The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-13
CHAPTER K.
Ioid by Margot RevelstoIxe, the Home
Secretary's Daughter.
A Night to Remember.


am not bit nervous, as a. rule.
and should be ashamed to confess II
II had ever been silly enough to in
dulge in Mysteries; but I hadn't felt
IKE myself that day, and when Noel
Brent went out Of the room at the
Elysee Palace hotel, leaving us to sit
| down to our late supper, the strangest
Ieenng ever had came over me. 1t
was just as if he were going out to
meet some awful danger, and some
thlng was forcing me to call him back
My blood seemed all going UP to my
mead and drumming in my ears, then
1t Moved back on my heart and in
any more, 1t turned to cold, heavy
lead; and felt sick and faint, and was
seized with the most unaccountable
desire to burst out crying.
why, Margot, what is the matter ?'
exclaimed my cousin Marion. Sit
greaves. And. 1 did think 1t would
have been more tactful Of her not to
call every ones attention to me, if
looked odd. But I suppose she didn't
stop to think.
had to struggle to control myself,
just as I've struggled sometimes with
a vicious or frightened horse when rid
ing, and I managed to speak in quite
a decent, natural sounding voice, tho
my lips were quivering.
Why, am pale?" I asked. And
laughed little. DIS -.~s - .s..-.. asr=s.
you're awfully white" Captain
Menzies answered for her, looking at
me as If he were immensely concerned.
It made me so nervous, I should have
liked to say something cross to him,
but l didn't.
Poor child" said my dear, kind
aunt, Lady Gawain; I'm afraid the
rough crossing has upset you, tho you
weren't i'll at the time. You're be-
ri, {~
pent making you come. I know you
didn't want to-"
"Oh, yes, I did," I conventionally
protested, tho I'm not sure whether :.
was telling the truth or not. Perhaps,
after all, in my heart I had been a
little glad Of the excuse to come to
Paris, where Noel was to be with an
other woman-a woman he had vowed
he wouldn't go across the street to
see"-tho I shouldn't have confessed
that anything but good nature had
brought me If Marion had asked. II
wanted to come with you, of course,
Aunt Glenn, but I certainly do feel
queer; and If you won't mind, think
I'd like to go up to my room. I
couldn't eat anything, and--no please,
don't want any one to come UP with
me. I'd rather be alone; and + know
I shall be all right in the morning.
bothered" said Aunt Glenn, who Is an
old love, and always understands. But
Captain Menzies would go with me to
the lift. and I really believe he was
stupid enough to murmur pretty
things on the way, tho I hardly heard
them. =,
I was thankful to be in my own
room; but when I was there didn't
begin to undress. or even sit down to
OF hn cti1I e,I,o r
went to one of the windows, opened
it wide, and stood looking out.
Down there somewhere, under the
sky, turned black by the electric lights
that glared UP at it, was Noel Brent,
who at this very hour last night had
been telling me, at our dance, that he
loved me more than the whole world
that L was. had been, and ever
would be, the one woman on earth for
him. Here was I, remem boring every
word he had said. hearing the very
sound of his voice: down there was
he, going to keep a midnight appoint
ment with that other woman for
whose sake he had broken with me.
With what a strange sorcery she
must have bewitched him! T thought
with sad bitterness. It was almost
impossible not to believe that he had
meant what he looked and said last
IllSHl, YET d Lew llOuTS r, at a
call from her, he forgot me, enmeshed
by the old fascination. The only grace
left in him now had caused him to
flush and stammer little as under my
eyes he refused Lord Gawain's invita-
ton to stop with us, making an an
nouncement Of a prior engagement,
which he must have known, to my
ears, virtually amounted to a confess
sion.
I was still at the window, when at
the door between my room and the
next heard a knocking which was
accompanied by the voice of Marion,
Dearest, please let me In" eshe said. !
II want very much to see you" 4
Now, had never liked Marion less
in my life than I had to-day, tho
really think she had meant to serve
me. But always when she has irri-
tated me and have nearly been cross.
feel so remorseful that I try to be
nicer to her than before; for I am
very sorry for Marion. who is not quite
like other girls in her looks, and is.
besides, so delicate that almost any
thing she does ought to be excusabie.
didn't want at all to see her, but
I went to the door which separated |
her room from mine, and let her in,
She thanked me and flung herself
down on a sofa. II don't feel very
well, either" she said, land I couldn't
eat, SO I thought I would come M
stairs, too" With this she jumped
Off the sofa and began walking up