The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-07-12
CHAPTER xvI.-contlnued.

AGAINST the walls. almost deafened the
voice " the servant as he asked II he
could be Of assistance 20 me. | looked
ont There was a sheer drop OF some
SD FEET
That fact vaguely disconnected me.
TIE words 81 DR. Starva We're Earring
ro-e that sobered my excitement.
When ] had dressed | was almost pre-
raref 10 find the massive door OF my
chamber locked or barred | had en-
tered the SPIDERS web audaciously
enough To escape might be less
simple
The dinner was simply but well
served in a small dining room. Had
mv situation been less serious ! might
have felt some humor at the elaborate
q farence shown me by my compan-
ions FOR the benefit of the two servants
Who waited on Us. Even DR. Starya
followed the lead OF Madame de Var
u.er In solemn If cynical obedience.
Rut did Madame de WARMER believe
~ So cOmplaisant a fool. that, like
another Bottom. | was expected in this
modern Midsummer Nights Dream &c
accept this Difference without ques
reas I became M and more con.
,rrad that she did not Once she
even referred 10 the events OF the
ri-ir before in such a manner that
believed her not ignorant OF my true
condition. II she were persuaded that
] had been acting part then. that
would account for her confidence IN
expecting me 10 continue acting that
part. II would give her encourage.
ment thar I was the willing tool she
looked for
And suppose that she really believed
that did she think that | expected nc
reward She had limited that in serv-
ine her ends ! was To serve myself as
wen But Madame de WARMER was
nor the kind OF woman 70 believe that
man would be allured by promise
81 vague Then the reward
she had protested that she had not
expected me to fall in love with her.
She had protested that. but in the
same breath she had confessed half
Lfsolye TO bring me 10 her feet. Now
2 she eXerted every charm OF coquet-
u she was giving the lie to her own
words Oh. the reward was obvious
enough. II chose 10 take it.
We viii smoke orr cigarettes In
ug favorite music room You must
hear Dr. Starva play on the cello
Y0l have had the piano carefully
tuned jacques"
"Al is in readiness. replied the
feryant as he preceded us with car
dies.
Or Starva had pushed back his chair
eagerly For the first time since had
met him his face lost something of
is heavy sulien expression.
"My fingers have not the practice
he said modestly. but 20 play with
Madame DO Varnier-ah that is worth
while"
We were in the music room that
Madame de WARMER had described TO
me SO enthusiastically the day before.
Dlmly lighted with wax candles. pan
eied in dark oak 10 the ceiling. the
floor waxed and polished to a dazzling
lusier IL was q room almost bare but
it had its melancholy charm There
va little furniture. At one end OF
ihe room was a row Of carved seats
tl into the wall There were no
pictures o- tapestries The ont touch
~ color was the vivid flame Of blaz-
ir- logs
lhe strife Of the world. its lies
and irs shams leave behind when
enter heye said Madame de WARMER
seutimcntally. Look ! throw opel
tl.s easement. The noisy Aare browns
Ply voice Beyond. you see the moon
heht On the valleys. and still beyond,
the mountains. This is your seat.
Once THIS was a chapel in these
carved seats the monks chanted YES
1srs % the seat OF honor which YOU
occupy drowsed the father superior
When YOU hear the enchanting melo-
~. % Dr. Starva you will not have
lived in vain"
Ihis hour al least was innocent.
Perhaps il was the lull before the
storm but why should look for clouds
when the heavens were clear
he long. darkly paneled room, its
shining hoor seeming to rise and fall
~ 'eriously in the hisyering fire
Hai the noisy murmur Of the stream
w tho white moonlight that strug-
'oebiy through the easement win
-nN AN had its charm. And these
lWn adventurers. INSCRIPTIONS and
can oioncrless. had abandoned them
fea for the moment TO the joy Of
tteir music
looked over toward Madame de
Narnier The shaded light Of the can
ieii on her white shoulders. tho
MOOR % her beauty had never
Mel TOre seductive.
hei myself lncrcdnlousiy If this
= aiming woman was the desperate
tniuress whom Locke had warned
Me against.
slowly she looked where I sat: /
t.fmed 20 draw her eyes toward me.
SAn miled vaguely a smile that was
ah!e-yes, ] could almost persuade
fH44 10