The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-02-17

I
| his brain. and the look in her yioIe
ewes thrilled him with q strange ney
| feeling. Bllt-loye her? All. Their
was some one coming.
Yes said a voice. which he rnc0c
nized as that of the Honorable
Claude's. "Daveneeh's hooked H.
/ right enough. Ni@e little thing. lal
OF course, its her money bags he.
after All, well, we've al col to maf1N
some day-fcr love TT In r.; but IL
| lI~re in his case with yeaepance, -
No more The voices passed oui g.
earshot. Stunned and da>ed. Davl-
regh dropped the hand be held. aaC
| the twain faced each other speachlpss
| This, then. was the end Davenech
| rose and his face WIS almost as white
as that of the girl beside him rs. with
out speaking he drew Niolot's trembl-
ing fingers through his arm and led her
back to the ballroom
At the entrance they stopped as if
by mutual consent. and Dayeaegh with
drew his arm. For moment he let
his deep eyes rest on the girls stricken
face and there WAS love rpmOrSa and
bitter shame in their depths, Then,
having uttered no word, he hurried
away. with ashen lips and heart full
OF burning. binding pain. He had
iAsulted her beyond all hope of pardon,
grieved her beyond all forgiveness,
and-he loved her.
For the next fortnight Lady Cheyne
was at her wits end what to do with
her charge. Day by day the girl grew
whittier and thinner, like some lovely
pale flower whose strength was grad
ually being Slapped at the roots; yet
in spite of notes, letters and frantic
letters, Maurice Davenegh made no
sign, and finally it was ascertained that
he had left town, destination unknown.
1t was in vain that Lady Cheyne
tuned and fretted; there was nothing
for 1t but to leave town also and try if
the sea Dreezes would bring the color
back TO Nlolet's cheeks. 1t was nui-
sance and fearful upsettlng OF plans;
but the girl looked Ike ghost, and
people were beginning to talk.
Come on, now; yer purse-quick.
If We holler-'
The tramp raised his stick threat
enlngly, and his grip on the girls
slender wrist tightened to an intensity
that was painful.
Nlolet Hunstan-for it was She was
'remplng violently. In the middle OF
the ROAD lay her bicycle, and she was
covered with aust IRON mead to foot.
she gave frantic look up and down
the long road, but there was not soil
tary pelnS IN sight.
y se near me: amt got no time
10 waste. "ot: Yer won [! no!
we II see.
Gripping her arms the ruffian forced
her back against the bank, thrust one
black hand over her mouth, and with
the other began fumbling with her
dress. The poor girl felt her senses
going. She ceased to struggle, a queer
haze came before her eyes and then
then something big and dark doomed up
there was the sound OF heavy blow.
Immediately by something
between a curse and a groan. and then
darkness.
"What mckv thing Won hammered
to he nassinp, sbon1d naver N,ve
forgiven myself otherwise"
THANK Heaven was in time,, an
swered Davenegb as no laid tho I'm.
conscious girl on tho sofa in I.dy
Chevne's boudoir at tho bote, "Abr"
At that moment Violet ononod bor
ewes and as N1aurico bent ovor tho
rouch LADY Cbevne disoroot1v With
drew. The girl looked nm at him with
, startled exnr,ssion thon n,i.h
shivar closod bor ovas oooir Noth;no