The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-12

from which he. 4as one of an inner cir cle. might save you. if I--would be grateful enough"
 "The scoundrelmbroke out Raoul, convinced now. his eyes blazing. Pll--"
 He stopped suddenly. But I knew what had been on hts lips to say. He meant to send challenge to Count Godensky. I must prevent him from doing that.
 "No. Raoul," said. as if he had fin- ished his sentence, you mustn't fight. For my sake, you mustn't. Don't you see, it's just what he'd like best? It would be way of doing me the most dreadful injury. Think of the scan- dal. Oh, you will think of 1t, when you're cooler. For you, I would not fear much. for I know what a swords man you are. and what a shot-far superior to Godensky, and with right on your side. But would fear for myself. Promise you won't bring this trouble upon me-"
 T promise" he answered "Oh, my darling, what wouldn't I promise you, to- atone for my brutal injustice to an angelf How thankful I am that I came to you tonight. I meant not to come. I was afraid of myself, and what might do. But at last couldn't hold out against the Something that seemed forcing me here in spite of all resistance. Do you forgive me?''
 "As a reward for your promise" said, smiling at him through tears that would come because was worn out, and because I knew that 1t was who needed his forgiveness, not he mine.
 Now are you happy again?" asked.
 Yes. I'm happy" he said. Though on the way to this house didn't dream that it would be possible for me to know happiness any more in this world. And even at your gate" he stopped suddenly, and his face chang ed. I waited an instant, but seeing that he didn't mean to go on, I could not resist questioning him. I had to know what had happened at my gate.
 Even at my gate-what?" asked.
 Nothing. I'm sorry spoke. want to show you how completely trust you now, by not speaking of that"
 But this reticence of his only made me more anxious to know what he had been going to say. was afraid that could guess. But must hear it from his lips, and be able to explain away the mystery which. when 1t re- cured to him in the future, might make him doubt me, even though in this moment of exultation, he did not doubt.
 "Yes. speak of it. I said. "AlI the more because 1t Is nothing. For 1t can be nothing"
 T want to punish myself for asking an explantion about Godensky. by not allowing you to explain this other thihg," insisted poor, loyal, repentant Raoul. "Then-at the time--it made all the rest seem worse, 1 thousand times worse. But I saw through black spectacles. Now I see through rose- colored ones."
 I'd rather you saw through your own dear eyes, without any spectacles. You must tell me what you're thinking of, dear. For my own sake, if not yours."
 ''Well--if you will know. But re- member, darling. I'm going to put 1t out of my mind. I'll ask you no questions, I'll only--tell you the thing itself. As I said. didn't come here directly after seeing GodenslSy get into your carriage. I wandared about like a madman-and thought of the seine"
 ''oh. you must indeed have been madrs-
 T was. But that Something saved me--the Something that drove me to find you. I walked here, by round- about ways, but always coming nearer and nearer. as if being drawn into a whirlpool At last. was in this street on the sue OppOSiI6 your hadn't made up my mind yet that would try to see you I didn't know what I would do. I stood still, and tried to think. It was very black, in the angle between two garden walls where the big plane tree sprouts up; you know. Nobody who didn't expect to find a man would have noticed me fn the darkness. hadn't been there for two minutes when a man turned the corner. walking very fast. As he passed the street lamp just before reaching the garden wall. l saw him platnly-not his face, but his figure. and he was young and well dressed, in travelling clothes. thought he looked like an Englishman. He went straight to your gate and rang. moment Ia- ter someone I couldn't see who. open cd the gate and let him in. Involuntar- fly took a step forward, with the idea of following --of pushing my way in to see who he was and who had opened the gate. But I wasn't quite mad enough to act like a cad. The gate shut Oh. Maxine. there were evil and cruel thoughts in my mind, confess it to you-but how they made me suf- feri I stood as If I were turned to stone, and only wished that might be for stone can't suffer. Just then, a cab creeping slowly along the street stopped in front of your gate. There were two women fin 1t. could see them