Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17

that the fugitives had been seen ana lueh-
titled at Crevasse was 50 precise and deil-
mite that he was confident they would now
be recaptured and II was in this confident
mood that he himself carried the news to
his wife
LuCettc was with her and had just told
her that Gabrielle was safe at Malincourt,
when he arrived, gloatng at the thought
of his coming triumph and brutaly profuse
In threats as to the punishment he would
infict As soon as he had left Lucette
slipped away to put her own plan into
operation.
She did not go to Antoine at once in the
court yard, but hung about until she saw
Dauban and then put herself. if by
chance. in his way, and when she was sure
he had seen her she made a great show of
surprise and turned as if to hurry away
from him. 1t was we'll acted
$50 you avoid me, rnademoiselie? he
said, going after her.
How dare you speak to me?' she cried
Indignantly.
Fine airs for a prisoner" he retorted.
You are noble fellow. indeed, to taunt
poor girl, Master Dauban. But have
care what you say. If l am prisoner, l
am In the charge of one who won't see me
lnsultcd. Antoine de Cavannes is a man
with stouter heart than Master Dauban,
any day." and she tossed her pretty head
and turned again on her heel
This had just the effect she had calcu-
tones words, specializing who it was in
his charge who knew the wherea bouts of
the runaways, and he chuckled now at his
own cleverness in making the discovery
Not so fast, mademoiselle; / mean no
harm. am sorry for you and would help
you; on my honor, l meant no insult he
said, following her.
She stopped, but with an air of reluct-
ance
Yet you did taunt me- and she gave
MIN reproachful glance. with just enough
suggestion of tenderness in it to make him
uncomfortable. But with a sudden change
her eye flashed, and she cried contemptu-
ously:
You help me, Why. you are too great
coward. l thought once" and she
stopped.
Il am no coward" he answered with
none too easy a laugh.
Il would have sworn that once her tone
was now regret. with the suspicion of a
sign, but you let even Denys beat you"
1t was a daring reference. but she felt very
sure of her power with him
You lured me then" he declared with
an angry flush. This was her cue
Master Dauban! How can you" and
she fixed her large. dark eyes upon him
with look of panied reproach changing
gradually TO indignation as she added with
mounting vehemence: Did / not say Won
were coward? To blame a poor girl for
what was none of her fault and never to
have spoken word TO her since. OH" and
she stamped her foot now almost vicious
iy, were | not girl you should pay for
the cruel SANDER and-aye, and all your
neglect Then, as if the thought of his
neglect wounded her her anger passed and
she sighed in sore distress
He was visibly disquieted. and in an in
decisive. self-eNculpating manner he ask
ed But you did lure me, knowing he was
there. didn't YOU
"Oh. Master Dauban. how can you say
such cruel things L would have thought
the words would burn your lips Do YOU
think / would have had you maltreated--
your and again with excellent inconse-
quence she took fire again, using her eyes
all the while with deadly effect But |
am glad now. Yes, / am glad glad glad;
do you understand? You are one of those
men who think they can play with a girl
as they viii; and you shall pay for it.
Aye. you shall, if / have to go on my knees
to beg some one to do me justice. You
shall fool me no more
He was thoroughly perplexed, as well he
might be, indeed
Il don't understand you. You are going
to marry DenyS.'
She laughed recklessly, almost wildly
stamped her foot al him again, and flashed
chances of anger at him.
Marry Denys! Yes, / will marry any
man now; any man who will avenge me
with you. Look to yourself, / warn you.
Oh, my God!" and as If in passion she hid
her face in her hands and turned away.
"Lucette. Lucette," he said, laying a hand
on her shoulder She shook it off angrily
and started from him. Other feelings were
reused in him now than greed and cunning,
vanity and very delightful. Don't do this,
1ucette. 1 had no Idea on my soul, 1
hadn't he said.
The words appeared to add fuel to her
anger and uncovering her face she turned
upon him, the traces of tears in her eyes.
What towards speech; oh, what
towards speech she cried vehemently.
who but coward would make such a
plea! But / ought to have known you bet
ter aye, as / know you now. You spoke
me gently gave me soft speeches, led me
TO think l know not what. you won my
but l will not lower myself TO say more.
Shame on you, shame on you! l could hate
you for such words"
"As God is my judge, Lucette, I had no
thought of this. l wronged you. l believed
you did but play with me and took me that
evening to the pine walk that Denys st.
Jean should see us Why, l love the very
ground you tread on
No. no. 1 won't hear it. 1 won't believe
1t. i cannot
ut is true it is true. ! swear it is
Again she looked at him long and search
ingly until the iuster of her eyes seemed TO
daZe him.
II shall marry Antoine de Cavannes. He
loves me- l know and is true as steel in his
love. He guards me here and will see l
come to no harm.
He moved uneasily under her glance, and
then, looking about him, lowered his voice:
He IS not true to you Lucette. He Is
going to betray YOU Lucette He is going
TO betray you"
Jacques, JdSqueS, now dare you! w ould
YOU Islander him, too? Have a care lest l
tell him.
Listen to me. What / say is the truth.
He thinks you know where Mademoiselle de
Malincourt can be found and the prisoners;
there is a price of thousand crowns on
their heads. and he means to use you 10
find them and win the money"
Holy Wright now am ] miserable and
desolate girl" cried Lucette in fresh par
oxysm of distress. Oh, ii cannot be true,
IL cannot
1T is true, ] swear it," he replied very
earnestly. and gave her a garbled account
OF what had passed between himself and
Antoine
As she listened her agitation mounted,
and when he finished she exclaimed, as If
unstrung in her emotion
Il Will never tell him. I will never tell
him" Then, as II realizing she had be-
trayed herself. she stared at him in distress
and alarm, and protested with excited, vol
uble earnestness: Il did not mean that,
Jacques; did not mean that. Do not mis-
understand me. | meant nothing" and she
chung TO his arm with piteous. entreating
glances. What ! meant was ] know moth
ing. You understand that, don't you, don't
you? oh, thank heaven, you warned me.
Jacques. dear Jacques. | thank you from
my soul, | thank you. Oh what might l
not have done in my blindnessr'
So she did know after all. thought Dau-
ban; and his selfish love being satisfied by