The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-06-14

1
called to me. must follow; | must
meet my destiny: sometimes / must
walk In the dark places. The world,
your world. let IL think what IL will,
Bah. II is not my concern what IL
thinks OF me. Perhaps last night, this
morning, / wished you to fall in love
with me. Perhaps now | am asking
you to give me a little respect, a very
little. monsieur. But what does II
natter"
| | looked al this strange woman in
establishment. II was a curious plea
Perhaps she had wished 10 make me
fall In love with herl She made the
frank confession with childish
naivete. And in the same breath she
asked for my respect
You speak In riddles" exclaimed
petulantly Tell me your purpose"
She looked up at me swiftly. half in
defiance.
Tell me yours"
my purpose." | 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 a glimmer of a sus
picion was startling.
Look, my friend. | speak no more
in riddles. but very frankly. Come to
my chateau because there you can do
me a service, a great service. VOLTA,
| have told you everything"
Not quite everything" | 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 shall tell
you" she promised airly.
She plunged into stormy mazurka
to drown my protestations. ] watched
her, irritated and yet half yielding, as
she played with the brilliancy and
elan OF virtuoso. Then | walked to
the window
To reach il passed pier-glass pam
eled in the wall. A mans face was
dimly reflected there. Though | did
not look, / knew that he must be
/
another apartment. He had been lis
tening, OF course.
/ did not betray my surprise.
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; II was equally fair
that l play their game. Yes; / deter
mined to meet them with their own
weapons.
The music reached a stormy climax.
There was silence. / did not go back
into me room. / waited curiously
Would she again insist? II so, deter.
mined TO no longer refuse.
The heavy curtains at the window
were parted She stood beside me
Again | noticed the feverish light IN
her eyes; her bosom rose and fell
unanimously; her color came and
went
Then you have no hiking for an adj
venture?" she demanded in a spirit
OF desperate gayety. Even when that
adventure is TO be shared with wom-
an-yes, beautiful woman
Not when adventures are thrust on
me-" | 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 | was not to be won
over by coquetry. She became ser'-
Gus, almost anxious. 1nstincuvely |
felt that she was about to play her
last card. Had she known il, was al
ready decided But she was ignorant
of that, and risked everything to gain
her purpose.
You have set yourself a task What
II can help you fulfill it?"
Again you speak in riddles.
madam"
III said | were listening last
night"
| frowned on her. furious. but | 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 1t is war? And you
ask the enemy deliberately into the
camp?"
1T is neither love nor war. II Is a
truce. Does that satisfy you?"
Until you tell me the service am
TO do you. IL must be an armed truce
mterposed cautiously.
emphasized the adjective
"Bien. At Alterhoffen you shall
know all. Then It will be for you to
decide II we are TO be allies"
very we'll" | assented briskly Il
will go TO your chateau with you.
When do we start?"
Now that | had made my decision
she grasped the railing Of the balcony,
exhausted Presently ] noticed that
her Inns we're moving, and as ! looked