The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-02-24

Paul came into the room.
will probably transpire later. appre-
ciate the honor, but beg to decline it.
All is said"
He spread out apologize hands.
"All is not said" he corrected, with
a dangerous suavity. II acknowledge
the claim enjoyed by your sex to the
last word In this matter. however, /
am inclined to deny it to the individ-
nal"
De Chauxville was vain, but he was
clever enough to conceal his vanity.
He was hurt, but he was man enough
to hide It, Under the passivity which
was his by nature and practice he had
learned to think very quickly. But
now he was at disadvantage. He
was unnerved by his love for Eta, by
the sight of Eta before him daringly,
audaciously beautiful. by. the thought
that she might never be his.
i"It is not only that love you," he
said; "that l have a certain position to
offer you. These l. beg you to take at
their poor value. But there are other
circumstances known to both, of us
which are worthy Of your attention.
circumstances which may dispose you
to reconsider your determination"
Nothing will do that she replied;
mot any circumstance" . :
Eta was speaking to De Chauxyille
and thinking Of Paul Alexis. +,
~ should like to know since when
you have discovered that you never
could under any circumstances marry
me-" pursued NJ. de, Cliauxville. mot
that 1t matters, since 1t is too late.
am not going to allow. you to draw
| back now. You have gone too far. All
this winter you have allowed me to
pay you conspicuous and marked at
teptions. You have conveyed to me
and to the world at large the impress
sion that had merely to speak in or
der to obtain your hand"
81 doubt" said Eta. whether the
world at large is so deeply interested
In the matter as yos appear to i'm
agine I am sorry that l have gone
| too far, but reserve to myself the
right of retracing my footsteps wher-
ever and whenever please. l am. sor-
~ conveyed to you or to any one else
the impression that you had only to
speak in order to obtain my hand, and
can only conclude that your over
weening vanity has led you into q
mistake which l will be generous
enough to hold my tongue about"
The diplomatist was for a moment
taken aback. -
BUT he exclaimed. with indignant
arms outspread, and even In his own
language he could find nothing to add
to the expressive monosyllable.
II think YOU had. better CO." said
Eta quietly. She went toward the
fireplace and rang the. bell.
NJ. de Chauxville took up his hat and
gloves.
,"Of course" he said coldly. his voice
shaking with suppressed rage, there
: is some reason for this. There is, Il
presume, some one else-some one has
been interfering. No one 1interferes
with me with, impunity. / shall make
it my business. to find out who is
this .a
He did not finish, for the door was
thrown open by the butler, who an.
nounced;
"Mr. Alexis" fs1f
Paul came into the. room with bow
toward De Chanxville. who was going
out, and whom he knew slightly.
Il came. back" he said. ito ask what
evening next week you are. free. |
have box for The Huguenots.'
Paul did not stay. The thing was ar.
ranged In a few moments, and as he
left the drawing room he heard the
wheels Of De Chauxville's carriage.
In a few minutes Maggie came into
the room. She was carrying a bundle
Of flannel.
1.-THE weakest thing ever did" she
said cheerfully, was to join Lady
Crewel's working guild. Two flannel
petticoats for the young by Thursday
morning. chose the young because
the petticoats are so ludicrously small
III you never do anything weaker
than that" said Eta. looking into the
6re. ''you will not come to much
harm"
Perhaps not. What have you beer
doing weaker?"
Eyes. ! have been quarreling with
M. de Chauxville.'
Maggie held up petticoat and look
ed at her cousin through the orifice in
tended for the waist of the young.
1T one could manage 1t without low
ering ones dignity" she said. 81 thint