Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-22
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ard as well as But. never mind.
have no wish to Judge you. 1t was true
and yet YOU call yourself my husband!
| He would have spoken, but she held
hand up and so silenced him.
You were a poor man when 1 married
YOU" she went on swiftly. i did not
know that YOU would one day be Due des
Reeves. and I-God help mel believed
you loved me. In that ! was content.
You married me believing me to be
rich mans heiress. and for the sake OF
what you might get with me-
| He would have cried denial II ne couid,
but remained speechless, with bent head.
I could have told you then that he
was dead. and that his millions would all
go elsewhere If I should marry YOU out
II believed you loved me-!
| II went TO you, on impulse and in haste.
4 There was no time for explanations. And,
on the church steps 1 found out
You are my husband, as you say-but
in name only. and because il was too late
then to remedy the mutual mistakes. Ana
there the matter rests. 1t shall rest
there though it cost me my life to fight
( mems laws"
! His hot ewes met hers for a moment.
! and ne knew then that he might neither
bend nor break her will to his. She was
| so very beautiful in her disdain, defying
! him through life to death itself, that he
! repent in that instant and more bitterly
I that he could have thought possible a
past more soiled and black that she might
Q even imagine. For her sake, even at
/ that late hour, he might do much. he
! was yet young, in years. If he should
prove himself more worthy of her, she
J was too generous of heart not to reward
7 him.
| Listen, then" he requested eagerly.
/ while you are my wife-in name 1t is
scarce seemly that we should live thus,
as open enemies. have not ceased TO
seek you since you left me, and now
we shall surely be able to come to some
! arrangement which will give us both
greater peace of mind.
] II am well of since fell heir to my
old uncle's vineyards at Les Reeves. You
will not refuse from me that which is
your due.
1T may be, too, that my life will not
l be overriding, in which case 1t would De
well that you were recognized as Ouch
esse des Reeves without further delay.
do not speak thus to affect you to pity,
but my doctors tell me that need not
lay up any provision against old age.
! Would il not please you to establish
yourself in the Hotel des Reeves, while L
remain in my own quarters on this side
OF the river? And I solemnly promise
that you will have no further cause 10
complain of my conduct
His voice shook slightly, so earnest
was his appeal, and the girl had heard
II with close attention. She was no less
anxious than he to attain some less
harassing mode Of life than had been her
lot of late. 20 find some safe refuge from
this Stephen Quaintance whose most I'M
expected arrival had so disturbed her
/ And il did not take her long TO make up
her mind.
1T shall be as you wish she said de-
/ liberately But only for such time IS
you shall respect your promise
Il shall break no more promises, he
assured her eagerly, all that was evll IN
his handsome face for the nonce obhter-
ated under the spell of her gracious pres
ence. looking more like the gallant gen
tlenan he might have been than old Fan
Ghetto had ever seen him before.
| .sYour carriage waits. May 1 escort
your"
/ She shook her head.
''Fanchette viii go with me.
He bowed choking down mis- chagrln'
schooling himself to prompt obedience
--~m YOU permit me TO make known
| our inarriage?' he asked most humbly'
and Fanchette could scarcely recognize
| in such a timid suppliant. the naughty
Duo des Reeves, Vicomte Aiglemont ana
seirneur de la Roche-Segur.
'sTonight there is a reception at the
/ Flvsee" he went on hurriedly. All Far-
Is will be present. If you care to accom-
pany me. it would be very opportune 10
! announce It then. I have just landed
I from New York Ny friends would as
sumo that we had met and married there
which would save gossip. We need not
undeceive them"
/ VERY we'll" she agreed, willing 10
! avoid needless notoriety II that were pos
sible. and he withdrew. sufficiently well
pleased.
/ Dagmar. Duchesse des Reeves. heard
him go downstairs with dragging feet.
/ and sank into a chair, tired sign Oh
her trembling lips.
IT could not but surrender, Fanchette'
she said, drearily. There was no other
way. and
Fanchette EMBODIED her in two strong
arms.
You have done well. dear heart" she
( whispered her tone a caress, holding the
I ouivering form close in her grasp. you
I have done we'll and-it is best so. Forget
the past. Think no more Of what might
have been"
Presently Fanchette set to her packing.
her mistress helping her so that they
might not lose a single moment in MAX
ing their escape from other callers. Then
they descended and drove off in the more
imposing equipage amid the open curl
! OEltN the rue utS LUIS II
II A short hour after the two had fed,
there came to the Rue des Trois Freres
lin a great hurry a tall. fair man with
bloodshot. quarrelsome eyes, and dark
fellow wearing a great black beard and
moustache.
You must ask the great Due des
Reeves where she is now" the concierge
explained slowly. to their impertinent
inquiries. And when you see him you
will also see the wickedest aristocrat that
we have left in France"
CHAPTER XVII.
Black Dirk Adopts Strong Measures.
''WeII?' Arendsen asked. in no pleasant
tone. as Seager and he set of at a smart
/ pace down the street. He had not under
stood much of the conversation which
had taken place. He and his ally had
secured Paris systematically, but without
result until that afternoon, when he had
suddenly been inspired to call by himself
for the two old maids in the Avenue
Marceau, to see what he could find out
from them on his own account. There
were only three days left in which "a
| win or lose the enormous stake for which
he was now prepared to back Seager to a