Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10


called to me. / must follow; I must
meet my destiny; sometimes must
walk in the dark places. The world.
your world, let it think what it will
Bah, it is not my concern what It
thinks of me. Perhaps last night, this
morning, wished you to fall in love
with me. Perhaps now l am asking
you to give me little respect, very
little, monsieur. But what does it
matter?"
looked at this strange woman in
astonishmenA 1t was curious plea
Perhaps she 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" I exclaimed
petulantly. Tell me your purpose
She looked up at me swiftly. half in
defiance.
Tell me yours"
MY purpose!" 1 cried. 81 have
none.'
A moment she scanned my face
keenly. Apparently she was satisfied
that spoke the truth. But that she
should have even glimmer Of sus-
picion was startling.
Look, my friend, 1 speak no more
in riddles, but very frankly. Come to
my chateau because there you can do
me- service, a great service. VOLTA.
1 have told you everything
Not quite everything" l replied
quietly. You have not told me. for
instance, the nature of the service that
you ask of the first stranger you
meet"
when you are my guest I shall tell
you,' she promised airly.
She plunged into stormy mazurka
to drown my protestations. 1 watched
her, irritated and yet half yielding, as
she played with the brilliancy and
elan of a virtuoso. Then l walked to
| the window.
To reach it passed pier-glass pam
eled in the wall. A mans face was
dimly reflected there. Though / did
not look, 1 knew that he must be
standing behind a door leading into
another apartment He had been lis
tening, of course.
l did not betray my surprise I
stepped out on the balcony looking
down on the street below.
This incident banished my last
shred of reluctance. These adven-
turers spied on me; it was equally fair
that 1 play their game. Yes; deter
mined to meet them with their own
weapons.
The music reached stormy climax.
There was silence. / did not go back
into the room. | waited curiously.
Would she again insist? If so, deter
mined to no longer refuse.
The heavy curtains at the window
were parted. She stood beside me.
Again l noticed the feverish light in
her eyes; her bosom rose and FELL
unanimously; her color came and
went.
Then you have no liking for an adj
venture?" she demanded in a spirit
of desperate gayety. Even when that
adventure is to be shared with a wom-
an-yes, beautiful woman?"
Not when adventures are thrust on
me-" l replied coldly. Her emotion
repealed me.
'Ah, you persist in being ungra-
cious. Then say this adventure brings
happiness for yourself.'
Il should require proof of that"
She saw that l was not to be won
over by coquetry. She became seri-
Gus, almost anxious. Instinctively 1
| felt that she was about 10 play her
last card. Had she known it, l was al
ready decided But she was ignorant
of that, and risked everything to gain
her purpose.
You have set yourself task. What
if can help you fulfill ito
Again you speak in riddles.
madam
IF 1 said 1 were listening last
night"
| frowned on her, furious, but l did
not answer.
She felt no shame in making this
confession One hand rested on her
hip. with the other she snapped finger
and thumb.
MY dear monsieur, you are not at
tractive when you look like that. Even
have heard the English proverb, All
is fair in love and in war
And since this is not love, you wish
me to infer that it is war? And you
ask the enemy deliberately into the
camp"
1T is neither love nor war 1t is a
truce. Does that satisfy you?"
Until you tell me the service am
to do you, it must be an armed truce
l interposed cautiously.
l emphasized the adjective.
'Bien. At Alterhoffen you shall
know ALL Then it will be for you to
decide if we are to be allies.
Very well" I assented briskly. II
will go to your chateau with you.
When do we start?"
Now that | had made my decision
she srasped the railing OF the balcony,
exhausted. Presently l noticed that