The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-04-04

confront ber, that felt my coming most unevil in
trusion Moreover, she most dsconccrng to
look upon. Stammcrng apologies and snachng my
hat from my head. | flushed and dropped my eyes
before her-which was not in accordance with my
custom / dropped my eyes, as ! say; but even then
| saw her clearly within my brain, If my eyes
were boldly resting upon her face
The lady Of the manor, evidently, | had heard
there sister to the rccalcitrant young Segncur.
one Madcmoiscle lrene. whose beauty and Ca
prices had more than one duel been fought among
the gol7nts OF Quebec.
Presently heard the sound of my sammering cease,
and a soft voice troubling me with familiar note,
SAID couTteousy You very welcome to Cheticamp,
Monsieur. My brother is away from homo. unhappiy.
but IN his absence you must allow the honor of
taking his place as your host in my poor way
] looked up and met her eyes fairly my confusion
lost in surprise and the instant my heart Signalcd
to me-lt is none other than the maid of the win
dowl Take carew
Yes. I saw it plain. Yet should never have known
but for perception somehow more subtle than that
OF car and cye-for she had disguised her voice the
night before, and her dress had been that OF peas
ant maid and the bright riddle of her face had been
IN shadow perceived too. that she felt herself safe
from discovery, and that it for me to save her
bushes by leaving her security unassaed In all thu,
sudden turmoil Of my wits however fear that [
was near forgetting my manners.
"Bu-Madcmoiscle-' | demanded blunty, "how
do you know who am?"
1T is the part Of tho conquered to know their con-
qucrs, Monsieur she answered, In that
Guided the bitterness OF the words But indeed, the
place OF an English officer, on duty that is doubtless
official is here at the scigneury, and not at the vii
lage inn We cannot let you put slight upon our
hospitality"
But was stubborn. That deed in my pocket weighed
tons Yet my inclination must have shown in my
eyes plainly enough for one less than Mademoiscllc
Irene lie Feyrc 10 decipher If. A little air Of con-
fdenec fitted over her face. Nevertheless, shook
my head,
Most gracious lady," l protested, you honor me
too much 1t will delight to learn that your
brother has been maligncd' d'-and in this. faith.
spoke true forgetting the contingent peril to pocket
to take him TO Halifax. for the Governor himself to
weigh the evidence The irony of life has sent me
here your foe, not your guest"
Then. Monsieur come as foe who but observes
the courteses. Come with your hands free to arrest
my brother at any moment on his own hcarthstone
Che is far away from it now, praise MaryD or to
arrest your hostess either, If your duty should de-
mand that unkndness
Her strong, little eloquent hands were clasped in
appeal,-and who was to deny herr But looked
into her eyes; and | saw in their childke decps
derncah the mocking and the fegnng, clear spirit.
which | could not bear TO dcudc. understood now
very plainly her mad game OF the night before She
unmasking a danger for her brother. | justified
her in my heart; but for my own part in the folly
felt a creeping shame How lightly she must hold
This thought. and sense that | was about to
hurt her, brought the hot flush to my face, and |
looked away as | spoke
But, Mademoisellc-forgiye me that bear such
tidngsthe estates OF Monsieur Raoul e Fevrc, Seig
of Chctoamp, conhscatcd to the Crown"
"Mademoisclc,' | cried more passonatey, perhaps,
than was fitting, do not misunderstood The con-
fscaton does not apply at once, OF course and you
still absolute mistress here. If your brother be
proved innocent the decree of conhscation may be
revoked SO it will now be held in suspension. You
will. l sure. permit to go through the form
of visiting your house. to convince me, as the Gov
crnors cmissary that Monsieur lie Fevrc Is not there
Then l will return to the village and TO 1t that
my shall you annoyance or embarrass-
ment l dare not ask you to pity for the duty
that has been put upon me-.
You generous enemy 4 chivalrous enemy.
Monsieur" she murmurcd in a low. earnest, slightly
ctr tned hen
Il almost your prisoner. in sense, am | moi? ]?
A suspect, certainly If accept your leniency. and
fscated roof do not make die under this weight
of favor Be my. guest and let me feel that am
not the only in debt"
Was this the same woman, this half mocking, all
irresistible creature, she whom had gTay-faccd
with hopeless trouble not three minutes beforc1 Said
to myself If pit my wits or my heart against hers
it is all up with me Blank truth is my only hope"
Aloud said Il will be your guest Mademoisele.
though the debt in which l overwhclm myself IS
from which | can never again get free
For this acquicscence my reward was just look of
a brillancy that made catch my breath with pleas
urc With gesture that badc INC to her side she
turned and moved slowly up the path between the
shining copiousncsS Of roses.
81 will send servant with your orderly to the inn,
Monsieur she said TO fetch your things. Our old
walls will be glad TO shelter again soldiers uniform,
IL the color of it be something strange to thcm
almost you tempt me to wish that had been born
to the white uniform / answered, in daze with the
OF her, the wchery of her. the namcess charm
almost you tempt TO regret" she retortcd with
gracious raiery that the OF your cold and stub
born north cannot be moved to change by womans
arguments.
'It is to unchangeableness moved by wo-
man, MademoiScllc"
| spoke with an exaggerated lghtncss to avoid a
too significant seriousness.
as there ever, wonder risk of such seadfastness
growing tircsomc,' unused NlademoiScc turning con-
tcmplativc.
The swift change discounted me. I turned my
words patitudes the beauty of the house. the gar
den the landscape. And presently found myself cs-
tabshed honored yet confessedly hostile guest in
the Seigncury of Cheticamp,
Bat the situation, seemingly so quiet and easy that
it might aspire TO last forever was. in fact bubble
of rainbow tissue blown TO its extreme of tension and
ready TO shattcr at breath When the breath came
il light ono truly. yet how the face of the world
changed under il ] awokc morning in the first
rosiness of dawn, with kind Of forcbodng ! went
to the window. There in the misty bay hove-to at a
discreet distance from the wharves. was small
schooner signalling.
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