a lovely smile
frightened over her sweet face.
"Ah, ! am 80 glad you have come.
Helenw she said, running to her and
throwing those fair, snowy arms about
her in an innocent, loving and happy em-
brace.
And 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
III Your lips are like ice!'
mo, am not Ill. dear child, and |
think II must be because you are so
warm, so excited, so happy, that you In
agine mo to be cold. have come 20 sit
with you little while before ! retire"
"You were kind to come. ! wanted 10
zee you; was waiting for you" She
sat down by the side OF Mademoiselle
Montauban aud put her arms about her
again.
well. you wished 10 see me-is that
allf asked Helen, attempting something
| like plAyfulness In her manner.
II wished toto tell you something,
and now | have not the courage" Rose
bid her face on her companions breast
again Helen, II was ahout-Louis."
Those sweet eyes were hidden II was
well they could not see the stony fierce
ness OF that wild. white face above, that
grew wilder and whittier as the girlish,
timid confession was made.
Helen Montauban, crushing with calm
and terrible force the thousand mad emo
tions Ia her breast, that struggled to have
way, compelled herself to utter, softly:
go on. Rose; am interested-I am
listening; so on"
And Rose told her all-all, from begin
ming to end, with her fair head lying on
that stormy heart. whose gathering fires
her innocent, whispered, bashful words
fed with a fearful sustenance. Helen
Montauban listened. She heard all this
every word, every syllable Of this con-
| fesslon. and each word, each syllable,
struck her with deadly blow. The de-
llberate 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 a
kind Of savage agony within, that dwelt
upon that simple love story In its every
detail, and comprehended It with sharp
and greedy eagerness; but at the close, all
memory OF those details departed All
that was left OF that story, gathered into
| three words--three single words, that
Rose, with bashful joy, whispered as she
| finished: HE loves me-Louis loves me!'
And Helen Montauban said to herself,
HE loves another; he does not love me!'
The words were branded into her heart;
they were written there 10 characters OF
fire; they were ineffaceable.
"You are not going YETI do not go yet,
dear HeenT' murmured Rose. "Stay
with me little longer"
Her soft eyes, raised so tenderly, so
pleadingly, to that face, shone with a
divine beauty. The gold-tinged tresses,
4 flowing about her graceful head, were
like the glory that surrounds the brow OF
a 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 bade
Rose a 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 sleepless 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 ~esture. Still those words
burned upon 1t their scorching characters
The loves anotherW
She had sworn revenge. The dream
Of her whole life had been broken now
1t was as II single thread of shining
silver had run its glittering line through
her life-woof, and those slender fingers
so lately pressed upon her own, had
ruthlessly snapped 1t asunder. Rose
might be innocent Of intention to wrong
hsr--nay, she knew her to be so. And
yet she hated her-hated the beautiful
face, the sweet voice, that had won him
to love them. She shuddered as she
seemed to feel once again the pressure
OF that young head upon her bosom. II
oppressed suffocated her; she could moi
breathe. The verysa air of the room was
sitting. She flung open easement with
trembling hands and leaned far out t.
drink the cool and dewy air of the DARK