Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-01-26

at Inlb time Sne showed great INTEREST,"
In Mrs. Perkins gossip about the family
hoping to giean sopae scrap of informa-
ton that might be of use to her in fur
thering her revengeful purpose.
And if mademoiselle had married
against the wishes of Milford Summers,
or without his consent, she would hare
lost the whole estateY' she asked, one
evening in August, as she slipped her tea
leisurely.
Yes, if she did so before she was
twenty-five; but after her twenty-ffth |
birthday she Win be free TO marry whom
soever she pleases; and, as she will be
twenty-five on the seventeenth of next |
month, there is not much chance of her
sacrificing the estate at this late day, |
after waiting until now"
THAT is So" observed Babette, with |
disappointed air. She reflected for a
few moments, and a flash of intelligence |
crossed her face as she asked, "And if |
mademoisele had married in her ex-
treme youth-before she was known as
the heiress of the property-how then?'
Il think she would lose everything"
who would have it after herr?
''Sir Godfrey, the late baronet's
brother"
To be sure! 1t must have been a great
blow to him when he found himself rob
bed of everything by his brothers in
justice. What did he do? Where did he
gog'
Il don't know. He is as proud as any
of the family, and, when his brother
told him never to come near the place
again, he put on his hat without one
word, and walked away with his head as
high as if he were the heir of thousands.
We've never seen a sight of him since
that day, and it's my belief we never
shall"
Babette believed she had found the
keynote to Pauline's secret trouble That
there was secret trouble she never doubt
for an instant. She had observed her
mistress too closely to be misled on that
point; she knew that nothing but some
mighty fear could cause those sudden
starts, followed by periods Of anxious,
heavy-browed thought, TO which she was
subject. And. when Babette went up
stairs she reasoned the matter out.
Il have heard that she never knew
she was her uncle's heress until after
| her fathers death. What is more likely
then than she should have married out
there in Italy-married some poor idiot
who was caught by her pretty face? And
then, when my lady suddenly finds that
she is a rich woman, she is tired of this
poor fool, and runs away and enjoys her
| life by herself. l believe | have found
the dark spot in my fine lady's life! If
this is as l think, l can take from her
her beloved hance and her riches at one
| blow. How glorious that would be"
| Her face glowed with savage salts
faction at the bare thought Of so COM
| plete a revenge. She left her seat by the
bay window of Pauline's dressing room,
and paced up and down, her excitement
being too great for her to remain still.
The dusky gloom deepened until the room
was all in shadow, and presently a house
maid came in and lighted the candles in
the large silver branches on the toilet
table.
As the door closed behind the maid Ba-
bette resumed her promenade, and came
to a sudden stop as her eyes rested on
the key left in the lock of small bronze
box This box contained Miss Mailing S
private keys! She locked up very little;
but what she did lock up she was rather
particular about, and her keys were in
variably kept in this Indian box, the
her.
AS Babette stood looking with a dull
fascinated gaze at the key, she heard
the rustic of silken skirts in the gallery
outside. With a swoop like a hawks
so swift and noiseless was it, she pluck
ed the little key from the lock and slip
ped it into the pocket of her dainty frill
ed apron. The next instant Miss Mailing
| Al. s - lo0
Babette rearrangng the lace draperie'
round the looking glass She crossed thu
room and went straight to the table
glanced quickly at the box, and theI
, turned to Babette.
Have you seen the key of this box ?
/ mot to-day, mademoiselle."
'ProvOkingT She took it up in he
hands and shook it. Yes, the keys ar
. inside. Babette, l wish you not to leav
these rooms tonight until l come III
to bed. l have dropped the key some
! where. l don't suppose it will be foun
! until we have daylight to help us-it
so small Have your supper sent up t
you here"
every good, mademoiselle."
, Babette stood with her hands he'll
tightly over her heart, listening to tn
I rustic of the silken skirts along the ga
J lery and down the stairs Then he
expression changed from strained after
n ton to vivid triumph. She threw he
! clasped hands high over her head. Sh
locked both doors, closed one window I
prevent the blinds from futtering, an
then unlocked the small bronze box. Sh
laughed as she picked out key frol
the bunch and tried to unlock Pauline
large desk.
"At lastr she whispered, as the loo
] of the desk few back.
CrO he cnntinuedl
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