Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
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"Ohi cut that out he cried harshly.
You're not fool enough. surely TO take
that fellows fairy tales on trust Ouch
esse dee Revesl You're not the first by
a long chalk who's tripped over that lined
twig, and 1 wouldn't have twitted you
with it. either. II you had said nothing
about IT, You were Miss Lorraine when
you left the Rue des Trois Freres a few
hours ago, and you're Miss Dorraie still.
There's more than a ring needed to make
you Duchesse des Reeves. l don't know
why women are always so simpler
She WINGED as though he had struck
her, and bent her head as she heard the
repute in which her husband was held.
Listen. now" he went on more COM
posedly, having settled that point to his
own satisfaction. There's no reason why
you and I shouldn't pull together. Five
millions will more than make UP TO you
for the loss of a title you'd never have
been allowed to wear, and-I'a not bad
sort of chap. Give me a fair trial and
II don't suit you I'll quit-honor bright
You can easily get divorce, or I'll dis
appear and send you death certificate.
You'll never see me again after you say
go. I can't make you any fairer offer
than that. now can I?'
II was very bitter TO her to have to sup
plement her plain statement, but this
blind disbelief in IL was so evident that,
for her own sake, she must try to con-
vince him that she spoke the truth, that
the dead mans millions were neither fo-
him nor her. And she felt devoutly thank
full then that he had taken the step she
did to prevent such a contingency as
that which now presented itself. OF two
grave evils she had unwittingly chosen
the lesser Miles Quaintance' nephew,
the man he had never seen and to whom
he would yet have sold her, was worse
I'm reality than she had even imagined
him.
Hear me, please, Mr.. Quaintance," she
begged. her glance once more meeting his
so steadily that has eyes dropped again
in spite OF himself. land try TO believe
what I say. 1 have no desire to deceive
you. I want you to understand why 1
married the Due des Reeves"
He uttered an impatient ejaculation, but
she continued quietly.
1T was only six months after my edu-
cation was finished that I heard of Mr..
Miles QuaiEtance's death. I was here. in
Paris, then. He had hidden me remain
until he could come over and take me
back with him to San Francisco. With
the news came his letter explaining that
he had offered me to you in marriage. 1
don't know whether you can realize how
1 felt about that, butt made up my
mind at that moment that no power on
earth would induce me to marry you.
And, TO make my resolution still safer,
married the Due des Reeves.
He was a poor cavalry officer then,
and I did not know he would ever inherit
a title. 1 was little more than school
girl. and-I thought cared for him. That
seemed sufficient to me. / left the house
in which I was living. ostensibly 10 sail
for America but really to meet him. We
were married Immediately, and you will
find record of that fact in the registers of
the ACCOMPLISHMENT de PElysee and at the
church OF st. Yves-de-Suresne."
She started back. said no more, for
Seager had sprung to his feet, was glar-
ing at her with murderous malevolence.
Arendsen had raised clenched hands, his
white teeth showed between his black
beard and moustache like those of a wild
beast Both men were stirred to a degree
OF passion incomprehensible to her.
She did not know how utterly her simple
words had dashed hopes on which they
had been building so assuredly that these
had come to assume the shape Of certain
ties in their eyes.
You did that-on purpose to-prevent
me getting my share of the estate," said
Seager in a choked snarl, his fingers
hAl6. Abu AlAtu your own neSI-dnu
shut me outside to starve!"
II did what self-respect dictated" she
answered boldly, anger against his OBJ
viOus baseness lending her courage.
Curse self-respect of that Sort" he
cried holly. You've robbed me of my
birthright, that's what you've done. Ain t
1 a better man than the damned Due des
Reeves? You've cut your own throat. to
spite me. that's what you've DONE And
you know II as well as I do"
He raved and ragged. almost beside him
self. till Arendsen, less noisy If no less
dangerous. came forward and roughly
silenced him. Fanchette's eyes turned
longingly to the door, but he saw that
and dragged the other toward II without
loss of time. Seager was too bewildered
to object. and presently the trembling
woman heard the key turned in the lock
outside, the outer door was also made
fast and shutting footsteps died away on
the stair. They threw themselves down
on the couch. and cried forlornly in each
cther's arms. so heavy had the strain
upon their nerves been.
Seager and Arendsen fought their side
Of the question out by candlelight in one
Of the lower rooms. The latter was less
Gowncast than his ally by the disclosures
they had listened to. and whose sincerity
neither of them could doubt He had al
READY a IreSn move TO counsel, did not de-
spair entirely of late success.
mo, the games not up yet, you fool"
ne interrupted, after listening deafly for
time to Seager's futile imprecations.
What can we do now?" asked the 9TH
er querously.
why don't you think, instead of talk
ing" Arendsen asked angrily. Whats
to hinder us finding out whether this due
Of hers won't stand in with US. There
are ten millions TO go round, and most
of those fellows would sell their souls for
! a third Of that. We might upset the mar
riage. get him TO disown it-there are
half a dozen cards left to play. Now what
was she doing all by herself In America,
Ell? Had they separated already? There
might be something in that
Seager stared at him. with the dawning
of renewed hope in his eyes.
"Gad. you're great, Dirck," he said.
/ Wen go straight up and ask her. Then
we'll tackle the due II he'd only sit in
with US. it would be easy money all
round"
When they knocked at the studio door
again they found their prisoners safe
enough and both on their feet. defiant.
I'm sorry I spoke $3.50 sharply just
now" Seager said. addressing himself
/ TO the duchesse. land Mr.. Arendsen has
I almost convinced me that you are really
| the Duchesse des Reeves. But what were
/ you doing alone in America, so soon af-
\ ter your wedding, eh?'
IL kw- els rHerh