Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-24

love You, Frank? Ha, ha, hal My poor boy.
It makes me laugh to think Of you married to
that woman. What does she know Of love? /
know her, tell you, and her class BAH you
are blushing like the girl herself II she could hear
me. tell you"
"katherinl be silent!"
The Countess stamped her foot. "I will speak.
But there after all, it ia needless; why should |
speak OF her? Here are you and I alone to-
gether. She approached him in one long sweep
ing stride and put her hands upon his shoulders
you have been so cold lately, Frank, so dis
tant' 1t is not that girl, ] shall not believe
that, for you have not seen her until today II
must be this cursed English climate But l.,
Frank, look at mel"
He caught her by the wrists, but she main
tanned her hold
Look me in the eyes; tell me what you see
there, dear one"
Cressngham vainly attempted to push her from
him.
"Katherin," he muttered hoarsely, "think,
think!"
"I have thought" she answered. smiling
strangely, her bosom heaving with sudden gust
of passion. 'I have thought and thought. but
nothing alters me. You are mine, and l am
yours, for my love is absolute. Frank, do you
understand"
"You are mad" he cried.
"Yes; am mad-for love Of you" She sway
ed towards him until her body touched his trem-
bling limbs. Frank" she whispered, her breath
hot upon his face; 'T love you; have you nothing
to say to me"
Whitefaced and desperate he thrust her fierce
ly from him and fell back. She stood with parted
lips, with sobbing breasts gazing at him, a
speechless but marvelously perfect picture, unable
Immediately to believe, to realize, he had rebuffed
her.
Cressingham stared at the Aoor statue of
misery and complete detection. He felt that be-
sides Madame's he was the centre of another
woman's conjectures; he knew that Miss Elliott
must have heard all, perhaps had seen all, for
twice had the curtains slightly moved. With all
his soul he longed that moment for freedom
to disclose himself to let this siren see how ut
terly her power was gone. But he was oath
bound, and. moreover, behind another door lurk-
ed the Count Won Oelten, a spy upon him and
guardian of his trust
Madame watched him, her brain thronged with
fevered thoughts and agonized suspicious. She
on the verge of tears. Stranging a hysteri-
cal sob, she drew herself erect, slowly, slowly,
always staring at him.
Frank" she gasped at last
"Well!" he answered, grufhy and rudely.
''What do you mean"
"I not the fool you think me, that is all"
She caught her breath and cried: "Explain!"
one hand pressed tightly to her heart.
at is YOU who should explain; you visit me
and pretend to love me, but you have another
lover who visits you"
Madame sighed deeply and breathed again, her
mind at ease. ''After all, he is only jealous"
she told herself. Perhaps he had seen-ah, that
was it. She smiled the wonderful subtle smile
with which she had known how to win to her
so many hearts, and murmured: care you jealous,
dear one. Then of whom?"
"You best know that"
"Ah Frank, you need not be. love none
but you"
"Iiar"
Still she smiled.
Frank, dear, you are wrong; really you are
wrong I think I know what you mean; you
saw me last Thursday night"
Cressingham seized upon the chance: Eyes;
last Thursday night, Madame. Little did you
dream that I was by"
"You saw me bid farewell to a man at my own
door; was that wrong of me?"
but at what an hour, Madame!"
at was late"
Morning Madame!"
even so. Frank, dear, presently you will
90 on your knees to me and ask me to forgive
you; and L"
f. "And you Madame?"
"Will not forgive you, dear, unless you trust
me now"
He folded his arms biting his lips to force
himself to keep up the cursed comedy. II can
not"
"Then ask me what you wish.
"Who was the man."
Madame facing him, always smiling that strange
mysterious smile, caught up her cloak from the
chair beside her and threw it on her shoulders,
then her wrap while Cressingham stood idle,
stiff and still
"The man''-Madame glided slowly to the outer
door-"was my own father" She paused.
Cressingham uttered queer choking cry, so
great was his surprise: "Your father!"
"I have said it,
Cressingham threw out his hands. II don't
believe you" he said brutally.
Madame still smiled. 81 love you, Frank, but
do not try me too far. ] shall go now. No;
don't come near me; your touch would burn
am almost hating you, Remember, you have
called me liar-twice. Tomorrow. come to me
with YOUR apology. Perhaps ! shall forgive"
With swift movement she threw open the
door. passed and was gone. Cressingham listen
ed dumbly in the silence to the patter OF her
footsteps on the passage. Then he staggered,
rather than walked. to his bedroom.
Oeltien was standing just within the threshold
"I shall show you to your room now II you
please"
"Very we'll, my Lord" said Oetltjen 'T
should. however tell you that 1 have been lis
tening to your conversation"
.Indeed, and you approved" Cressingham spoke
very loudly, hoping that Miss Elliott would hear
He had conceived the sudden wild hope of at
tempting to excupate himself in her eyes thus
"I think that you went little too far. Your
acting, however, was on the whole superb"
Thanks" drily. "My fear is, however, for the
morrow.
.hoN