The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

see the motor drive off rapidly
he spent the whole Of that night broodlng on the
painful scene and thinking how he act Should
he turn his back on her once and forever ana bapn
life afresh in some far-away land Of strangers? Or
should he make one last effort to see her alone and
TO fathom the mystery Of her conduct For being
'ne man ne was he could not understand this woman
who was swayed by two master passions-tbe passion
OF love and the passion that was IN her blood Yet
somewhere In the back Of his he was conscious
OF the fact that there were sti chords IN her soul
the music whereof he alone could bring forth And so
ne waited impatiently till the morning light so that
then he might put his mind at rest forever
lie decided that first Of all he would have meet
ing with De Luneviue privately. telling him the true
facts as they were, and appealing 10 all that was
noble in hm-to the innate fairness and honor in one
who was Of noble blood But at his house in Parl,
lane ne was met by the assurance that the count
pointed
He next called at his club, but here again the
answer that De LunevllIe was not within and
had not been IN all that morning
Gilbert Rutherfurd's was brooding on theories
ana surmises which sent the blush OF shame TO his
race. But Notwithstanding the dread OF what he
might hear he determined TO seek out T,c,, n her
own He had learned the night before that The
new diva was occupying apartments in the Hotel
FTancaise. and when he arrived at this ittle-known
hote the porter assured him that Nine de la Valere
was In her rooms and held his hand FOR the card
I am old friend" said Rutherfurd with
curious smile, "she IS expecting me-" He ran lightly
up the broad stair and walked quickly along the cor
ridor
Everything quiet and he surveyed the long
vista Of DOORS wondering which was her room A
maid came out of one Of the rooms and eyed him Gu
riousy, but ne stood let her pass and once
more looked along the corridor.
At that moment he heard a voice-the voice that
had often thrilled him with its Notwithstanding
some soft melancholy lullaby. The sound was so low
and rant that he could catch the words but there
was something familiar in the grooming air with its
sleepy, waling cadences. little further on he came
10 the door OF the room from which the sound
proceeded It standing ever so slightly aiar
and through the ehink he the fireplace and just
strip Of the room where couple Of luxurious arm
chairs stood inyitngly He could see further
into the apartment but now he heard the words:
"oh. hush thee. baby. thy sire is knight"
and then, Enthusiastically clear he heard the low Detu
liant wailng Of infant
The thought Of what this meant was like a knife
plunged into his heart The swan before him
and he laid his hand doorpost 70 steady him
self Yes. there that cry again!
"Oh my God! he murmured.
Thy mothers lady both beauteous and bright"
the voice sang on
For brief instant her form appeared in the
space Of the room which visible to him only
for an instant, yet long enough as an ndeble
memory al through the years OF his earthly life
found himself %s6ng tfay aTy M sn5s az ne had loved! He
in her shroud rather than that should have come
And he srspt away like. guilty thing.
he saw that which made his heart bound within him
and the nre or nate leap his
1t he-the Count de Lunevlei
He is going to her-oh. the despicable houn5r"
he thought and felt if he would like TO rush lpon
the and tear him limb limb -
De Luneville advanced cautiously and paused Al the
door that invitingly ajar.
IIi Lueille" . he Whispered per ,,. are you ready?"
hear but apparently the word kind inviting for
with smile the nobleman walked TO the next door and
quietly let himself
Ten seconds later Gilbert Rutherfurd was knocking
lightly At that door his teeth tightly clenched and look
of fire in his bloodsbot
WHO the deuce" ne heard the same drawing
voice say "Oh. beg your pardon. Come in come in
And the man entered.
As De Luneville gazed at the haggard drawn face
OF the stranger OF the previous night his jaw dropped
and he held up his hands IL 10 coming dis
aster.
whisper
4 want word with you." said Rutherfurd. and the