The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-13

Monsieur Is very good she re-
piled, with downcast eyes. But the
picture is like one that Pauline has
locked up in her drawer. l do not
know who IL is, but sometimes
think it is my mother
Presently I said:
Don't you remember your moth
er?'
"'Ah, no. when l look back It is
only Pauline, nothing but Pauline
only Pauline! and what is the
matter with Pauline, pray?' said
wlry, sinuous voice, and looking, we
both saw the wrinkled, yellow visage
of the old woman.
"A look of vivid dislike crossed
the girls face, and she hastened
away.
"'Who is Marguerite?' I said, alb
ruptly
"'Do you not guess? What
should she be but a poor founding
whor; for sweet charitys sake /
adopted?'
Something In the subtle evil look
in oil Pauline's face as she said this
made me certain that 1t was lie
Then Marguerite returned.
" Letters, monsieur!' she said.
"Thc superscription of yours
caught my eye in an instant. In my
surprise and pleasure l pronounced
your name aloud. There was an in
stantaneous crash at the other end
of the room. turned astonished and
beheld that hideous old Pauline-her
face a deathly, yellowish white, and
her eyes wide open and glaring fixed
ly upon me.
Monsieur she said, in strange,
harsh voice. Marguerite ran for
ward.
Pauline, Paulinel' she said, in
terror.
Are you ill?' asked, going up
| to her.
Thanks, monsieur! I am not i'll.
Twas an accursed wasp stung me.
Mon Dieu! twas like a stab,' she re-
piled, angrily.
"The sting was a pretense. Could
the mention of your name have af-
fected her so powerfully? Am /
right in my impression that your
family is from Southern France?"
For answer to this voluminous
epistle, Basil received a half sheet
from his friend:
81 am coming; expect me on
Thursday"
Basil came in at dinner time, his
eyes shining with pleasure at this
| prospect.
| Monsieur has good news" said
Pauline, with scrutinizing look at
| his face.
| Basil glanced at her and perceived
that the glittering brooch was miss
ing.
| you are right, Mile. Pauline. My
| friend, Louis Duval, is coming to
make me a visit. Would 1t be con-
venient for you to accommodate my
friend also?"
Monsieur and his friend are most
welcome to the whole house." re-
turned Pauline, in a peculiar tone.
1t seemed to Basil Deane that night
as IL his life had but just begun.
Hitherto he had failed, and his life
had had too many burdens, and too
few hopes, for him to think of asking
another to share it; but now all was
changed nothing seemed impossible.
He loved Marguerite.
While he thought of her, he saw
the flutter of her light dress in one
of the shaded alleys.
'Marguerite!" he said, coming
upon her suddenly.
"Ah, 1t Is you, monsieur" and her
face was illumined.
II want you, Marguerite, to have
and to keep forever"
Her hands trembled--she faltered
out:
81 thought Pauline sent you for
mel"
Nobody sent me. saw you and
came because / love you and wanted
to be with you. VIII you be my wife,
Marguerite?"
"Your wife, monsieur! I am q
poor ribbon weaver!" her innocent
eyes lifted to his in frank surprise.
"And l am poor artist. There is
no disparity between us. The only
question is of your loving me-
There Is no question of that, mon
sieur."
The moon had dropped below the
dark belt of forest that shut In the
little valley where Basil fell asleep,
When he awoke the sun was far up
the sky. The remembrance of the
past night came to him like dream
of ineffable happiness.
When he came downstairs he
opened the door OF the little kitchen
1t was still and empty; no fire on the
/ hearth; no signs of life anywhere.
He crossed the room, and after tap
: ping at the door of the bedroom
where Pauline slept, opened 1t and
looked in. The bed had been undis.
turbed since the day before. The
women had disappeared. A thorough
, examination of the house showed
/ that, while no. bulky articles had
been taken, nothing of value was left
} The next day Basil Deane present
| ed himself in the city and told Louis
/, OF the mysterious fitting.
| Louis mobile face had growr
5 sober. He half-opened his lips t.
speak, but the distress In BASIL
{ countenance checked the words. X,
;. was thinking.
r "You do not speak You think
I am deceived"