Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-12-01

pented of the marriage. The princess
was obliged to live in Paris for a Ger
tain length Of time before applying to
the courts for freedom. Cad. I'll stake
my head she's happy these daysr'
Chase walls silent for long time.
lie WAS quite cool and composed when
ut last he turned to his friend.
Arch. do me great favor, Look
cut for Selim and Neenah. Take 'enl
to the hotel and see that they get set
tied. I'll join you this evening. Don't
ask questions. but put me down here.
III take another cab. There's good
fellow. I'll explain soon. I'm-l'm GO
Ing somewhere, and I'm in hurry"
=
The voiture drew up before the his
toric old palace in the Boulevard st.
German. Chase's heart was beating
furiously as he stepped to the curb.
The cocher leaned forward for instruc-
tons. His fare hesitated for mo.
ment. swayed by momentary indeci-
sion.
"Attendre," he said finally. The
driver adjusted his register and settled
back to wait. Then Chase mounted
the steps and lifted the knocker with
trembling fingers. He was dizzy with
eagerness, cold with uncertainty.
She had asked him to come to her,
but conditions were not the same as
when she sent the compelling message.
There had come into her life vital
break. a change that altered every
thing. What was 1t to mean to him?
He stood moment later in the sa-
Ion of the old Flaurebert palace, vague.
ly conscious that the room was dark
ened by the drawn blinds and that it
was cool and sweet to his senses. He.
knew that she was coming down the
broad hallway. He could hear the rus
tie of her gown.
1nconsequently he was wondering
whether she would be dressed in black.
Then. to his Humiliation. lie remem-
bered that lie was wearing uncouth,
travel soiled garments
She was dressed in whlte-a house
gown. simple and alluring There was
no suggestion of the coronet, no shadow
of grief III her manner. as she came
swiftly toward him. her hands extend
ed, glad light in her eyes.
The tall man. voiceless with emotion,
casped her hands In his and looked
down into the smiling. rapturous face.
You came" she said. almost in a
whisper.
Yes. could not have stayed away.
| have just heard that you-you are
free. You must not expect me to Of
fer condolences. II would be sheer
hypocrisy am glad-l am glad. You
sent for me-you sent the yacht, Ge-
nevra. before-before you were free. /
came knowing that you belonged to
another. find you the same as when
knew you first-when held you in
my arms and heard you say that you
loved me. You do not grieve-you do
not mourn. You are the same, my Ge.
nevra-the same that have dreamed
Of and suffered for all these months
Something tells me that you have de-
scended to my plane. will not kiss
you. Genevra. until you have promised
10 become my wife"
She had not taken her eyes from his
white. Intense face during this long
summing up.
"Hollingsworth, cannot, l will not
blame you for thinking i'll of me-" she
said. "Have | fallen in your eyes? l
wanted you to be near me. | wanted
you to know that when the courts
freed me from that man / would
be ready and happy to come to you as
your wife. l am not in mourning to-
day. you see. ] knew you We're COM
ing. AS God is my witness. have no
husband to mourn for. He was moth
ing to me. want you for my hus-
band. dearest. 1t was what | meant
when l sent out there for you-that
ard nothing else"
1.-THE END.l