The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-11-07

Il
Monsieur. am not a ieune niie.
am a woman OF the world. Fate has
called to me. / must fo,iowi l mus
meet my destiny; sometimes mus.
walk 10 the dark places. The world
your world. let IL think what II viii,
Bah. II is not my concern what II
thinks OF me. Perhaps last night. this
morning. wished you 10 fall In love
with me. Perhaps now I am asking
you TO give me little respect. a very
little. monsieur. But what does II
matter?"
| looked at this strange woman In
netonishment. II was curious plea
Perhaps sha had wished to make me
fall IN love with her, She made the
frank confession with childish
naivete. And in the same breath she
asked for my respect
You speak In riddles" exclaimed
petulantly. Tell me your purpose
She looked up at me swiftly. half In
defiance.
Tell me yours"
MY purposel" cried 7 have
none"
A moment she scanned NV face
keenly. Apparently she was satisfied
that | spoke the truth. But that she
should have even a glimmer Of a sus
picion was startling.
Look. my friend. | speak no more
in riddles. but very frankly. Como &c
my chateau because there you can dc
me a service. a great service. VOLTA
I have told you everything"
Not quite everything" replied
quietly. you have not told me. fp
instance. the nature OF the service that
you ask OF the FIRST stranger you
meet"
when you are my guest shall tell
YOU" she promised airly.
She plunged into n stormy mazurka
to drown my protestations. I watched
her. irritated and yet half yielding. a.
she played with the brilliancS and
elan OF a virtuoso. Then walked to
the window.
To reach II passed a pierglass pan.
eled IN the wall A mans face was
dimly reflected there. Though ! did
not look. knew that be must be
standing behind door leading into
another apartment lie had been lis
tening. OF course.
did not betray my surprise. !
stepped out on the balcony. looking
down on the street below.
This incident banished my last
shred OF reluctance. These adven-
turers spled on me: Il was equally fair
that play their game. Yes: | deter.
mined to meet them with their own
weapons.
The music reached a stormy climax
There was silence. did not go back
into the room. I waited curiously.
Would she again inslstg II so. I deter
mined TO no longer refuse.
The heavy curtains at the window
were parted. She stood beside ma
Again / noticed the feverish light ia
her eyes; her Bosom rose END fon
tumultuously; her color cane and
went.
Then you have no hiking for az a.
venture?" she demanded in a srirt
Of desperate gayety. Even when tsAi
]
an--yes. a beautifin eoman?"
mot when adventures are thrust or
me-" replied coldly. tier emotion
repealed me.
"Ah. you persist in esag ungrS
cious. Then say this adventure brinsi
happiness for yourself"
Il should require prof Of that"
i "a 1 - ia
over by coquetry. She became seri
GUS. almost anxious. iastinchvely I
felt that she was about TO rlay Def
last card. Had she known Il. was al
ready decided But she was ignorant
of that, and risked everything TO gais
her purpose.
"You have set yourself task. VIVA,
II can help you fulfill it?"
Again you speak in riddles
madam"
III I said 1 were listening last
night"
l frowned on her. furious. but d,s
not answer.
She felt no shame In making oin
confession. One hand rested on hsf
hip, with the other she snapped finger
and thumb.
MY dear monsieur. you are not ~
tractive when you look like that. Ever
I have heard the English proyerb, AL
/ is fair In love and In war"
"And since this is not love, you wish
me TO infer that II Is war? And yos
ask the enemy deliberately into ths
camp"
at is neither love nor war II 10 .
truce. Does that satisfy your"
Until you tell me the service I an
to do you. It must be an armed truce.
l interposed cautiously.
emphasized the adjective
"Bienl At Alterhoffen you shsii
know all. Then II will be for you 10
decide II we are TO be allies"
ivory WELL" assented briskIy. =
will go 20 your chateau with yox
When do we start?'
Now that ! had made. my. decision
she grasped the railing of the balcony.
exhausted. Presently I noticed that