The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-01-17
CHAPTER xv.-contInued.


CHAPTER XVI.-ContInued.
The suite allotted me was at tho end
OF a gloomy corridor. threw open
one of the narrow windows. The
noisy stream below, beating futilely
against the walls. almost dcafened the
voice OF the servant as he asked If he
could be Of assistance &c me. l looked
out. There was sheer drop oil some
80 foct
That fact vaguely disconnected me.
Tho words of Pr, Starva were jarring
rote that sobcrcd my excitement.
Whom haI droseed I was almost pre-
pared to enc the massive door OF my
cha.,'1r locked o. Barred I had en-
taiIss the SPIDERS web audaciously
's.ough. Te escape might be less
simple.
'f0e dinner was simply but we'll
s.eYed in a small dining-room. Had
my situation been less serious | might
have felt some humor at the elaborate
defcrspce shown me by my compan~
iors for the benefit of the two servants
who waited on us. Even DR.. Starva
followed the lead of Madame de Var
nier In solemn II cynical obedience
But did Madame de Yarnler believe
me so complaisant a fool that, like
another Bottom l was expected In this
modern Midsummer Nights Dream to
accept this Difference without ques.
ton? ] became more and more con
vinced that she did not Once she
even referred to the events OF the
night before in such a manner that |
believed her not ignorant of my true
condition. II she were persuaded that
had been acting part then, that
would account for her confidence In
expecting me to continue acting that
part 1t would give her encourage
ment that 1 was the willing tool she
looked for.
And suppose that she really believed
that, did she think that 1 expected no
reward? She had limited that in serv.
ing her ends l was TO serve myself as
we'll But Madame de Varnier was
not the kind of woman to believe that
a man would be allured by a promise
so vague. Then the reward?
She had protested that she had not
expected me to fall in love with her
She had protested that. but in the
same breath she had confessed a half
resolve to bring me to her feet. Now
as she exerted every charm of coquet-
ry she was giving the lie TO her own
words. Oh the reward was obvious
enough. if chose to take 1t.
I'VE will smoke our cigarettes in
my favorite music room. You must
hear Dr. Starva play on the cello.
You have had the piano carefully
tuned, Jacques?"
"All is in readiness" replied the
servant, as he preceded us with can
dies.
DIR. Starva had pushed back his chair
eagerly, For the first time since had
met him his face lost something Of
its heavy sullen expression
my fingers have not the practice"
he said modestly. but to play with
Madame de Varnier-ah, that is worth
while"
We were in tho music room that
Madame de Varnier had described to
me so enthusiastically the day before.
Dimly lighted with wax candles. pan
floor waxed and polished to dazzling
Iuster. II was room almost bare. but
II had Its melancholy charm. There
was little furniture AT one end of
the room was row of carved seats
built into the wall There were no
pictures or tapestries. The one touch
OF color was the vivid flame of blaz-
Ing logs.
The strife OF the world, its hes
and It's shams. leave behind when
enter here" said Madame de WARMER
sentimentally. Look. ! throw open
this easement The noisy Aare browns
my voice. Beyond, you see the moon
light on the valleys. and still beyond
tho mountains. This is your seat.
Once this was a chapel, In these
carved seats the monks chanted YES.
perS: in the seat of honor which you
IT.
When you hear the enchanting melo-
dies of DR., Starva you Will not have
lived in vain"
This hour ut least was innocent.
Perhaps It was the lull before the
storm. but why should look for clouds
when the heavens were clear?
The long. darkly paneled room, its
shining floor seeming to rise and fall
myaterloUsly in the flickerlng fire
light. the noisy murmur OF the stream
below, the white moonlight that strug-
Sled feebly through the easement win.
Gowc-all Ind It's charm. And these
two adyeEturers. unscrupulous and
cossoi+aceless. had abandoned them
selvss 10, TIC moment 10 the Joy OF
THAR nNsic
j looked over toward Madame de
Varnier, Tne shaded light OF the can
dies fell on her white shoulders. The
splendor OF her beauty had never
seemed more seductive.
/ asked myself ,ncredulously IL this
dreaming woman was the desperate
adventures whom Locke hau warned
me against
Slowly she looked where sat: ]
seemed 10 draw her eyes toward mo
She smiled vaguely. smile that was
ado:able-yes. could almost persuade
myself that it was the smile OF an
innocent girl. For a moment / was