Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-09

EYES," l said, II had suspected that"
"Such unions are the rule In Mar
Unique" he continued calmly, "and
have been from time immemoriaL
They are part OF the life there. They
are matter Of course, and frequently
they are as permanent and happy as
i 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 a fer-de-
lance"
at seemed to me-" observed, that
she had as many possibilities as the
snake"
He laughed lightly.
''For evil. you mean2 That's merely
the effect of the first view. Really, the
capresse girls have an excellent repu-
tation for docility and all the rest. Not
that 1t would matter much in Marti-
nique-the people there are used to
living over volcano and don't mind.
OF course" he added in another tone.
II shall before long have to break
It of. Society here Is differently or
gained different climates, different
morals. you know; feel that I must
conform to 1t. Indeed, even wish to
do so. 1t is time that settled down,
ranged myself, became man Of
family. I have been wanderer long
enough. Cecily can't endure this eli
mate anyway. I'll send her back to
st. Pierre"
what will she say to thatY asked,
with a vivid memory Of the adoring
way her eyes always dwelt upon him.
'You think it sounds little brutal?"
and he smiled gayly. ut isn't. in the.
least. You've put Cecily on too high a
pedestal. They have an axiom down
there, Nee de Tamour. la file de cou-
leur nit d'amour, de rires, ct d'oublls'--
her life is a thing Of love, laughter
and forgettings. think It's essentially
true. At the same time," he added
more seriously, II don't wish to BIO
needlessly cruel. That's the reason I'm
telling you all this. It's sort Of intro
duction."
aAh," I said, and looked at him.
'I'll blurt 1t out In a word. I'll be
out of town next week-all week-my
business demands it-and It's absurd
for me to think Of taking Cecily with
me It's absolutely impossible 1T
would ruin the whole affair. What
want to ask you Is this-look In on
her occasionally, cheer her up, take
her to the theater. If you'll be so good.
She knows no one here, and she has
ridiculous need Of companionship, of
chattering 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 soon nope herself sick.
Will you do this for me. my friend?"
There was a compelling wizardry In
his eyes as he looked at me, yet had
self control enough to pause and reflect
Still, saw no reason why I should re-
fuse, even had my own inclination not
greatly urged me forward. Here
would be an opportunity to unveil such
secrets Of his as Cecily might know
especially as to where they had been
on the evening Of the murder. Per
haps she even knew the victim; could
give me a clew to the connection be-
tween him and Tremaine, IL such a
connection existed. There were unliuait-
ed possibilities. And yet feeling of
shame held me back. To take advan-
tage In this way Of q man who trusted
me, against whom there was nothing
but the merest, most intangible sus-
picion-
/ looked up and met his intent gaze.
"You were ref1ecting?" he said.
Merely that 1t Is delicate trust.
I'm not at all unwilling to undertake it,
only
Again he misunderstood; again he
did not wait for me to finish. 1t was
the only weakness ever detected in
him-he made false step that could
never be retraced.
"Only you are flesh and blood, you
would say7 and he shot me smile
which illumined as a lightning flash
the depths Of hts character. ION that
score, do not worry, beg Of you
am not Of Jealous disposition. shall
not
"a knock. at.tha door intakzuptad ldm