Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-04-02

Directly. Jerome took heart and spoke
again:
Those are the conditions, I merely
make the best OF them. There 10 still
another friend OF mine at Sceaux, the
ChevalIer Charles de la Mora, a most
Verify, they are scarce 10Y In France
He has fallen into misfortunes OF late
and Is about to take some command In
the colonies. / love him mich, and am
sorely tempted TO cast my lot with his.
But, o understand why I stay" and
he lifted up his hands with a gesture Of
perfect helplessness.
His wife, Madame A~gnes-almost a
girls n OK the most beautiful and
clever women in France. and who, by
way of novelty, loves her own husband.
Women are queer sometimes, are they
not? Tomorrow we go to Sceaux; it
will az least be an experience TO you,
even should nothing good come Of it.
Do you agree?"
My curiosity was thoroughly aroused,
and seeming sport of q rare character
I agreed to join the chase. 1t was
Judged best that we should make all
things ready for an immediate journey
to Versailles upon our return from
Sceaux.
Before we slept. my few serviceables
were put In position for instant de-
parture.
When / arose in the morning Jerome
had already left his bed. | supposed IL
was out of consideration for what ha
was still pleased to consider my weak
condition that he refrained from walk
ing me. Claude came tripping in late
with the message that NJ. de Greville
had gone to make some last arrange
ments for our journey. l slept so
rn0fful1U thpnIoh tho NIGHT my & ntir,,,
and all unpleasant reminders of the
episode at Bertrand's had quite worn
away, and l felt refreshed and strong
again. When Florine came TO inquire
for my health she found me busted
about the packing. l greeted her kind
ly, for In truth my gratitude was deep
and sincere.
Monster is preparing to ~leave?" she
asked as II more h a afraid of a reply.
l could see she had some purpose in the
question.
Eyes, l leave Paris today"
Today" she echoed.
Yes, but l would return and find you.
again: l could not depart from France
without finding and thanking you for
you came, for" l tried to say on
more, but the words left my lips
sounding so cold and meaningless the
sentence died away incomplete.
Florine stood there, vaguely watch
ing me as though she did not under
stand.
Leave France?" she repeated, her
tone expressing the hope she had not
heard Alright.
l had already said much more than
1 intended, for | was not fully aware
OF Jerome's intentions, and desired TO
say nothing which would reveal them.
Leave Franco" she urged again,
Monsieur" she halted for the word
quite naturally.
de Mouret," l supplied, and for the
first time she knew my name; surely ii
was little enough to trust one with
who had given me my life.
Monsieur de Mouret is to leave
France?"
YES" l answered her truly, but not
today. possibly not for several days.
l would not go away without seeing
you again"
| felt my tone become warmer as ]
thought OF all this girl had risked for
me, and so Numbered on uncertainty.
What was l to do? What could | offer
her in repayment? Not gold; she had
refused that with the air of a grande
marquise the night she first helped me
from Bertrand's.
Heartily wishing for some OF Jerome's
fnesse and tact, 1 gazed at her, stupid
and silent, watching the tears gather in
her eyes. / could only guess the
thought which was passing in her
mind, and even there l wronged her.
Continued Next Week.)