Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-15

though he was consumed by an eager
desire, without looking at the shut
tered window. which happened to have
the curtains drawn before 1t as we'll,
he rose slowly to his feet; he took
the coil of rope from his neck dropped
it down to the foot of the tower, waited
a few moments until he felt slight
tug upon 1t, and then hauled up the
rope, to the end of which was fas-
tened one OF the heavy graphing irons,
or srapnels, from the ship. He hooked
, 1t securely over the coping, coiled the
signal halliards up at his feet with
sailor-like care, and thus having Sc
cured his retreat turned toward the
window.
Barred shutters fastened inside pre-
vented him from reaching the glass
of the window or the hangings there
in. He could see nothing. Here was
an unforeseen obstacle. After all that
he had gone through was he to be
stopped by shutter?
He stood a moment thinking deeply
and yet seeing no way. Suddenly he
remembered that there were other
windows on the other sides of the
oriel. He stepped quickly around to
the other face, and by happy chance
found one! open. The guiding light
had come from it. The curtains hang
Alg before it were futtering in the
air. He drew them aside little and
cautiously looked in.
Tho rCor, r.ocoptoJ ~ >,4i..1,, al
ferent appearance from his remem-
brance of it the night in which he had
held Anne in his arms there. Then
lit had been bare, unfinished, empty;
now, thick luxurious rugs were
a stretched across the floor, inviting
couches and chairs, and several gilded
. tables were scattered around the apart
ment. Rich hangings depended from
3 the wall. On one table by vase of
I: roses an elaborate candelabra displayed
many lights. A spinet stood against
the wall of the room, piece of music
! lying upon it's rack. The whole
room was filled with signs of a won-
ans occupancy. What woman?
There was shawl over chair, a
4 shawl he had seen Anne wear; a work
basket sat upon low table, and in
front of it lay careless little slipper.
He knew its jeweled buckle. He
longed to get to it. There was no other
4 foot in France-in the world, even
for that dainty slipper but hers, he
thought fatuously. In an instant he
, OWNED that Anne had indeed come
Sback and had chosen to make this
room her boudoir. His heart gave a
great leap as he thought of that as
ISOLATION of ideas by which she had
been led to establish herself in this
spot sacred to both of them.
% He would see her in moment per-
haps. She might be in the adjoining
room yonder. His heart beat louder
than it had on the tower wall To en-
ter the room seemed almost sac
rilege. Still, there was no other way.
Just as he was about to climb over
the sill he heard a footstep in the cor
ridor outside the room. For an in
slant he thought it might be hers, but
a second thought undeceived him. He
drew back, let the curtain fall, and
waited with his eye comprehending
the room through the corner of the
drapery. The door opened, the hang
lngs before it were lifted, and the
sturdy figure of Josette appeared in
the doorway.
WELL" calculated the maid, as she
stepped into the room and stood look
ing about her with her arms akimbo,
that's done, at any rate. Mon Dieu!
! How beautiful Mademoiselle Anne
looked tonight! But how sad her
heart! 'Helas, Josette,' she said, as
i l was dressing her, I care not how
beautiful am now And yet Mon
steur lie Comte is a gallant gentleman
noble and rich. God send me such a
lover some day. Poor Monsieur de
Wire, how sad he looks, too; and as
for that English knight, Sir Grafton
we'll, It's he that mademoiselle loves;
yes, for him she breaks her heart
twas for him she always looked back
back, back. on that hateful ship. Me
l like not the sea. I'm glad tbs not
who have SO many lovers. One will
suit me, if | may choose. That poor
Englishman. Dame, il had been he
| had stolen her away willy-nilly. She
would have forgiven him, know;
love like hers forgives all. But now
she will never see him again"
Don't be too sure of that, Josette,'
whispered Grafton in her ear.
Taking advantage of a moment
when she had turned her back to the
window, he had Slipped into the room
[, and approached her. He must trust
some one, and who better than the
girl whom he knew to be devoted tc
her mattress and not unfriendly toward
him either?
z She promptly opened her lips tc
scream, an attempt which Grafton
frustrated by clapping one hand ovel
her mouth and forcing her into q
chair with the other. sternly bidding
her be quiet as he did SO.
is it a spirit?" she walled. ooh
monsieur, for the love of Heaven
Nonsense!" softly answered Graf
a