The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-08-31
CHAPTER VIII.

Prince Ferdinand and His Ambitions.
/ returned to my hotel soberly
enough. l had told my little allegory
lightly. Now l asked myself II !
should not apply it seriously to
myself. Only this morning had
mapped out for myself clear path
to be followed And already was q
siren reckoning? Already was / en-
chanted?
was intensely irritated that
should have allowed myself to be In
terested by this Sophie de WARMER.
For the past hour had been playing
dangerously near the fire. 1t had not
vet burned me; but could 1 honestly
| say that it had not warmed, fntox-
Gated, allured? Very well. must be
careful not to compromise myself In
| the future.
Two women had met me at the part
ing of the ways.
One of them had set me a task.
holding herself proudly aloof, promis-
ing nothing. If this task were actu-
ally accomplished, tho reward was to
be the deed itself.
| And now another woman had come
radiant, glittering. subtle perfume
lulling the senses. Her wild beauty.
her charm, had been frankly displayed
To enthrall me. She had promised q
definite adventure. As to the reward
II seemed to me too brazenly obvious.
ficked the ash angrily from my
cigarette. And was I really tempted!
Hardly, l resolved sayagely. And YET
In was not fool enough to be blind TO
the fact that the situation was not
without its danger
NV shoulder was tapped. was
seated In the vestibule of my hotel
I looked up. startled. A well-groomed
man in the early thirties lowered oveI
me. an American 1 saw at once. The
round, jocund face was vaguely IA
miliar.
YES" exclaimed burly voice, 4
IL really old Haddon."
grasped the hand he held towar'
me with emotion. Here was friend
an American, and | needed frien'
badly Just now.
had rot seen Locke since we wer
- at college together. We had neve
been intimate, but the big-hcarte'
= Robinson. Locke had been characte
among his classmates.
At first I hesitated to his cords
greetings; was afraid he had nc
Or heard my story But presently b
e, nlunged into the episode that ha
ne made me q. ,orious for day. The
Ell I knew he had come to stand by me-
u 1T IL q brutal lie. Of course, p
stormed Indignantly, but even II
IN were true" He clapped my snou
90 der.
ut II true-at least in q measure
ot rot" he exclaimed with cheerf
n. skepticism, lowering his person In
er- the yielding expanse of an armcha
lie nv NV side. Tell me about It. 7"
ad unless you insist. prefer not to
80, I said quietly, reckoning waiter
w. was lust horrible accident. Frank
ne. to have saved his life was impossible
ny But I might have died with him.
didn't There you have my disgra
in a nutshell"
lie He looked somewhat glum 1T Il
on cold-blooded explanation and stir
Ter uneasily in his chair. watched hi
lge not without gnn amusement.
nu- pulled at his cigar, searching my IA
'as keenly.
len ROT" he cried again. and this til
led with conviction. III you feel any d
ith grace, it is your own fault. Hadd'
ere II YOU were the coward they say
'ey are, you wouldn't sit there smiling
my me. You would rave and swear by
the gods that you were Innocent
W. don't want to hear your story. Blu
IN want you to know that you have {
ana friend from home to stick up for y
NIL and to believe In you"
kes ives too moved to speak
ppi That's all right, then" he said y
'eo- yruff gentleness. 1T must be hell
u be over here alone and everyb'
oid kicking yor.~
ner .Oh, that was to be expected.
course! But last Eight | had IN
Alse perience hat wouldn't 80 tire
Aolp zrain II l could help I"
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