Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-21

toward the villa. The meaning of all
ON my attention, If this We're true,
and it seemed plausible enough in view
Of all that had transpired here. I was
indeed confronted by new and serious
danger Happily danger was not new
fellpw-traveler; l merely turned over
in my mind the best means to meet 1T.
Going rather out of my way. 1 found
the grooms without much difficulty,
and telling them we We're to leave
Sceaux at once. ordered the horses sad
died. and made ready at a side door
where ] directed them to wait. My own
mind was to tell Jerome nothing of 1T.
but simply TO mount the best horse and
ride away aloneif that course became
necessary
will break IN bit just here TO
speak of an incident which occurred
that very night in the modest boudoir
of Madame de la Mora. Had l but
known of it at the time, 1t would have
saved me many weary months of suf-
fering.
Madame Agnes de la Mora sat placid
ly, her work basket by her side, busted
about some lace she was mending The
chevalier studied a number of military
maps of Louisiana at his table. 1t was
pretty picture of domestic harmony,
then quite questionable at SceauX. A
timid rap at the door, and voice:
Sister may 1 come in?"
Yes, child" and her sister Charlotte
slipped silently in and sat herself upon
the floor at madame's feet. There was
u striking similarity between the two.
Madame, for all her dignitied title, be-
ing but year the elder, and she seant
20. Charlottec, somewhat slighter and
more delicately colored, was even of
greater beauty than her sister, With
much promise for the years to come.
To the casual observer though, espe-
cially when viewed apart, they seemed
almost reflections one of the other.
There was something of Il loving
guardianship in the attitude of the eld-
or, OF coniiding trust In that of the
Younger. as she leaned Ter head upon
her sisters knee in pcnsiNe meditation.
sister, l must tell you of something
I know not that did we'll or ill.," and
she lifted her face With Il surety of
sympathy.
What is it. dear, what weighty mat
I ter troubles YOU now 2?
The chcvalier looked up long enough
to say.
Have you torn your frock or only
quarrcled again With the good able
over your task" The girl very evident
y had nothing to fear from his harsh
ness.
MOL No! Don't tease: it's really
Important. This day at noon Madame
\ chartrain WAS i'm her chamber you
4 know the young man who came with
Nj. Jerome?" dc la Mora nodded
/ The same l ran into at the door ??
and she flushed again at the memory
of our discontinue.
( We'll, today noon at Madam Char
train's leard that danger threatened
: him concerning some papers or some
thing which he has and Madame du
Maine, too, they mean him harm; and
I and-well, ! told him. Did do Ill
sister,
What is that Charlotte? Come
! here
She crossed the room obediently and
stood before him.
The chcvalier asked; How did II
happen. chile Tell me all about 1T
where you saw him, who was there
| and all.
So she won, on tn tell of her seek
! ing me in the park, and her hurrie
| warning.
We'll, what did he say to all that
! He didn't say anything: ] gave hi i
| no chance: ] just ran up near him al :
told him MS quick as ever | could tn
lie had better go off somewhere, ar j
/ then and then-well, ] just ram awe,
! again. He looked SO startled and sur
5 liised he could not say anything
i Whom l turned again to peep through
the hedge he WAS still standing there
| with his hands stretched out as if he
would have liked to stop me, but wa.
already gone
/ CONTINUED Next Week)