The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-14

ley, Who said that Miss Pelham gave It
to her. Miss Pelham referred me to
Mr.. Britt, and Mr.. Britt urged me to
keep the letter for future reference.
think he said it could be used as Elk
hibit A. Then he advised me to beat
you only in the presence of witnesses"
"The whole household must be going
mad" cried Genevra, with laugh.
"Oh, If something only would hap
penw exclaimed her ladyship. "A riot.
massacre-anything! 1t all sounds
like farce to you, Genevra, but you
haven't been here for five months, as
we have"
AS they moved away from the vine
covered nook in the garden q hand
parted the leaves In the balcony above,
md the dark, saturnine face Of trust
ed servant appeared behind 1t. This
secret espionage had been going on for
days in the chateau. Scarcely move
was made or word spoken by the
white people that escaped the atten-
ton of the swarthy spy. And, curious
reporting their discoveries to Hollings-
worth Chase.
The days passed. Hollingsworth
Chase now realized that he no longer
had authority over the natives. Rasu-
la made the reports for the islanders
and took charge of the statements
from the bank.
Every morning Chase rode boldly
into the town, transacted what bust
ness he could, talked with the thor
oughly disturbed bankers and then de-
family made his way to the chateau.
He was in love with tho princess
desperately in love. He understood
perfectly-for he was man of the
world and cosm0politan-that nothing
could come of 1t. She was princess,
and she was not in a story book; she
could not marry him.
So far as Geneva was concerned, on
her part 1t could mean no more than
diversion. condescension to coquet-
ry, simple Irritation; it meant the
passing of few days, the killing Of
time, the pleasure Of gentle conquest,
and -forgetfulness. ALI this he
knew.
At first she revolted against the
court he SO plainly paid to her in these
last few days. 1t was bold. conscience
less, tmpertinent. She avoided him;
she treated him to a short season of
disdain; she did all In her power to re-
buke his effrontery-and then in the
end she decided to give him as good
as he sent in this brief battle Of folly.
1t mattered little who came of with
the fewest scars, for in fortnight or
two they would go their separate ways,
no better, no worse, for the conflict.
And, after all. it was very dull in these
and very brave and very gallant and,
above all. very sensible.
They rode together In the park every
morning, keeping well out Of range of
marksmen in the hills. Their conflict
was with the eyes, the tone of the
voice, the intervals Of silence; no touch
Of the hand-nothing except the strnte.
gies of Eros.
What did 1t matter If few dead
impulses. few crippled ideals, a few
blasted hopes, were left strewn upon
the battlefield at the end Of the fort
night? What did anything matter so
long as Prince Karl of Brabetz was
not there?
One night toward the end Of this
week of enchanting rencounters-this
week of effort to uncover the vulner-
III
nevra stood leaning upon the rail
which inclosed the hanging garden.
She was gazing abstractedly into the
black night, out of which far away
blinked the light In the bungalow. 1t
was the first night in week that he
had missed coming to the chateau.
She missed him. She was lonely.
He had told her Of the meeting that
was to be held at the bungalow that
night at which he was to be asked to
deliver over to Rasula's committee the
papers. the receipts and the memoran-
da that he had accumulated during his
months OF employment in their behalf.
She had a feeling Of dread-a numb,
sweet feeling that she could not e1-
the proud consciousness that he was
man who had courage, man who
was not afraid.
How silly ami" she said half aloud
In her abstraction.
She turned her gaze away from the
blinking light in the hills, a queer,
guilty smile on her lips.
Across the garden from where she
was naying herself bitterly Lady Dep
pingham's husband was saying in low,
ngitated tones to Bobby Brownies wife:
Now, see here, Drusilla, I'm not
saying that our-that is, Lady Dep
| bingham and Bobby-are accountable
for what has happened, but that doesnt
make it any more pleasant. It's Of
little consequence who is trying to
poison US, don't you know, and all
that. They wouldn't do 1t, I'm sure,
but somebody is! That's what mean.
dye see? Lady Dep
II know my husband wouldn't