Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-11-28
CHAPTER xvi.-contlnued.

CHAPTER xvI.-contlnued.
The suite allotted me was at the end
OF a gloomy corridor. l threw open
n Of the narrow windows. The
noisy stream below, beating futilely
agains. the walls, almost deafened the
voice Of the servant as he asked II he
could be Of assistance to me. l looked
out. There was a sheer drop Of some
80 feet.
That fact vaguely disconnected me.
The words Of DR.. 5tarva were a Earring
note that so5ered my excitement.
When ] had dressed I was almost pre-
pared to ind 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
my situation been less serious I might
have felt some humor at the elaborate
Difference shown me by my compan-
ions for the benefit Of the two servants
who waited on us. Even DR.. Starva
followed the lead Of Madame de Var.
nier in solemn II cynical obedience.
But did Madame de WARMER believe
me SO complainant a fool, that, like
another Bottom, | was expected In this
modern Midsummer Nights Dream to
accept this Difference without ques.
ton? I became more and more con.
WINGED that she did not. Once she
even referred to the events Of the
night before in such a manner that ]
believed her not ignorant Of my true
condition. II she were persuaded that
I had been acting a part then. that
would account for her confidence In
expecting mt to continue acting that
part. II would give her encourage.
ment that I was the willing tool she
looked for.
And suppose that she really believed
that, did she think that | expected no
SewardY She had limited that in serv.
ing her ends / was to serve myself as
well. But Madame de WARMER was
not the kind OF woman to believe that
Q man would be allured by a promise
so 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 a half
resolve to bring me to her feet. Now
as she exerted every charm Of coquet.
ry she wal giving the lie to her own
words. Oh, the reward was obvious
enough, IL l chose to take 1t.
I'VE will smoke our cigarettes in
my favorite music You must
hear DR.. Starva play on the cello.
You have had the piano carefully
tuned, JacquesT"
"All Is in readiness" replied the
servant, as he preceded us with can.
dies.
DR.. Starva had pushed back his chair
eagerly. For the first time since l had
met him his face lost something OF
its heavy sullen expression.
my fingers have not the practice
he said modestly, but to play with
Madame de 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,
Dimly lighted with wax candles, pan.
eled In dark oak to the ceiling. the
floor waxed and polished to a dazzling
luster, 1t was a room almost bare, but
It had its melancholy charm. There
was little furniture. At one end OF
the room was a row Of carved seats
built into the wall. There were nc
pictures or tapestries. The one touch
Of color was the vivid flame of blaz'
ing logs.
The strife OF the world, its lies
and Its shams, l leave behind when
enter here" said Madame de WARMER
sentiment ly. Look, l throw open
this easement. The noisy Aare browns
my voice. Beyond, you see the moon,
light 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
pers; In the seat OF honor which you
occupy drowsed the father superior
When you hear the enchanting melo
dies of DR.. Starva you will not have
lived in vain"
This hour at least was innocent
Perhaps 1t was the lull before the
storm, but why should look for clouds
when the heavens were clear?
The long, darkly paneled room, its
shining floor seeming to rise and fall
m~ysteriously in the Pickering fire
light, the noisy murmur Of the stream
below, the white moonlight that strug
gled feebly through the easement win
dows-all had its charm. And these
two adventures, INSCRIPTIONS and
conscienceless, had abandoned them
selves for the moment to the Joy Of
their music.
| looked over toward Madame de
Varnicr. The shaded light OF the can
dies fell on her white shoulders. The
splendor Of her beauty had never
seemed more seductive.
asked myself i~ncredulously II this
dreaming woman was the desperate
adventures whom Locke had warned
me against.
Slowly she looked where / sat;
seemed to draw her eyes toward me
She smiled vaguely, a smile that was
adorable-yes, ! could almost persuade
mysell undt IL was tne smlie Oh al
innocent girl. For a moment ! was
content to forget the unpleasant tasi
that was before me; to invest ever
the monster by her side in the garb Of
humanity.
The servant who had shown me t.
my rooms appeared at the door, let
ters on his solver. l held up my hant
warningly to him that he should no
disturb them. and motioned that hi
bring the letters to me. He did 81
without either of the musicians motto
ing his entrance.
The sonata OF Beethoven swept t.
It's glorious climax. ! started to my