Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-20
smoke was whIried away.

mixture OF French and English. what
a chance! What good fortune that you
were In your room. m'sieurr'
She had closed the window with q
nervous SILVER at the cold and then
stepped back into the full light.
fairly gasped as looked at her.
| Charming she had been gowned ac-
| cording TO the New York fashion: now
she was radiant IN a costume whose
| gorgeousness seemed just the setting
her beauty needed. At the moment II
| completely dezzled me. but was able
afterward. In calmer mood, to
analyze 1.-THE crimson petticoat the
embroidered chemise with its fold upon
fold OF lace. showing through the silken
shoulder scarf; the necklace OF gold
beads and bracelets, studs. brooches
what not. The sight OF Higgins stand
ing staring az this vision with open
mouth brought me TO my senses.
| Il am very happy TO have been there.
madame" said, and started toward
the door
But YOU viii not go" she protested.
| "M'sieur Tremaine VIII be here I'm a
/ moment He VIII desire to thank YOU"
The words were accompanied by
smile there was no resisting. falter-
ed. stopped.
Higgins was still staring from the
/ hall Mrs. Tremaine stepped forward
and calmly shut the door in his face.
In that instant a quick shiver ran
/ through me. rs though I had been
| suddenly imprisoned with a wild beast
"A shiver that had In Il something
| fearfully delightful And let me add
here that the emotion which Cecily-
/ FOR 50 / came TO know her-raised in
me was not I'm the least admiration in
the ordinary sense OF the term. but
rather an overpowering fascination,
such as one sometimes feels in watch
ing a magnificent tigress pacing back
and forth In her cage. Such. / believe
was the feeling she inspired in most
men. even I'm Tremaiue himself
She smiled at nae AGAIN as she swept
past me 90 q couch i'm one corner aud
sank upon g.
'SiS m'sieur" she said. and motion
ed me 90 chair close at hand Il was
very lonesome. / was weary OF talk
iug 90 my own body"
! / cannot reproduce the soft dialect
she spoke. ANY effort TO do SO makes
/ 10 appear gro,cSQuc. 50 I shall not try.
At first il puzzled me occasionally. but
1 socn came to understand her per
fectly.
$50 was l." said. smiling at the
quaint expression. Il was growing
very sick Of my own body. Have you
been In New York longy"
LESS than q mouth. msieur: and I
DO not Ike Ia. 10 is too cold. too gray"
"Ah, you have come In n bad time"
/ said. wondering az her almost child
ish expression OF misery. wait until
June. Then YOU viii seer'
June. Al. we shall not remain SO
long-I az least, have promised 10
stay one month longer. but more than
that-impossiblcr
She reached out and took up a ciga-
rette from pile which lay on a taboret
beside the couch.
1T was thus sha curtains caught"
she laughed and. after whiT or two.
flung the still blazing taper over her
shoulder "Pouf. And they were all
In dame. \ moment before I was
longing for excitement. any excite
ment whatever. but that sudden burst
OF fire frightened me. / rushed out.
cried FOR help. and" she finished. with
a charming little gesture, spoiled your
smoke Try one OF these"
There was no resisting her. II was
| like playing with fire. / took a ciSa-
rette and lighted IL.
AT Fond-COrre there was much 70
do" she continued. with little sigh.
Here there Is nothing bat 20 smoke.
smoker
Fond-Corre2" queried.
Just beyond ST Pierre" size ey-
| planned. closing her ewes with dvllsl.t
at the memory. There was our home
j can see n again In It's grove OF cocoa
trees running down 20 the gray sand.
with the waves tapping gently over IL.
Tambou. How I sigh for itP' and she
stretched her arms above her head with
a gesture or Infinite longing
key ratified in the lock. the door
| opened and man came In. 1t was
| quite In keeping with the dream-the
enraged husband with naked scimiter.
Even here In New York IL was hardly
the proper thing to be discovered thus.
though not till that instant had I
thought OF IL.
| All, now" I said to myself "stilet-
los and pistolsl You're I'm a tickllsh
| place, my friend"
But before l could rise, Ceclly had
sprung from the couch and thrown her
arms about his neck.
"Oh. comment on We. doudoux?'' she
asked in voice llke-weu. have never
heard anything 10 compare with IL.
| Tout douce. che-eI ou?" he an
swered, and kissed her. Then he per
ceived me. seemingly for the first time.
1T H3lTS5 ~