Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-20

| moment that the marquis mad not gone
| with the others. She had not remarked
his suspicious silence, his strange
movement, in the excitement OF the
passing moments.
Now, Modemoiselle de Rehan," he
said harshly, "since this play has been
played out and the actors in the little
comedy have departed, will you be
good enough to explain the situation7
! VIII YOU tell me who 1t was that wore
| Josette's cloak; who listened in the
armoryi whom you have entertained
In this room, whom you conceal In
your chamber7"
"What mean you, monsieur7' she
faltered, all her terror coming back
again. Monsieur de Vitre-
DE Wire is fool" exclaimed the
marquis angrily, "and yet admire the
man. He took 1t all upon himself like
. gallant gentleman"
Monsieur de Wire told nothing but
the truth. monsieur"
Quite So" answered the marquis,
with difficulty restraining himself. He
was in deadly earnest, with the sup
pressed fury of his most dangerous
moment. Quite so. have no doubt
he told the truth. 1t spoke in his eyes.
But did he tell 1t all? You answer not.
But what need? Did Monsieur do
Wire leave this hat on the table? l
have seen hats like that, mademoiselle.
but upon English heads"
A. I'll
mo more faltering!" continued the
marquis, pacing back and forth before
her. HE is here. A lover in your
room, an Englishman, and you have
betrayed me, betrayed your honor;
you" he used harsh word from
the camps. Stand aside!"
He laid his hand roughly on her
arm. She struggled to bar the way
moaning family. The door was thrown
open, the hangings dashed apart, and
Grafton, sword in hand, sprang into
the room. At last!
Monsieur lie Marquis!" he cried
release mademoiselle! BY heaven
no man lays a hand upon her when
am by, not even though he be hel
father!"
Captain Grafton!" exclaimed the
marquis involuntarily letting go his
granddaughter's wrist and falling
back in great surprise, you here, sir?'
"Why not? 1 love the Countess de
Rohan, and, presumptuous as l may
seem, 1 dare to affirm that she loves
me as we'll. Indeed, sir, since the mo-
ment held her in my arms five years
ago in this very chamber at midnight
and kissed away her tears, have loved
her. The fortune of war brought m.
wounded to her feet in Canada, sir
and there 1 found I loved her still
and, what was more, l learned tina
she had not forgotten me. She lief
me behind wounded and i'll, but I fol
lowed her here. Sir, have come tt
claim her."
My God!' faltered the marquis, a
if dazed by this sudden development
, of the situation, "and trusted her t
your honor!" He looked years olde
at that instant his face blanched an
| working. Grafton pitied him.
Monsieur, pledge you that homo
that l left her as sweet and innocen
a child as when l first knew her."
, "And yet you came from her bed
, chamber even now, and you kissed he
, at midnight"
'"Twas five years since, sir"
do you love this man, Anne?"
more than heaven itself" she an
J swered, stepping to his side.
, "And you came to take her away
} sir, like thief in the night?" sneere
: the marquis, his color coming back a
t he mastered his surprise and regaine
: portion of his self-commanu.
7 eve had gone, sir, moment since,
} broke in Grafton ruthlessly, irritate
r by the sheer, "had we not been intel
l rupted."
Mon Dieu, 'tis impossible you ca
, love this Englishman, Anne!"
can American, sir"
!. peace! IT'S all one. This office
. this enemy of France, this commoner!
a EYES," murmured the girl.
r "You love him more than famil.
T! than country, than rank, than station
J. than honor?"
more than all the world, monsieur
v "And you were here alone with hil
at midnight in this tower? He kisse
!. you?"
q Eyes, monsieur, but was only
child"
t "You nursed him in sickness in Cal
. ada?"
r Eyes, monsieur"
n "Were you about to fly with him tn
s evening, as he says?"
Eyes"
j. "And he came from your bed-chan
r. Der! Oh, mon Dieu, mon Dieu
(" screamed the old man, passion, d
y spair, wounded pride, quenched ami
e. ton, frantic rage in his voice. "Tl
s. deep dishonor of it! This from n
granddaughter, this from child
r my ancient house! An innocen
y gone, reputation blasted, charact
le compromised"
l. "S'death, sir" burst out CRATIC
o. Il