The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-11
(chap;er y.-contInned.l

~ week ago. You've been engaged
only week?' / broke In
not many days more. I guessed. /
hoped, long ago that Raoul cared hut
ne wouldn't have told me, even the dav
he did tell, IL he hadn't lost his head
little. He hadn't meant to sneak.
lt seems, for he's poor, and he thought
ne: mad no right. But what's a man
worth who doesn't lose his head wnen
ne loves a woman? / adored him for
IT. We decided not to let any one
know until few weeks before we
could marry, as didn't care TO have
my engagement gossipped about, foY
months on end. There were reasons
why--Inore than one: but the man OF
all others whom l didn't want to know
the truth found out or rather. sus-
pected what had happened, the very.
day when Raoul and / came to an
understanding-Coun Godensky, of the
Russian Embassy. He called. and was
let in by mistake while Raoul was
with me, and, just as he must have
seen by our faces that there was some
thing to suspect. SO ] saw by his that
he did suspect. oh, hateful person,
I've refused him three times. There
are some men so vain that they can
never believe woman really means
to say no to them. Count Godensky
is one of those. and he's dangerous
too. I'm afraid of him, since I've
cared for Raoul though / used to be
afraid of no one. when I'd only my
self to think of. Raoul was going
away that very night He had an
errand to do for a woman who was a
dear and intimate friend of his dead
mother. You must know of the
Duchesse de Montpelier? Well. 1t was
for her: and Raoul is her godson. She
has no children of her own"
II don't know her." I said but I've
seen her; a. charming looking woman.
about forty-five, with a gloomy-facesl
husband--a fellow who might be rather
a Tartar to live with. They were
pointed out to me at Monte Carlo one
year, in the Casino, where the Duchesse
seemed to be enjoying herself hugely.
though the Duke had the air of being
dragged in against MS will"
mo doubt he had been-or else he
was there to fetch her out. Poor dear,
she's dreadful gambler. It's in her
blood! She lost, don't know how
much, at Monte Carlo on an infallible
SYSTEM she had. She's afraid OF her
husband. though she loves him inn
mensely: and lately q craze she's had
for bridge has cost her SO much that
she daren't tell the Duke. who hates
her gambling. She confessed to Raoul
and begged him to help her-not with
money, for he has none. but by taking
a famous and wonderful diamond neck
lace of hers to Amsterdam, selling the
stones for her there, and having them
replaced with paste. 1t was all 70 be
done very secretly, OF course SO that
the Duke shouldn't know, and Raoul
hated it, but he couldn't refuse. He
had no idea Of telling me this story
that day when he lost his head while
we were bidding each other good-b by
before his Journey. He didn't mention
the name of the Duchess, but said
only that he had leave, and was
going to Holland on business. But
while he was away dreadful thing
happened-the most CHASTITY misfortune
and as we were engaged to be mar
ried, he felt obliged when he came
hack TO let me know the worst"
what was the dreadful thing that
bannened?" asked as she paused,
pressing her hands against her tens
pies.
.The necklace was stolen from Raoul
nv a. thief, who must have been one of
the most expert in the world. Can
you Imagine Raoul's feelings? He
came to me in despair, asking my adj
wise. What was he to do? He dared
not appeal to the police. or the Ouch
| eSsS secret would come out anu lie
| couldn't bear to tell her of the loss,
mot only because 1t would be such a
blow to her. as she was depending on
|. tho money from the sale of the jewels
but because she knew that he was IN
| some difficulties, and might be tempted
to believe that he'd only pretended the
| diamonds We're stolen--while really
he'd sold them for his own use."
''As she's fond of him, and trusts
him, probably she would have thought
no such thing" tried to comfort
Maxine, 5"But certainly. It was q rath'
| er bad fiji, ,s N n f
/ ~ "Rather had gtlxl Oh. you laconit
creatures, Eng ISL men, All YOU think
lAof Isl to hide your teelsNEa behind ICY