The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-12

her. ohefItg 10 explain. she stopped
moment to control herself "Ah,
when ] think of It! She came, mon.
sieur. We took from her her gown ana
put it on Ceclle. She never left the
place again until the carriage stopped
to take her to the boat. AS for us. we
were his slayes."
There was no need that she should
tell me more
"And the go.d?" asked.
She drew key from her pocket ana
gave it to nc.
! "It Is in box upstairs" she said.
l took the key and followed her to
the floor above. The box, of heavy oak,
bound with iron, with steamship and
express labels fresh upon it. stood in
one corner l unlocked 1t and threw
back the lid. Package upon package
lay In 1t, just as they had come from
the subtreasury. locked the box
again and put the key in my pocket.
"Of course" said as turned to go,
Il can only repeat your story to my
companion. He and Miss IIolladay
VIII decide what steps to take"
They bowed without replying, and I
went out along the path between tho
trees. leaving them alone with theb
dead.
Joy is Il great rcstorer, and n week
of happiness in this enchanted Paris
had wrought wonders In our tunior
ana his betrothed. 1t was good to look
ut them, to smile at them sometimes.
rs when they stood unseeing before
some splendid canvas at the Louvre.
The past was put aside forgotten.
They lived only for the future
And near future too. There was no
reason why it should be deferred, and
so they were welded. with only we
three Tor witnesses, ut the pretty
chapel of st. LukeS, near the Boule-
ward Montparnasse.
There was Il little breakfast after
ward at Mrs. Kcmbalrs apartment,
and then our hostess babe them adieu.
and her daughter and drove with
them across Paris to the Care de LYON.
where they were to take train for a.
fortnight on the Riviera. We waved
them Off and turned back together
ut Is desccration to use n carriage
Oh such day." said my companion.
So we dismissed ours and sauntered
toward the river.
$50 that Is the end Of the story" she
said musingly.
"Of their story, yes" interjected.
But there are still certain things I
do not quite understand" she contin-
ucd. not needing me.
"YesY
Tor instance. why did they trouble
to keep her prisoner?"
Family nffectIonT'
Nonsense! There could be none
Besides, the man dominated them, and
/ believe him to have been capable Of
any crime"
Perhaps he meant the hundred thou
sa4a t4h 4hahd, % he m %ght~ ~t hope Is get %6th
indefinitely. Without her.
"Well, without herr"
"Oh, the plot grows and grows the
more one thinks Of it! believe it grew
under his hands in just the same way.
1 don't doubt that it would have come
ut last to Miss Holladay's death by
some subtle means, to the substitution
Of her sister for her. After q year or
two abroad who could have detected
it2 And then - oh, then she would
have married Fajolle again, and they
would have settled down to the enjoy
ment Of her fortune. And he would
have been a great man Id oh, n very
great man."
My companion nodded.
"Touche!" she cried.
bowed my thanks. was learning
French rapidly.
"But Frances did not see them again?"
"Oh, no. She preferred not''
"And the money!"
WAS left in the box: / sent back
the key. She wished it so. After all,
it was her mother
Yes. OF course. Perhaps she was
not really so bad"
"She wasn't" said decidedly. But
the man
WAS genius. I'm almost sorry he's
dead"
"Tm more than sorry. 1t has taken
an interest out of life."
We had come out upon the bridge OF
Austerltz aud paused involuntarily.
"And now the mystery is cleared
away" she said, "and the prince and
the princess are welded, just as they
were in the fairy tales of our child
hood. It's q good ending"
"For all stories." added.
She turned and looked at me-
'"There nre other stories" explained.
| '"Theirs is not the only one"
| mo"
The spirit Of Parls-or perhaps the
June sunshine-was In my veins, run
! ming riot, clamorous, not to be re-
pressed.
Certainly not. There might be an
other, for instance, with you and me
as the principals"
i dared not look ut her. could only
stare ahead of me down mt the water.