Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-24

| II may be considered by the recipient
as a benefit forgot, invariably estab-
| fishes a sense OF obligation on him
who confers it, Therefore. de Wire
was an obstacle of the most serious
, moment to the future progress OF his
| happiness. How TO contend with him
he knew not. Certainly he could not
make the REIMBURSEMENT Of the
Frenchman's desire for Anne the price,
| or the reward. Of his own past serv-
ices. A genuine man, he could not
even bear to have these services men,
toned: and that they SO persistently
remained in his thoughts gave him
honorable uneasiness very exalted
and chivalric nature had Philip Graf
ton. He was particularly nice ON the
point of honor
That was not all either for con-
nected with de Wire was The honor OF
the dc Rohans. Anne. in the most
| public manner and Of her own free
will. had hetrothod herself TO the
! young Frenchman. She had volun-
tarily entered upon the relationship
and assumed the obligation. Her
sense OF honor was not less keen than
his She was woman. he remem-
hered. imbued with all the traditions
| OF that race whose proud boast it was
that while they had not been born to
the kingly degree and they would not
condescend 10 the princely rank. yet
they were Rohans. Was Anne capable
OF sacrificing her word for her love?
II was doubtful
The last consideration that arose in
his mind was an acute conjecture that
the marquis would not be much bet
ter satisfied with de Wire for a sutton
for his granddaughter than he would
have been with Grafton. The old
man probably, nay. certainly, had
formed his own plans. and there was
without doubt third sutton of his
personal choosing awaiting Anne in
France. This meant much Il Graf
ton could succeed in matching the
marquis determination against Anne's
wiil-pOwer. between de Wire and the
ether, he might tho more easily
achieve success
He realized all these things, weighed
them carefully, considered them ex-
Eaustively, and racked his brain in an
endeavor TO solve the problem. His
resolute determination was undated
That, his love for her, and her feeling
for him, were the three things he
counted upon to enable him to have
his way and win her Tor his own He
was no longer a boy; he did not ap-
proach the problem lightly and care
lessly, but with a deliberate calmness
which outwardly belied his passion
He was man thoughtful by nature
and strPngt hencd in character by the
responsibilities Of his position rs the
captain OF ship. and he deliberately
determined TO win the person. as he
already possessed the heart of the
French girl
IL was a sort OF game he played.
with her for the stake. The grim old
marquis, with his pride Of race, fam
lily and nation. and his ardent patriot
ism; the handsome. dashing young Ca
madam the unknown sutton, who was
sure to be- man OF parts and cOndi-
ton, and the stubborn. determined 1T
tie Englishman would all prove ia
nous players Which would win?
Well, come what might, Grafton al
ready had Anne's heart, de Wire her
promise, the marquis her duty, and
the unknown as yet. nothing. The
heart was the strongest card. he de-
Cided
OF her love he felt no doubt, but
love and marriage were two things
that rarely went together in the mind
OF the high nobility of France In those
days but stay, Anne was different
AS child. when he had known her
best, she had known none Of these
disagreeable convenances OF the So
ciety of her day. Had her sojourn in
Canada her entrance into the gay lit
lie world Of New France, effected a
revolution OF her character? He did
not believe so.
These were torturing questions all
Evening found him still thinking of
them and thinking alone. His wants
had been attended to by Josette or
Jean Renaud, now allowed free access
10 him. His anxious inquiries for the
countess had been met by the state
ment that she WAS i'll and could not
come To soc nina declaration which
added alarm 10 his longing and disap-
pointment. His progress toward re-
covery had been rapid, but on the sec
ond day OF her continued absence from
his room he nearly fretted himself in
to a fever He found that he could be
more calm and cool In theory than in
practice Dr. Arnoux looked very
grave when he paid his afternoon visit
that day. and, ignorant OF the real sit
uation, spoke some blunt words to
mademoiselle.
This Englishman,' he said lis pin
ing. worrying. fretting. Unless some
thing can be done to restore his peace
OF mind | fear the consequences may
be serious; Inflammation may set in
in his feverish condition. and then
-----"
His onainoas gesture frightened her
greatly
Cant you, mademoiselle, cheer him
up, distract his mind In some way"
he asked.
Anne knew only too well what allied
her patient She had distracted him
too much already, possibly; yet, when
she heard Of the threatened danger
with her usual impetuOsity she threw