Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-23

py this generous girl while she strug-
glsd between her love and what she
believed TO be her duty. We're you
not convinced of her love when she
babe you farewel?"
"She loves me, she is free, and yet
she shuns me-"
mo, she is not freei In breaking
OF her engagement with you, she was
governed by some powerful. irrepress-
ible event. She is sacrificing herself
for whom2 We shall soon know;
and the secret OF her self-sacrifice
, will discover TO US the secret of the
plot against you"
. AS NJ. Verduret spoke, Prosper felt
all his resolutions of revolt slowly
melting away, and the place taken by
confidence aud hope.
IF what you say were truei" he
mournfully said.
Foolish young mani Why do you
persist in obstinately shutting your
eyes to the proof L place before you2
Can you not see that Mademoiselle
Madeleine knows who the thief is?
Yes, you need not look so shocked;
she knows the thief, but no human
power can tear il from her. She sacri-
fees you. but then she almost has the
right. since she first sacrificed her
self"
Prosper was almost convinced; and
it nearly broke his heart 10 leave this
little parlor where he had seen Made
leine.
''Alasl" he said. pressing NJ. Yer
duret's hand. you must think me a
ridiculous fool! but you don't know
how / suffer"
The man with the red whisl1ers sad
ly shook his head. and his voice sound
ed very unsteady. as he replied in a
low tone:
what you suffer, 1 have suffered.
Like YOU. loved. not pure, noble
girl. yet girl fair TO look upon For
three years 1 was at her feet, a slave
TO her every whim; when, one day.
she suddenly deserted me who adored
her. 10 throw herself i'm the arms of
a man who despised her. Then. like
YOU. I wished to die. Neither threats
nor entreaties could induce her TO re-
turn to me. Passion never reasons,
and she loved my rival"
And did YOU know this rival2"
Il knew him."
"And YOU did not seek revenge?"
NO" replied NJ. Ncrduret. with a
singular expression. mo; fate took
charge OF my vengeance"
For moment Prosper was silent;
then ne said:
Il have finally decided. monsieur.
My honor is a sacred trust for which
I must account TO my family. I am
ready to follow YOU 20 the end Of the
world; dispose of me as YOU Judge
proper"
That same day Proscr, faithful 10
his promise. sold his furniture. and
wrote letter to his friends announc-
ing his intended departure for San
Francisco.
In the evening he and NJ Nerduret
installed themselves in the Archangel.
Mime. Alexandra gave Prosper her
prettiest room, but il was very ugly
compared with the coquettish little
parlor on the Rue Chaptal. His state
OF mind did not permit him, however,
20 notice the difference between his
former and present quarters. He lay
events OF the day. and feeling n bitter
satisfaction in his isolated condition.
About eleven o'clock. he thought he
would raise the window, and let the
cool air fan his burning brow; AZ he
did so a piece of paper was blown
from among the folds of the window
curtain and lay at his feet on the
floor.
Prosper mechanically picked it up,
| and looked at IL.
IL was covered with writing, the
handwriting of Nina Gypsy; he could
not be mistaken about that.
IL was the fragment of torn let
ter; and, IL the half sentences did not
convey any clear meaning. they were
sufficient TO lead the mind into all
sorts of conjectures.
The fragment read as follows:
'of NJ. Raoul, / have been very i'm. d.
plotted against him, of whom never. .
warn Prosper, and then.
| best friend, he. ...-......-.......
| hand of Mile. Ma"
| Prosper never closed his eyes dur
] in0 that nioht.