Charlevoix county herald., 1907-07-06
CHAPTER xvI.-continued.

voice of the servant as he asked IL he
could be of assistance to me. l looked
out There was a sheer drop of some
80 feet.
J That fact vaguely disconnected me.
The words of DR.. Starva were Earring
note that sobered my excitement
When | had dressed | was almost pre-
pared to find the massive door of my
chamber locked or barred. | had en-
tered the spiders web audaciousiy
enough. To escape might be less
simple
The dinner was simply but well
served in small dining-room. Had
my situation been less serious | 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 if cynical obedience.
But did Madame de WARMER believe
me so complaisant a fool, that, like
another Bottom, l was expected in this
modern Midsummer Nights Dream to
accept this Difference without ques.
dion? l became more and more con.
WINGED that she did not. Once she
even referred to the events of the
night before in such manner that l
believed her not ignorant of my true
condition. If she were persuaded that
j had been acting a part then, that
would account For her confidence in
expecting me to continue acting that
part. 1t would give her encourage
ment that l was the willing tool she
looked for.
And suppose that she really believed
that, did she think that | expected no
reward? She had limited that in serV.
ing her ends l was to serve myself as
well. But Madame de WARMER was
not the kind of woman to believe that
a man would be allured by 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 half
resolve to bring me to her feet. Now
as she eXerted every charm of coquet-
ny she was giving the lie to her own
words. Oh, the reward was obvious
enough, if | chose to take it.
I'VE will smoke our cigarettes in
my favorite music room. You must
hear DR.. Starva play on the cello.
You have had the piano carefully
tuned, jacques"
''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 | had
met him his face lost something of
its heavy sullen expression.
"My fingers have not the practice, E"
ne 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.
Dlmly lighted with wax candles, pan
q eled in dark oak to the ceiling, the
floor waxed and polished to a dazzling
luster, it was 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 no
pictures or tapestries. The one touch
Of color was the vivid flame of blaz-
ing logs.
1.-The strife of the world, its lies
and its shams, | leave behind when !
enter here said Madame de WARMER
sentimentally. Look, | 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 it was the lull before the
storm, but why should look for clouds
when the heavens were clear?
The long, darkIy paneled room, it:
shining floor seeming to rise and fal
mysteriously 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 it's charm. Aud these
two adventurers, INSCRIPTIONS anC
conscienceless. had abandoned them
selves for the moment to the JOY o
their music.
looked over toward Madame d,
WARMER. The shaded<light of the can
dies fell on her white shoulders. Tn,
splendor of her beauty had neve
seemed more seductive.
asked myself lncredulously If thi
dreaming woman was the desperat,
adventures whom Locke had warned
me against.