The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-11


terings Of departed storm. for al
ready fsreniized that | had taken out
my own modification upon him. md
was stricken with remorse.
II wouldn't have frightened her for
the world he finally said, and his
voice and his body shook with q
strange violence. II wouldn't have
frightened her to please the angels In
heaven
stared at him helpiessly. nor could
I find words to answer or control the
passion that my imbecile scolding had
evoked.
.You think | told a lie he cried.
"You think He'd when said could
not help speaking to her."
mo, no." said earnestly, ~ didn't
mean
"Wordsr' He swept the feeble protest
away. drowned In whrllng vehe
me1cA "And what does IL matterf
You can't understand. When you want
to know what to do you look back into
your life and IL tells you, and l look
back-ah" He cried out. uttering
half choked. incoherent syllable. ri
look back and It's all-biindi All these
things you can do and cant do-all
these Infinite little things. You know.
and Keredec knows. and Giouglou
knows. and every mortal soul on earth
knows. but | don't know! Yeur life
has taught you. and you know. but
don't know. | haven't had my life.
It's gone. All | have IL words that
Keradec has said to me. ! would burn
my hand from my arm and my arm
from my body rather than trouble her
or frighteu her. but couldn't help
speaking to her any more than l can
help wanting to see her again"
He paused wiPing fFem his brow a
heavy dew, not of the heat, but like
that on the forehead Of man In cru
cial pain made nervous haste to
seize the opportunity and said gently.
almost timidly;
but If It should distress the LADY,"
"Yes-then could keep away. But
must know that"
~ think you might know It by her
running away--and by her look"
said mildly. Didn't your
Nor And his eyes flashed an added
emphasis.
well, we'll" / said. Tets be on our
way"
Il don't believe she was distressed"
he went on. There was something.
but II wasn't trouble, We looked
straight at each other. saw her eyes
plainly. andSit was'--he paused and
sighed, sudden. brilliant smile upon
his lips-"it vas very-it was very
stranget"
There was something so glad and
different in his look that. like any 9TH
er dried up old blunderer In my place,
i felt an instant tendency TO laugh. Ii
was that heathenish possession, the
old insanity OF the risibies, which
makes man think 1t humorous thing
that his friend should be discovered In
love
but IL you were wrong" said III
It did trouble her. and IL 1t happened
that she has already had too much
that was distressing In her life
You know something about her!" he
exclaimed. you know
Il do not. :. interrupted in turn 81
have only vague guess. I may be
altogether mistaken"
what Is 1t that you guess?" he de-
manded abruptly. who made her
suffer-
Il think 1t was her husband" said,
with lack of discretion for which
was instantly sorry. fearing with rea-
son that l had added a final biunder
to the long list Of the afternoon--"that
is" | added. If my guess is right"
SIS he alive?" he cried sharply.
81 don't known returned emphatic
ally. Probably am entirely mistaken
in thinking that | know anything of
her whatever. I'd rather not say any
more until do know"
VERY WELL" he said quickly. "Wil,
you tell me them?
"Yes-if you will let 1t so at that"
Thank you" he said and. with an
impulse which was but too plainly one
of gratitude, offered me his hand. |
took 1t. and my soul was disquieted
within me, for It was no purpose OF
mine to set inquiries on foot In re-
gard to the affairs of Nine. d'Armand.
1t was early dusk From the court
yard OF the Inn came the sounds OF
laughter aud chattering voices. Be
fore the entrance stood couple of
open touring cars. the chauffeurs en-
gagged In cooling the rear tires with
buckets OF water brought by person
age ordinarily known MS Glougiou,
whose look and manner as he perform
ed this office for the Ieathern digni
taries so awed me that wondered l
had ever dared address him with any
presumption OF intimacy.
AS we turned TO enter the archway
we almost ran into tall man who
was coming out evidently intending
TO speak TO one OF the drivers.
The stranger stepped back with a
word OF apology. and took note OF
him for a fellow countryman and
worldly buck Of fashion indeed.
We were passing him when be ut
tered an ejaculation Of surprise and
stepped forward again, holding out his
hand 10 my eompanidfs and axclaini-
ing:
Where did you come from? 10