Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-22
CHAPTER XVI.

ly different motives. had spared no pains
IN pursuit OF her whom Cuaintance now
knew as Dagmar. Duchess des Reeves
Monsieur le Due was the last 10 reach
Paris. and that in no over-vioient hurry.
For while he may not have welded such
wide powers as Fanchette credited him
with. he had always found that his ranh
in life carried with Il advantages denied
"a individuals less fortunately situated.
when the ever watchful Jules Chevral
had brought him breathless word OF the
duchesxe's final flight. a cable message
from New York had served to set In mo-
ton that machinery by means OF Whlch
she was TO be detained in Paris Tor NM
The creature who had served his pur-
nose there was one Tissot-Latour, aspi-
rant for social recognition and very ready
10 ohlige duke
Tissot-Latour was seated in the smok-
fnc room when he returned 20 the Rue
ST. Honore. a little vulgar. over-dressed
man. p,ebefan OF body as mind, who rose
as monsieur entered, and greeted him et-
fusively-
Have you brought the address, the
due asked bluntly. -
Certainly replied his tool y GU
know that 1 am at your service. Etienne'
ard-herc II is"
..T2ue des TroIs Freres." said monsieur
20 himself. as he took the card profter-
ed him. What under heaven took her
20 Montmartre.
.-Ju,esl Phone to Che stable to send
the landau here at once Or no, the pa
rouche win be better And at once.
whats that, Latour, card Tor
NJ Ia presidents reception. Oh, very
we'll. I'm see what 1 can do about II, II
remember"
.-Tbat was no easy task you set me.
F,tieune'' the other told him.
rs there a man on watch! monsieur
asked
..Tbere has been one since had sur
VIGILANCE established" replied the other
pompously You won't mind reWarolhs
re with a card for the presidents re-
rs,tion. viii YOU. Etienne, mon cherE.
phone me about IT later" monsieur
,-.fTed hack to him. and. ''Confound the
fellows impudent familiarity. he mutter-
ed to himself.
II U-ns Fanchette who first caught sight
NJ rnonsfeur's carriage as II stopped al
most opposite the window she was gaz-
ing from. and so extreme was her alarm
IN consequence that she could only POM
tosit while her lips moved without a
.o,,15 TIRE girl and she had just return
81 from their excursion 10 the Avenue
Marneau had been discussing the adVisa-
huitv Of fight from the Rue des Trois
Frees because OF their unfortunate en-
counter with Dirck Arendsen-
That individual had introduced himself
n them. even as Miss Sophia had OBJ
served. first as a fellow passenger OF
theirs upon the steamer. in which guse
they had already recognized him, and
then as a dear friend Of the self-styled
stsrhen ouaintance. who was. he averred.
searching the city high and low for his
Grant cousin He had proved so deter
rnf,edIv insistent that the girl had at
length compiled with his request for her
present address, and she felt glad that
she had not yielded to the temptation 10
rlisIead him. when Fanchette, looking
hack as they turned in at the street door.
saw that he had followed them thither at
a respectful distance. He had set on hot
foot Immediately he was thus satisfied
that IL was safe 10 do so. and might now
be back at any moment with one OF the
two men they were most anxious I'd
esca2e- And. in the meantime, came the
other.
1T IS monsieur" the girl said listless-
" after she had found out what had so
frightened Fanchette. The hour she her
self had been dreading for so long had
come. but il found her with senses dulled
BY anticipation
1T il monsieur. You must be brave
now. Fanchette. And do not leave me for
an instant See. have something here
which win speak for us IL our voices are
not loud enough.
Che slipped one hand into a pocket OF
the coat she was still wearing and
brought out the revolver which had
served her in such good stead on the oc-
caSson OF her night journey from New
York to StormpOrt.
She herself threw the door wide and
motioned 20 monsieur that he might come
in He did so, deferentially. hat in hand
speaking no word until his sharp-eyeC
guide had once more been shoot out. And
then:
-.Dagmar.'' he said imploringly
she scanned him closely for a moment
and saw that he had not changed. Almost
a twelvemonth had gone by since that
dark night on which she had fed from
him. leaving behind. in token Of her des-
perate resolve. the wedding ring which he
had placed upon her finger an hour before
All. had she but known In time. had hel
eyes not been so innocently blind to ths
brand she could see so plainly now on his
smooth forehead She had once thought
him handsOme-and believed In him-anc
trusted him implicitly. And insight into
his true character had come 20 her only
an hour too late!
She was no longer the unsophfsticated
Of the world. had thought he might still
bring to book for her behavior She was
q woman now. and altogether lovely. this
his as yet unkissed duchesse.
''Dagmar." he said. Il have come here
70 plead with you. Am 1 not your hus.
bandT'
Was what that woman told me at the
church door true2' she asked him. in q
tone at which he WINGED as though II had
been a whiplash.
He bit his lip. counting the chances
that lie might pass. but knew that moth
ing but the truth would serve him.
II was true. TO my shame" he said
But listen. Dagmar. / was no more thar
boy then. and-she entrapped me. Thai
happens 10 so many OF US.
mo. do not seek to excuse myself al
her expense I only pray you TO be le.
nient with me. IL was not altogether
my fault. and
II WAS true" she broke in. not scorn.
fully. but in voice which hurt him NOR,
than would have the scorn he deserved
and l am glad that you do not deny
J.. else I should have TO count you COW.
n Fiji e1ETADTe