Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-12-19
PART iv--pAwN.
I.
A THREAT

following Tremaine's departure that I
found himself alone with Cecily n
in i position to begin that conversa-
ton from which l hoped so much.
In the morning l had taken her to
mass at the cathedral, where she had
listened with rapt c~ountenance. In the
afternoon, the weather being very
pleasant. we drove out to the Bronx to
see the animals and the c~onservatories.
in which she was az interested as n
child. In fact. found myself treating
her more and more as a child. She
was essentially n i'm characteristic
willed. easily downcast and as easily
elated; and though she was religious
to Il degree amounting almost to SUI
perstition, 1T seemed never to have oc-
Cured TO her that there was anything
wrong or irregular in her manner of
life. She waS frankly Tremain'es mis-
tress. evidently cherished a deep affec-
ton for him. and, 1 doubt not. would
have been faithful to him under any
but the most extraordinary temptation.
She had arrayed herself. that Sum
day evening, in the same garments she
had worn the first night I had met
her--the gorgeous costume of the belle
affranchie. in which she was most at
home-but l had grown more accus-
toned to her and sat down neal her
without any great hedaZzlement. She
'''' 80 IA ~, OSSAi ct AA
rolling cigarets with remarkable skill
and CELEBRITY, and had quite a pile on
the tabouret beside her. I sat and
watched the supple fingers and the red.
red lips. and the dark face. changing
with every wave OF feeling.
There" She said. at last. i'm that
queer. Clipped soft Creole which defies
transcription. II she pushed away
papers and ohacco. THAT will do for
his evening. Take one. chez
toe one and lighted 1t. 1 knew
that the term OF cndearment had no
meaning.
My friend" she said suddenly. turn
ing to me with intent gaze. do you
know where doudouX has gomez
No" 1 answered. III did not tell
me. He said only that his business
was calling him away"
"Business. ohe! And you believe
that
Why shouldn't I believe 1T. Cecily?."
If it were merely business. he could
would have hidden in some little, little
corner! l would not have been in the
way"
She flung her cigaret from her with
a swift fury, not looking to see where
1t struck. I got up n stamped it out.
She burst into sudden laughter as she
watched mc-the mirth of the careless
south at the careful north.
"All the same" she said, with con-
viction. he is growing weary OF me;
1 annoy him; l can see it. 1t was, Of
course. inevitable. Soon he will be
sending me away. Ohe!" and she
stretched her arms above her head
"Ah we'll! d'amour. de rires. ct d'oub-
lis!!" n h laughed. but I fancied
there was a Job beneath the laughter.
AT least, ! shall be again at st.
Pierre"
And you still long for it?"
oh. long for it! So would you.
che. If you a ever lived there"
A line from Mandalay flashed into
my head
III you've card the east a-callin',
why, you don't 'eed nothin' else
and looking at har, I caught q glimpse
OF that compelling fascination. Preach
ers and lecturers are fond of pointing
out that no great nation aver came
from he tropics-but the people who
live there have their compensations.
Suddenly there came a soft kissing
from the little cage over the radiator.
"Ah. I must feed Fe-Fe-she Is call
ing me" she cried. and he sprang up.
ran to the next room. and came back
with a little wine in a glass.
I stood and watched her without be-
ing greatly impressed. Fe-Fe seemed
very harmless and Observation-Disclosures
tho climate OF New York. even though
mellOwed by the radiator. did not
agree with her.
she is not at all well." said Cecily.
as she put her back into her cage 1T
is only the warmth Of the wine that
keeps her alive. 1 shall take her back
to st. Pierre with me--there she will
again be happy. Tambou! and so shall
Il! One Is always shivering here-the
whole world is SO cold-the sky, the
sea-, even the sum"
"Of course Tremaine will 60 back
with you." I assured her: i was Won
dering IL she really suspected his in
tention.
NO. ne will not" she said decidedly:
but" she added, with an electric flash
OF the eyes. "he may come in time"
I lighted another cigaret.
Where did o meet him, Cecily?:"
HI came to St. Pierre three, four
years ago. He saw me one day stand
ing at the door Of my house in the Rue
Peysette."
do you know where he came from?'
mo: 1t mattered nothing to me-"
H never talked about his pasta"
His past: No. 40. What was It t.
Fond-Corre. Tambou! I wish I wa,
there now!"
You were happy there7"
"Yes-except for he times doudou1
was in his black spells
His black spells?"
"Yes-oh. then everyone ran from
him-even I. He was terribleAray.
ing and cursing Missile Johnson"
Johnson" / repeated. with q suddef
leap Of the heart. who was he. &c.
clly?"
HE was doudoux's vombi." she a
swered with conviction. and crosset
herself.
tcentinusd Next Wesk.)