The Washington herald., 1907-10-06


dents Of his previous visit had appeared
TO him. Monsieur Leblanc was at least
as anxious as he was to have them clear
ed up His host, dismissing the subject
with a wave Of his hand as the ladies'
reappeared at the drawIng-room window,
took out of his pocket a morocco case,
which he opened. showing St Quintn
beautiful bracelet, consisting of half
circle Of large diamonds.
Look. said he what Monsieur Mar
beau has sent 10 me TO give 10 my niece.
A generous suitor, IS he not?'
St. Ouintin's face clouded
That stout man who was here last
week, Surely she doesn't like him|'
cried he sharply. incredulously.
His host shrugged his shoulders mourn
fully.
Indeed. I am afraid she does not. But
she ought TO- He IS well off; he is gen
erous. I believe he is genuinely fond OF
her He would make her a very good
husband In the French fashion, he
proposed to me for her when he was here
last night"
anu sic iletS Sl'tu l4ll4L aS4A-N
ST. Quintin, passionately.
Smiling, Monsieur Leblanc raised his
hand.
Not so fast, not so fast, my young
friend. have not told her yet said he,
gently
When you do, I can tell what the an
swer will be" said St Quintin. shortly.
'she is a good girl, and viii listen TO
what her friends say TO her. said Mon
sieur Leblanc, gravely.
Would you, then, 90 so far as to force
her inclinatiop?' asked St Quintin. alb
ruptly.
NO, that l should not do, even if I
could. She is a girl of spirit, and Will, be-
form many years are over, be able to snap
her fingers at US, if she likes. But she
is an heiress, you know, and with girls
of property there is need OF caution.
They must pay heed to the advice and
warning of their friends, lest they become
the prey of fortune-hunters."
"A man may admire and love your
niece without being a fortune-hunter,
Monsieur Leblanc. I am no fortune
/ hunter. certainly"
The young man had hurried on, excited
I by passion but he was suddenly checked
/ by a look he saw on his hosts face He
] had once before experienced a similar
sensation on catching Il similar glance,
( and he now at once turned off the con-
versation with a laugh He could not
/ have told what it was exactly that struck
him in the expression of the Frenchman 5
] face. whether il was that he looked
| crafty or eager, or simply cautious. But
/ the look had been enough to make St.
/ Quintin realize his own imprudenee in
| laying his heart bare too soon. He turn
/ ed toward the ladies. who were now ap-
preaching from the house, and at that
moment the dinner gong rang.
They all went indoors, and We're met
/ by Miss Stanley, the prim, elderly gov
/ erness. and again St. Quintin admired
! the exquisite taste displayed. not only
in the dinner itself, but in the appoint
ments of the table and the arrangement
Of the flowers.
Again he enjoyed himself very much,
/ the more that he found himself sitting
/ by Miss Densley, who looked intoXcat-
ingly pretty and was as charming as
/ ever.
There was no Untoward Interruption TO
/ the repast on this occasion. and after
ward they all went into the drawing
room together and Miss Densley, sitting
at the piano. played and sang. entranc-
! ing St. Quintin by her sweet little voice
! and the pretty way in which she used it,
Carried off his feet by her charm and
beauty, he felt that he must speak 10
her that evening; that he must tell her
all he felt, and find out whether she ex-
perienced fer him anything like the in
tensity Of passion he felt for her That
she liked him he felt quite sure To
have doubted it would have been treason.
For ne would not admit the possibility
Of her saying with her eyes what her
heart would have repudiated
How TO get a word with her unheard
Would she come out with him into the
garden? Dared he propose it?
Even as he asked himself these ques-
tions he saw, to his great delight. Mon
sieur and Nine. Leblanc. in earnest
conversation, leave the room by the
most distant of the two doors. A
glance at Miss Stanley showed that she
was having doze after an excellent
dinner. He leaned forward; Marie looked
invitingly pretty and sweet.
Miss Densley." he whispered. won't
you come out on the lawn and look at