The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-06-23

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some arrangement which will
give us both greater peace OF
mind.
81 am well off 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 be overriding. in which
case 1t would be well that you
were recognized as Duchesse des
Reeves without further delay.
do not speak thus to affect you to
pity, but my doctors tell me that
l need not lay up any provision
against old age.
Would IL not please you to es-
Itablish yourself in the Hotel des
Reeves, while / remain in my own
quarters on this side of the river?
And l solemnly promise that you
will have no further cause to COM
plain of my conduct"
His voice shook slightly, so
earnest was his appeal, and the
girl had heard It with close at
tention. She was no less anxious
than he to attain some less harass-
ing mode Of life than had been her
lot of late, to find some safe
refuge from this Stephen Quaint
ance whose most unexpected ar
rival had 50 disturbed her. And
lit did not take her long to make
up her mind.
1T shall be as you wish" she
said deliberately. But only for
such time as you shall respect your
promise"
81 shall break no more prom
ises," he assured her eagerly, all
"a vt was evil in his handsome face
to, the nonce obliterated under
tne spell of her gracious presence.
looking more like the gallant
gentleman he might have been
than old Fanchette had ever seen
him before.
your carriage waits. May j
escort your"
She shook her head.
"Fanehette will go with me-"
He bowed, choking down his
chagrin, schooling himself to
prompt obedience.
"Will you permit me to make
known our mrriage?" he asked
most humbly, and Fanchette could
scarcely recognize In such timid
suppliant the naughty Due des
Reeves, Viscomte Aiglemont and
Seignur de la Roche-Segur.
Tonight there is a reception at
the Elysee," he went on hurriedly.
"All Paris will be presnt. If you
care to accompany me, it would be
very opportune to announce II
then. 1 have just landed from
New York. My friends would as
sumo that we had met and married
there, which would save gossip
We need not undeceive them"
VERY WELL" she agreed, will
ing to avoid needless notoriety ~
that were possible, and he with.
drew, sufficiently well pleased.
| Dagmar, Duchesse des Reeves
heard him go downstairs with
dragging feet, and sank into q
chair, tired sigh on her trem.
bling lips.
ST could not but surrender, Fan.
chette," she said, drearily. There
was no other way, and"-
Fanchette embodied her in two
lstrong arms.
| "You have done we'll, dear
cart" she Whispered, her tone Q
aress, holding the quiverine
orm close In her grasp. "Yor
lave done we'll. and--it is best so
Forget the past. Think no more
If what might have BEEN"
Presently Fanchette set to hel
packing, her mistress helping hel
that they might not lose a sin
lyle moment in making their escape
from other callers. Then they de
lscended and drove off in the NOR,
IMPOSING equipage, amid the opef
curiosity of the Due des Troil
lFreres.
1 A short hour after the two hat
filed, there came to the Rue de-
lTrois Freres in a great hurry ;
tall, fair man with bloodshot
lquarrelsome eyes, and dark fel
low wearing great black bear,
and moustache.
i You must ask the great Du,
des Reeves where she is now" tn,
concierge explained slowly, t.
their impertinent inquiries. can,
when you see him you will also Sc,
1.-THE wickedest aristocrat that w,
have left in France"
Continued Tomorrow
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