Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-06

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the hero's lot was inevitably linked
with that of every one Of Importance
in his generation Yet Georges ap-
peared to have been unacquainted
with these personages. Robespierre
being the only name Of consequence
mentioned in his letters, and then it
appeared in much the same fashion
practiced by her father in alluding to
the governor of the state, who had the
misfortune to be unpopular with Mr..
Carewe. But this did not dim her
great-uncle's luster in Miss Betty's
eyes or lessen for her the pathetic
romance of the smile he wore
Beholding this smile, one, remember
ed the end to which his light footsteps
had led him, and it was unavoidable to
picture him left lying in the empty
street behind the heels Of the flying
crowd. carefully forming that same
smile on his lips and taking much
pride in passing with some small, Gym
ical speech, murmured to himself, oon-
osrning the inutility of gentleman's
getting shot by his friends for merely
being present to applaud them. SO.
fancying him thus with his yellow hair,
his scarlet striped waistcoat and his
tragedy, the young girl felt share OF
family greatness or at least Of pictur-
esQueness descend to her, and she
smiled sadly back upon the smile In
the picture and dreamed about It's orig
inal night after night.
Whether or no another figure, that of
dark young man in white hat, with
white kitten etching his wrist in red,
found place in her dreams at this period
It is impossible 10 determine. She did
not see him again. It is quite another
thing, hazardous to venture, to state
that he did not see her. At all events,
It is certain that many people who had
never beheld her were talking of her;
that Rouen was full Of contention con-
corning her beauty and her gift Of mu-
sic, for song can be heard through
an open window. And how did it hap
| pen that Crailey Gray knew that it
was Miss Carewe's habit to stroll in her
garden for half an hour or so each
evening before retiring and that she
went to mass every morning soon aft
er sunrise? Crailey Gray never rose
at or near sunrise In his life, though
he sometimes beheld 1t from another
point Of view, as the end Of the even
ing. It appears that some one must
have told him.
One night when the moon lay white
on the trees and housetops Miss Betty
paused in her evening promenade and
seated herself upon bench on the
borders of the garden, wrought upon
by the tender incentive to signs and
melancholy which youth in loneliness
dnds IN a loneliness Of the earth, for
what reason she could not have told,
since she was without care or sorrow
that she knew except the French reyo-
luton, yet tears shone upon the long
lashes. She shook them off and looked
up with sudden odd consciousness.
The next second she sprang to her feet
with Q gasp and choked outcry, her
hands pressed to her breast.
Ten PAGES in front Of her gap In the
shrubbery where tall trees rose left a
small radiant area Of illumination like
that Of limelight In a theater, Its bril-
liancy intensified by the dark foliage
behind. 1t was open to view only from
the bench by which she stood, and ap-
peared. indeed, like the stage OF little
theater, stage occupied by bizarre
! figure. For, in the center Of this shin
ing patch, with the light strong on his
face, was standing fair haired young
man dressed in yellow coat, a scarlet
and white striped waisteoast. wearina
jauntily cooked black hat on his head.
And even to the last detail, the ribbon
laces above the ankle and the gold
buckled shoes, he was the sketch Of
Georges Meilhac sprung into life.
About this slender figure there hung
9 wan sweetness like fine mist, al
most an ethereality in that light; yet In
the pale face lurked something reck-
less, something of the actor, too; and,
though his smile was gentle and visit
ful, there was twinkle behind it not
seen at first, something amused and
impish; small surprise underneath,
like flea in rose Jar.
4 Fixed to the spot by this apparition,
Miss Betty stood wildly staring, her
straining eyelids showing the white
above and below the large brown iris.
Her breath came faster and deeper
until between her parted lips 1t be-
came vocal in a quick sound like sob.
At that he spoke.
i Forgive me!' The voice was low,
vibrant and SO exceedingly musical
that he might have been accused of
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