The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-19

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black than she might even imagine,
A swift self pity overcame him as
he foresaw what forfeit fate was
going to exact. II he had only had
chance to live a decent life! Had
he but been brought up on differ.
ent lines! For her sake he would
fain have been a boy again, with a
clean page on which to write his
history. But he could by no means
erase the evil record of his youth
He bowed his head still lower, be-
cause his eyes were dim and could
not meet hers as her husbands
must.
For a few seconds he stayed
thus. Then he looked up again,
his mind once more at work on
possibilities. For her sake, even at
that late hour, he might do much.
He was yet young, in years. If he
should prove himself worthy of
her, she was too generous of heart
not to reward him. Such grace as
she might grant, him in the mean.
time he would take from her most
thankfully.
She was his wife-in name, this
pure, proud beauty who despised
him and his coronet. No other
man might win her. He. must, in
the first place, make terms of out
ward amity, and then-trust time.
Listen, then" he requested
eagerly while you are my wife
in name, it is scarce seemly that
we should live thus, as open enc
mics. l 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 off since 1 fell heir to
my old uncle's vineyards at Les
Reeves. La Roche-Segur and the
Chateau des Reeves Of course came
to me with the title. You will not
refuse from me that which Is your
due.
ut may be, too, that my life wif
not be over long, in which case 1t
would be well that you were recog-
nized as Duchesse des Reeves with
out further delay. I do not speak
thus to affect you to pity, but my
doctors tell me that I need not lay
up any provision against old age.
would 1t not please you to es-
tablish yourself in the Hotel des
Reeves, while l remain in my own
quarters on this side Of the river?
/ give you my word that / shall
not modest you in any way, and you
may bid your people refuse me ad-
mission II so much as approach
the palace without first obtaining
your leave. l only ask you to bear
with me now and then at such
social engagements as you may see
fit to attend. Make any conditions
you please agree to them all In
advance. And l solemnly promise
that you will have no further cause
to complain of my conduct"
His voice shook slightly, so ear
nest was his appeal, and the girl
had heard it 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,
to find some safe refuge from this
Stephen Quaintance, whose most
unexpected arrival had SO dis
turbed her. And it did not take
her long to make up her mind.
ut shall be as you WISH" she
said deliberately. but only for
such time as you shall respect your
promise"
Il shall break no promises" he
assured her eagerly, all that was
evil In his handsome face for the
nonce obliterated under the spell
of her gracious presence, looking
more like the gallant gentleman he
might have been than old Fanch-
cite had ever seen him before.
II shall break no promises, and I
hope that you will one day be able
to think less harshly of me. When
will 1t suit you to remove to your
hotel?"
Now, at once.'
"Your carriage waits. May l
escort your"
She shook her head.