Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-20

pain myself.
THAT makes it easier for me-" he in
terrupted. you have perhaps sus-
pected that the union between us is not
a-ah-a legal ona?"
YES" | said, II had suspected that"
Such unions arc the rule in Mar
Unique" he continued calmly, "and
have been from time immem Aial.
They are part Of the life there. They
are matter of course, and frequently
they are as permanent and happy as
any regular one could be- Cecily Is
what Is known as file de couleur-
physically, ! believe, the most beauti-
full women In the world"
Then she is not an exception
"Oh, no she's type-physically, at
least. Mentally, believe she does
differ somewhat from the typical ca
presse. For instance, | never knew
another attempt to tame fer-de-
lance"
at seemed to me-" I observed, "that
she had rs many possibilities rs the
snake"
He laughed lightly.
"For evil. you mean? That's merely
the effect Of the first view. Really, the
capresse girls have an excellent repu-
tation for dociity and all the rest. Not
that 1t would matter much in Marti-
nlque-the people there arc used to
/ living over volcano and don't mind
/ or course" he added in another tone,
81 shall befoGc long have to break
/ it off. Society here Is differently or
ganizod-- different climates, different
morals. YOU know; feel that | must
! conform TO II. Indeed. even wish to
! do so. 1t is time that | settled down,
/ ranged myself, became man OF
family. l have been a vanderer long
enough Cecily can't endure this eli
mate anyway. III send her back to
st. Pierre"
what will she say to that?' | asked
with vivid memory Of the adoring
way her eyes always dwelt upon him.
You think 1t sounds little brutalT
and he smiled gayly. at isn't, in the
! least. You've put Cccily on too high n
| pedestal. They have an axiom down
| there, Nee de lamour. In file de cou-
! leur nit d'umour de rircs 1t d'oublis'-
| her life is n thing of love. laughter
and forgettinss [ think it's essentially
true. At the same time" he added
more seriously, Il don't wish to be
needlessly cruel That's the reason I'm
telling you all this. It's a sort Of intro
| duction."
"Ah," I said. AID looked at him.
| III blurt it out in n word. I'll be
out of town next weeli-all weck-my
business demands it-and It's absurd
for me to think of taking Ceciy with
me its absolutely impossible - IL
would ruin the whole affair What I
want to ask you is ths-look in on
| her occasionally, cheer her up. take
her to the theater if you'll be so good.
She knows no ono here. and she has
a ridiculous need of companionship, OF
Chattcrlng to some one. of having some
one to admire her. It's born in the
blood. | suppose. it's an inheritance
! from two centuries of ancestors. Left
to herself. she'll on NOPE herself sick.
VIII you do this FOR me. my frcnd;"
There was n compelling wizardry in
his eyes as he looked ut me. yet had
self control enourI to pause and reflect.
Still, | saw no r. son why should re-
fuse, even had N own inclination not
greatly urged lae forward. Here
would be an opportunity to unveil such
secrets of his as teclly might know
| especially as 10 where they had been
on the evening Of the murder Per.
haps she even knew the victim; could
give me clew 70 the connection be-
tween him ana Tremaine if such a
connection existed, tYuorc We're unlimt-
ed possibilities. .nfd yet a feeling of
shame held me back TO take advan-
tage in this way OF man who trusted
me, against whom there was nothing
but the mercst, most Intangible sus-
picion-
| looked up and met his intent gaze.
you We're retlectng" he said
"Mcrcly that tits a delicate trust
I'm not at all unwilling 10 undertake it,
only
Again he misunderstood; again he
did not wait for me 10 finish. 1t was
the only weakness | ever detected in
hlm-he made a false step that could
never be retraced.
only you are flesh and blood. YOU
would say?" and he shot me Il smile
which illumined as lightning flash
the depths Of his character. ION that
score. do not worry, l beg Of you, l
am not of jealous disposition. l shall
not
A knock at the door interrupted him
or | might have answered In II way
that would have wrecked Godfrey ;
plan forever / hung The door open
and saw Higgins standing there.
"A call at tn telephone fer you, Mr..
Lester" he said
Excuse me. please | called over
my shoulder to Trcmaine, and strobe
down the hall after the iantor.
II was Mr.. Royce who wanted me;
he had been called suddenly out OF
town and wished to give me some in
structions for the next day. our con-
versation lasted perhaps FIVE minutes:
then hung up the receiver and mount
ed to my rooms. With hand not
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