The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-09-07
CHAPTER XVI.
GRAFTON WINS AND LOSES.

lief so great that she could
not describe it. Anne sank down IN
the chair by the table. She thought
her lover es,ricated at last from his
precarlous position. Her emotions
during the last few moments, when she
feared that the marquis would dis
cover his presence, and then when de
Wire had SO nobly interfered In his
Behalf, had been almost more than
she could bear She forgot for the
moment that the marquis had not gone
with the others. She had not remarked
his Suspicious silence, his strange
movement, In tho excitement of the
passing moments.
Nov, Medemoiselle de Rohan," 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 situation
Will you tell me who II was that wore
Iosette's cloak; who listened In the
armory. whom you have entertained
in this room, whom you conceal In
YOUR chamber"
what mean you. monsieur she
falterad, all her terror coming back
again. Monsieur de Wire tf
"De Wire is fool" exclaimed the
marquis angrily, land yet ! admire the
man He took It all upon himself like
gallant gentleman"
Monsieur de Wire told nothing but
the truth. monsieur
''Quite SC" answered the marquis,
with difficulty restraining himself. lie
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 de
Wire leave this hat on the table? |
have seen hats like that, mademoiselie,
but upon English heads. m,
Monsieur" stammered the girl
"No more faltering," continued the
marquis, pacing back and forth before
her "He is here. A lover in your
rouA, an Englishman. and you have
betrayed me, betrayed your honor;
you----" he used n harsk word from
the campo "Stand aside!"
He laid his hand roughly on her
arm. She struggled to bar the way.
moaning family. The door WAS thrs"n
open, the hangings dashed apart, and
Grafton, sword in hand. 'sprang into
the room. AT last!
Monsieur lie Marquls!' he cried,
"releasa mademoisellei BY heaven,
10 man lays hand upon her when !
am by, not even though he be her
father."
Captain Grafton" exclaimed the
MARQUIS Involuntary letting go his
granddaughter's wrist and falling
back in great surprise, you here, sir?''
why not? love the Countess de
Rohan and, presumptuous as ! may
seem, 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 ct misnight.
land kissed away her tears, have loved
her. The fortune OF war brought me
wounded to her feet in Canada, sir,
and there found ! loved her still;
and, what was more, | learned that
she had not forgotten me. She left
me behind wounded and i'll. but fol-
lowed her here. Sir, | have come to
claim her"
My Godt'. faltered the marquis, as
II dazed by this sudden development
of the situation, land | trusted her to
your honor!" He looked years older
at that instant, his face blanched and
working. Grafton pitied him.
Monsieur, | pledge you that honor
that | left her as sweet and innocent
a child as when | first knew her"
And yet you came from her bed
chamber even now, and you kissed her
at midnight"
"rwas five years since, sir"
DO you love this man, Amer"
More than heaven itself, she an
swered. stepping To- h)s side. = liYss'f
Aud you came to take her away.
sir, like a thief Jp the night '~noered
the marquis, his cppF coming back as
he mastered his 81 bflse-hwt rfsained
a norton of his self-comffhnd. -
I'VE had gone. sir, a moment since,
broke in Grafton ruthlessly. irritated
b. the sheer, had we not been inter-
rupted"
Mon Dieu. tits impossible you can
love this Englishman, Anne!"
An American. sir"
Peace. 'Tis all one This officer,
this enemy Of France. this commoner!"
Yes murmured the girl. :, 81.
"You love him more than family,
than country. than rank, than station.
than honor7" ~ .t- ~
More than all the world. monsieur"
"And ysu were here alone with him
at midnight in this towerg He kissed
ysu?"
yes. monsieur. but was only
child"
You nursed him In sickness in Can
ada7"
Yes, monsieur"
Were you about 10 ny with him this
evening. as be says?"
Yes"
~And he came from your bed-chan-
Der, Oh. mon Dieu, mon Dieul"
screamed the old man. passion. de-
spair, wounded pride. quenctsd sInid-
tton. frantic rage in his voice The
dam 4ishonoP Of IL This from nv