The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-08-30

the bride, and few officers, who had
been comrades of her fathers in past
years. The guests were distributed,
rather unequally. in two handsome
apartments, opening into each other
one called in the house the drawing
room, and the other the library. In the
draWlng-room were assembled the no
tary, with the contract ready, the bride,
the young ladies, and the majority of
General Berthelin's friends. In the Ii
brary the remainder of the military
guests were amusing themselves at a
billiard-table until the signing of the
contract should take place; while Dan
VILE and his future father-in-law
walked up and down the room together:
the first listening absently, the last
talking with all his accustomed energy.
and with more than his accustomed al
lowance of bprrack-room expletives.
The general had taken it into his head
to explain some of the clauses in the
marriage-contract to the bridegroom,
who, though far better acquainted with
their full scope and meaning than his
father-in-!aw. was obliged to listen for
civility's sake. While the old soldier
was in the midst of his long and con-
fused harangue, clock struck on the
library mantelpiece.
Two o'clock" exclaimed Danville,
glad of any pretext for interrupting the
talk about the contract. Two O'Clock,
and my mother not here yet. What can
be delaying herr"
Nothing" cried the general. when
did you ever hear Of woman punctuaI.
my lad: If we wait Your mother-and
she's such rabid aristocrat that she
would never forgive us for not waiting
we shan't sign this contract yet this
half-hour. Never mind! let's 90 ON
with what we were talking abe lit.
Where the devil was when that cursed
clock struck and Interrupted us? Now
then. Black Eyes. what's the matter?''
This last question was addressed 10
Mademoiselle Berthelin who at that
moment hastily entered the library
from the drawing-room She walls a
tall and rather notwithstanding girl,
with superb black eyes. dark hair grow
ing low on her forehead, and somethins
of her fathers decision and bluntness
in her manner of speaking.
"A stranger in the other room, para
who waits to see you. l suppose :ne
servants showed him upstairs, thinking
he was one of the guests. Ought | 10
have had him shown down again?"
"A nice question. How SHOULD |
know? Wait till I've seen him, miss,
and then I'll tell you" With these
words the general turned on his heri
and went into the drawing-room.
His daughter would have followed
him. but Danville caught her by the
hand.
Can you be hard-hearted enough 20
leave me mere alone?" he asked
What is to become of my Bosom
friends in The next room. you selfish
man, if stop with you?" retorted Mad
emoiselle. struggling to free herself
Gail them in here" said Danyl.e,
gaily making himself master of her
other hand
She laughed, and drew him away to-
wards the drawing-room
Come" she cried. and let all the
ladies see what tyrant am going to
marry. Come and show them what an
obstinate. unreasonable, wearisome-''
Her voice suddenly failed her, she
snuddered and turned faint. Danville's
nand had in one instant grown cold as
death in hers; the momentary touch of
his fingers. as she felt their grasp
loosen. struck some mysterious chill
through her from head to foot. She
glanced around At him affrightedly
and saw his eyes looking straight into
the drawing-room. They were fxed
in a strange, unwavering awful stare;
while from the rest of his
face all expression, all charac-
ter, all recognizable play and
movement Of feature had utterly gone.
It was breathless. lifeless mask a
white blank. With cry Of terror, she
looked where he appeared to be looking,
and could zee nothing but the stranger
800 AAN AS,N 49, :.