The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-24

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certificate. You'll never see me
again after you say go. l can't
make you any fairer offer than
that, now can II"
1t was very bitter to her to have
to implement her plain statement.
but his blind disbelief in it was so
evident that, for her own sake, she
must try to convince him that she
spoke truth, that the dead mans
millions were neither for him nor
her. And she felt devoutly thank
full then that she had taken the
step she did to prevent such a con-
tingency as that which now pre-.
scented itself. OF two grave evils
she had unwittingly chosen the
lesser. Miles Quaintance's nephew,
the man he had never seen and to
whom he would yet have sold her,
was worse in reality that she had
, ever imagined him.
Hear me, please, Mr. Quaint
ance," she begged, her glance once
more meeting his so steadily that
his eyes dropped again in spite Of
himself, "and try to believe what l
sa. l have no desire to deceive
you. I want you to understand
why I married the due DIES Reeves"
He uttered an impatient ejacula-
ton. but she continued quietly.
1T was only six months after
my education was finished that l
heard Of Mr.. Miles Quaintance's
death. l 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 explain
ing that he had offered me to you
in marriage. I don't know whether
you can realize how / felt about
that, butt made up my mind at
that moment that no power on
earth would induce you to marry
me. And, to make my resolution
still safer, l married the due de
Reeves.
HE was a poor cavalry officer
then, and / did not know he would
ever inherit title. l was little
more than school girl, and--I
thought cared for him. That
seemed sufficient to me. I left the
house In which l was living, osten-
sibly to sail for America, but really
to meet him. We were married
Immediately, and you will find rec
ord of that fact in the registers of
the reimbursement de FElysee aud
at the church Of st. Yves-de-Su-
resne."
She started back, said no more,
for Seager had sprung to his feet,
was glazing at her with murderous
malcvolence. Arendsen had raised
clenched hands, his white teeth
showed between his black, beard
and mustache like those of a wild
beast. Both men were stirred to a
degree of passion incomprehens.
ible 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 certainties 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 working. "You
lined your own nest-and shut me
outside to starve!"
Il did what self respect die
tated," she answered boldly, anger
against his obvious baseness lend
ing her courage.
Course self respect of that sort!"
he cried holly. you've robbed me
Of my birthright, that's what
you've done. Amt I 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 1t as we'll as l do"
He raved and ragged, almost be-
side himself, till Arendsen, less
noisy II 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 1t with.
out loss of time. Seager was too
bewildered to object, and presently
the trembling women heard the
key turned in the lock outside, the
outer door was also made fast, and
shuffling footsteps died away on
the stair. They threw themselves
down on the couch, and cried for
lornly in each others arms, SO
heavy had the strain upon their
nerves been.
Seager and Arendsen fought
their side of the question out by
candle light in one of the lower
rooms. The latter was less down.
cast than his ally by the disclos-
ures they had listened to, and
whose sincerity neither of them
could doubt. He had already a
fresh move to counsel. did not de-
spa,r entirely Of late success. He
was q more assiduous scoundrel