The Washington herald., 1906-10-11

smiled at first. but her words sank into
his heart later, and in contemplation of
her actions he became so fearful that she
might really dare 20 try 70 realize her
threat, that he had that afternoon forced
himself. to cali upon and warn Miss El-
lott in the manner that has already been
described.
The remembrance Of that interview
made him restless and extremely self
dissatisfied. How gauche and awkward
he had been; how melodramatic and fool
iSh must have appeared his words. his
spoken fears! They now appeared wild
and Scuseless TO himself. and vet he
could not regret that he had spoken That
woman was capable of anything, and she
was jealous as the devil; even IN the
cold light of day he could not divesr
himself of a certain undefinable dread Of
her. She inspired him now with the same
consciousness Of potential evil that the
sight Of serpent gives TO all human
creatures, the same intangible power OF
fascination, too, that renders even the
most loathing curious.
Toying with his solitary dinner, he
dreamed Of her. and afteTward, trying
vainly TO read. her elflsh face with its
slow, subtle smile eclipsed the printed
pages on his knee, defying him 20 concen-
tratc his mind on aught but her. How he
wished that he had never met her, that
his life had never been inflicted with the
burden of her blighting personality, All. /
II only that what other things had been,
what more tender, peaceful, and purer
visions had now been hisi That thought
was bitterest Of all for the sweet might
have been" had departed from the re-
gions OF the possible
FranCine Elliott's face took fashion in
his fancy. too calm In its purity and self |
control, pitifUl for his pain but immeas-
urabiy scornful for his weakness. The /
expression Of IL maddened him. so in
nnitely far 1t placed her from his reach /
How good she was. lie thought: how
beautiful how strong, And he had lost
her. for what? Dead Sea fruit, Ruin al /
most disgrace: the love of a woman
whom he had already almost ceased to /
find desirable
The clock struck ten, and still he rested, /
muSinS, gazing always into the glowing I
fire which his servant without his cog /
nizance had periodically kept replenished. +
AT II be aroused himself, FOR his man an
noUnced visitor. It was strange 20 /
come back TO things real. from the land /
of dreams He caught himself looking /
curiously all about him, at the furniture. /
ot the pictures, at the floor, as though he /
had returned from some long sojourn in I
"a foreign country and expected to dis (
cover here and there the handiwork of
time. Last of all, he saw his visitor and
slowly got TO his feet, struggling 10 collect /.
his thoughts,
"Ah. he said. Ludwig Won Oeltien"
Yes, my lord; ! hope I find you well" /
'Oh, an, quite. thank y0U-get chair, /
won't you? ] fancy I must have been
half asleep
NO wonder, in a cozy nook like this"
said The other, glancing in surprise ut the 4
iuNuriant appointments Of the room /
'Himmel. he cried suddenly, mot, sure
ly not Franchia. that?" pointing to a 4
large CTUCidNiOn done on copper, which 4
swung beside a pier glass rn the mantel /!
It's an old favor-ts af mine" said 4
Ciesslngham, Il always take il ahoui 4
with me. The coIOrs are so rich and rest T
ful YOU know and tie Treatment So
quaint and medieval"
It's q perfect treasure" examining il 4
critically. Ny father has small one. a 1
copy / fancy. / should ike him to see 4
ibis, he's "a collector
Indeed, You have returned from
FTaBce2'
YESTERDAY I have just left" He
madc peculiar sign with his hands
What, PerigOgd2"
ssh. Yes He goes tomorrow to
Brussels on some mysterious business or F.
other. The man is a marvel: Who do 4
you think was with him 90
u M fool az riddles.
''Thc Prince OF Wales"
Nonsense"
II beg your pardon my lord
Forgive me, count. you took my breath /
away He sent for you, ] suppose. ] /
have not heard from him yet"
BE easy; you VIII. Tic sent for me to /
carry you message
All Lord Francis Crcssingham's /.
monOcle became dispIaCed-an infallible /
sign with him Of mental agitation.
lie is dissatisfied: he bids you waste no /
further time, but get 20 work imme-
diately-"
Cressingham's checks colored slowly 1
with anger aud embarrassment He sent 4
only verbal message then2"
Yes. and appointed ME besides 10 an
unpleasant duty. As he has not forbidden I
me 10 speak J shall inform you Of it,
am TO be a spy on YOU. my lord"
What Numbered Cressingham. spring /
ing abruptly to his feet; he does not 4
trust meZ7
OeItjen waved his hand Softly. soft
ly, he murmered with a hunorously 4
dcprccating smile. He trusts nobody. /
III my turn ], too. am watched by an un- /
known agent. lie makes no secret Of his \
methods. and quite frankly disclosed his /
arrangements fOT-what shall 7 SAVIOUR
comfort"
Cressinghams indignation changed pres 4
emily 10 miTth. The qUaintness of the I
plan appealed TO him, and he resumed his 4
seat, laughing a little but his laughter I
was half-hearted.
You VIII have a bad time, fear.
count, do you propose to sleep on my
doorstep 7 hope you won't bore too
many holes through the doors, and there
are one or two cabinets and things I'd .
like you to respect-for INSTANCE, that
old
Excuse me. struck in the count with .
dignity; really the matter is serious; we .
are, I think. men of honor"
7 hope so, drily
II do not like my position nc all
Il am quite of your way OF thinking
Il am an officer of the German army /
Cressingham eyed him interrogativeIy. /
Il of the English army" ne remarked 4
Besides that We are members Of
Just so. whose orders 1 must obey"
SO ! suppose must J.
'Precisely-but afterward--
'Afterward2 Count"
"Afterward my lord, we shall be free
agents, and should you feel I'm any way
aggrieved by what I am obliged 90 do In /
the course Of my present duty-you un- /
derstand me?'
Proceed.
why, I shall hold myself entirely at
your service"
Cresingham put up his eye-glass and 1
surveyed the German with visage calm I