The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-03-09
Copyright 1902. by THE BOwEN.MERRILL COMPANY

"Why. indeedP she murmured
"But I'm afraid I'm taking you from
q your play|
I'm not going to play any more to-
night"
"Tired already"
"No; but-but l haven't cent. That
miserable table las robbed me of ev-
erything All have left"-piteously-
"are the clothes on my back"
"Just sou he agreed. But 1t might
have been worse"
How" in dismay. Didn't that sto-
ny looking man rake in my last gold
piece? He didn't even look sorry, Ell
Their. But what is the matter with your
| arm?' The land baron's expression be-
came ominous. "You shook hands with
your left hand. oh, I see; the duel"
How did you hear about it?" asked
Mauville irritably.
ooh, in a roundabout way. Murder
will out! And Constance-she was so
solicitous about Mr.. Saint-Prosper, but
rather proud, l believe. because he"-
with a laugh-"came off victorious"
Susan's prattle, although accompa-
MED by innocent glances from her blue
eyes, was sometimes the most irritating
thing in the world. and the land baron,
goaded beyond endurance, now threw
Off his careless manner and swore in an
undertone by every devil in Satan's
calendar"
Can you not reserve your sOliloquy
until you leave me?" observed Susan
sweetly. Otherwise
II regret to have shocked your lady
ship" he murmured satirically.
Il forgive you" raising her guileless
eyes. "When l think of the prOvoca-
tion do not blame you so much"
That is more than people do in your
case" muttered the land baron saw
agely.
Susan's hand trembled. "What do
you mean?" she asked, not without APP
prehension regarding his answer.
ooh, that affair. with the young Off
GER the lad who was killed in the duel,
you know
Her composure forsook her for the
moment, and she bit her lip cruelty.
Don't she whispered. Il am not
" bldlllts ntNtI IL NOulu BO
so far. Why should people
"Why?' he interposed ironically.
Susan pulled herself together. Eyes,
why?" she repeated defiantly. Can
women prevent men from making fools
Of themselves any more than they can
prevent them from amusing themselves
as they will? Today II is this toy, to-
morrow another. At length"-bitterly
"a woman comes to consider herself
only a toy"
Her companion regarded her curious
ly. "Well, wellr' he calculated finally.
Losing at cards doesn't agree with
your temper"
Nor being worsted by Saint Prosper
with yours" she retOrted quickly.
Mauville looked virulent, but Susan,
feeling that she had retaliated in am
pie measure, recovered her usual
equanimity of temper and placed a
conciliatory hand sympathetically OH
his arm.
1--WE have both had good deal to try |
us, haven't we? But how stupid men
are! she added suddenly. CAS- if you
could not find other consolation
He directed toward her an inquiring
glance.
Some time ago, while / was acting
in London" resumed Susan thought
fully, 'the leading lady refused TO re-
ceive the attentions of certain odious
English lord. She was to make her APP
pearance in piece upon which her rep
utation was staked. Mark what hap
pened. She was hissed-hissed from
the stage. My lord led this hostile
demonstration, and all his hired cla-
queurs joined in. She was ruined; ru-
ined" concluded Susan, smiling ami
ably.
you are ingenious, Mistress Susan,
not to say a trihe diabolical. Your
plan
She opened her eyes widely. 81 have
suggested no plan," she interrupted
hurriedly.
'Well, let us sit down, and l will tell
you about French officer who But
here is quiet corner, Mistress Susan,
and If you will promise not to repeat it
| will regale you with bit of interest
ms SOSSlps
81 Promise; they always do" she
laughed.
For such frivolous lady Susan was
an excellent listener. She who on oc-
casions chartered like a maybe was
now silent as a mouse, drinking in the
others words with parted lips and
sparkling eyes. First he showed her (
the letter Francois had brought him.
Unmarked by postal indications, the
missive had evidently been intrusted TO
a private messenger of the governor
whose seal ii bore Dated about three
years previously, it was written in a
somewhat illegible but not unintelligi-
BILE scrawl, the dukes own handwrit-
ing.
Il send you, my dear marquis" be-
gan the duke, "a copy of the secret re-
port OF the military tribunal appointed
to investigate the charges against your
klnsman, Lieutenant Saint-Prosper, ana
ron fNasa IL. i