Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-26
CHAPTER XIV.
The Castle o. Happiness,

CHAPTER %V.
The Castle Of Happiness.
You sleep soundly. my friend"
Or. Starva was looking down at me
with grim intentness.
IL was not yet dawn. His immense
ngure seemed even more huge than
Il was IN this uncertain light u ap-
peared TO threaten. 20 menace me.
And yet welcomed lis presence: at
least they had not made their escape.
7 looked up at him With cool assur-
ance.
"A light conscience gives deep slum,
| Der. DO We start so early2"
Yes. Your coffee is waiting for
you in the salon"
I dressed rapidly. A certain dopres-
sion would have been natural. The
night IS the time OF follies: with the
morning come clear thought and pru-
deDce. But not so with me Ii is true
that dotested DR.. Starva His meth
DDS were too gross; his eyes were too
closely set together; his mouth too
cruel and sensual. could have wished
him out OF the game. And vet I be-
lieVcd that 7 was a match for him.
But this woman who tempted and
pitiad, This woman whose beauty
fascinated and whose treachery re-
PEELED, This woman who lied and
prayed In the same breath,
Az I thought OF her 7 was at once
furious ana eager. was ashamed
/ 20 think how eager. had pledged
| myself % the cold Diana OF my dreams
| FOR her 7 ran these RISKS. for her 7
! might be dlsgraoed aud a felon Il
/ Was her gratitude 7 coveted: her for
| EiVsness 7 craved-
And yet for the moment 7 was seek
| ing tho fame and the glamour OF the
| other woman-this warm mysterious
creature Of diverse moods
Her fantastic chateau held out a
promise. not OF happiness indeed but
/ or the JOY Of doing. OF daring.
SO as I dressed my spirits were
buoyAnt The little garden below.
half hidden IN tho mist that came
I from tho lake. was fresh and charm
ing In the morning dew. Patches Of
nowers. brave IN scarlet and purple
and blue. opened their eyes 20 the
dawn. followed mechanically tho
1 graveled paths. Feometric and straight.
/ threading the sparkling lawns.
| I looked eagerly down at the bat
| tered fountain choked with refuse. I
could SEQ no trace Of the long. white
envelope. II was completely concealed
| by the leaves.
! I found IL impossible to rescue the
little packet from It's hiding place. Ny
hostess and her cousin kept too care
ful an eve on me for that. But II was
a tolerably secure hiding place: and
/ frankly I was not sorry 10 leave the
proof OF my completely behind me.
A faint breeze. cold with the snow
OF the mountains. famed my cheek.
| The poetry OF the dawn thrilled me.
Before the evening came the placid
| lake might be dashed into fury. The
trees. now gently swayjng. might be
bent and broken by the violence OF
/ the storm. But now the sky was
! clear. When the storms came would
/ try 10 meet them. But before they did
como why should I not enjoy the pres
ent7 I threw open the door and
stepped into the salon where coffee
and Madame de WARMER awaited me-
She greeted me with vivacity. But
I was not blind 70 the cool glance that
measured. The fool has no suspic.
ions" the eyes said. while the lips
asked how had slept
| Admirably" answered gayly
And we are 70 start ct once for your
Castle q Happiness?~
You have a sublime faith 10 still
believe It THAR" she questioned mock.
inEiy as she poured my coffee.
Why not?' I cried mockingly. in
my turn. rs It not happiness to be
with you. MADAME"
Pas des banslites, monsieur" she
replied with an impatient gesture
But you really believe that the tire
some journey will repay your"
Since / am resolved to hear your
secret yes"
"oh. ungraeiouSi" She smiled al
me ruefully. Il think prefer an In
sincere compliment to al awkward
truth"
Madam. it is not 1 who made the
condition"
~Ah. you are a very cautious friend
monsieur"
Il generally try to look before ]
heap" returned with composture.
was not unwilling that she think II
curiosity that prompted me TO accept
the extraordinary invitation given with
so little heed to convention. She had
limited that we were to be CT mutual
use to each other; but Of this 7 was
skeptical. l accepted the Invitation
precisely In the spirit in which Il YVES
4 Eiyen II would he etoctrircr form, r.
say the least. to be a guest that oas