Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-01-26

discover her young mistress -scrst; sad
at this time she showed great interest
in Mrs. Perkins gossip about the family
hoping to CLEAN sopas scrap of informa-
ton that might be of use to her Ia fur
thering her revengeful purpose.
And If mademoiselle had married
against the wishes of Milford Summers,
or without his consent, she would have
lost the whole estateY she asked, one
evening in August, as she slipped her tea
leisurely.
Eyes, if she did so before she was
twenty-five; but after her twenty-6fth
birthday she viii be free to marry whom
soever she pleases; and, as she will be
twenty-five on the seventeenth of next
month, there is not much chance of her
sacrificing the estate at this late day,
after waiting until now"
THAT is So" observed Babette, with
disappointed air. She reflected for
few moments, and flash of intelligence
crossed her face as she asked, "And if
mademoiselle had married in her ex-
treme youth-before she was known as
the heiress of the property-how thenT
Il think she would lose everything"
who would have it after herr"
Sir Godfrey, the late baronet's
brother"
ITO be sure! 1t must have been a great
blow to him when he found himself rob
bed of everything by his brothers in
Justice What did he do? Where did he
go?'
Il don't know. He is as proud as any
of the family, and, when his brother
told him never to come near the place
again, he put on his hat without one
word, and walked away with his head as
high as If he were the heir of thousands.
We've never seen a sight of him since
that day, and it's my belief we never
SHALL
Babette believed she had found the
keynote to Pauline's secret trouble That
there was secret trouble she never doubt
for an instant. She had observed her
mistress too closely to be misled on that
point; she knew that nothing but some
mighty fear could cause those sudden
starts, followed by periods of anxious,
heavy-browed thought, to which she was
SUBJECT And, when Babette went up
stairs, she reasoned the matter out
have heard that she never knew
she was her uncle's heiress until after
her fathers death. What is more likely
then than she should have married out
there In Italy-married some Door idiot
who was caught by her prettS face? And
then, when my lady suddenly finds that
she is rich woman, she is tired of this
poor fool and runs away and enjoys her
life by herself l believe l have found
the dark spot in my fine lady's lifei If
this is as | think, 1 can take from her
her beloved hance and her riches at one
blow How glorious that would ber'
Her face glowed with savage salts
factlon at the bare thought of so COM
plete revenge. She left her seat by the
bay window of Pauline's dressing room.
and paced up and down, her excitement
being too great for her to remain still.
The dhsky gloom deepened until the room
was all in shadow, and presently house
maid came in and lighted the candles in
he large silver branches on the toilet
able.
AS the door closed behind the maid Ba-
BETTE resumed her promenade. and came
o sudden stop as her eyes rested on
ne key left in the lock of a small bronze
'ox. This box contained Miss Mallina's
private keys! She locked up very little
'ut what she did lock up she was rather
particular about, and her keys were in
kept in this Indian box. the
Key of which she carried about with
Ter.
AS Babette stood looking with a dull
fascinated gaze at the key. she heard
he rustic of silken skirts in the gallery
outside With a swoop like a hawks
% swift and noiseless was it, she pluck-
ID the little key from the lock and slim |
'ed 1t into the pocket of her dainty friIl- |
ID apron. The next instant Miss MaIIino
urned the handle of the door and saw
5abette rearranging the lace draneries |
ound the looking glass. She crossed tho
DOM and went straight to the table |
danced quickly at the box, and then
urned to Babette.
Have you seen the key of this box ?'
Not to-day, mademoiselle.
"Provokingw She took it nm in bar
ands and shook it. Yes. the KEYS arc
inside. Babette, l wish you not 70 Leave
hese rooms tonight until I come nm
bed. l have dropped the kew son1a-
Fhere. l don't suppose it will be found |
nul we have daylight to help us-it is |
small Have your supper sent nm to
GU here" ny u
Very good, mademoiselle.
baoette stood with her hands held
Ightly over her heart, listening to the
ustle of the silken skirts along the GAL
cry and down the stairs. Then her
xpression changed from strained atten-
on to vivid triumph. She threw her
lasped hands high over her head. She
'cked both doors, closed one window 20
revent the blinds from iutterinr and
hen unlocked the small bronze box Sha
'ughed as she picked out key from
ne bunch and tried to unlock PauIine's
Irge desk.
AT lastw she whispered. as +ba ,o.,-