The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-18

patton, proving such tnankleSS part her, Mme Davezac at last turned to Bunce and suggested that he and Kir- by join the game in lieu of the young creole and the judge.
 "Eh, truly, Anatole," she added, with some asperity, tapping the others arm with her fan. you cannot keep your mind on the game, and so we are un- able to play. Will you surrender your place to Colonel Moreau?'
 "It seems to me that I have already done that,' he responded gloomily.
 With as good grace as possible yield ing to the dictates of courtesy, Kirby unwillingly terminated his tete-a-tete with Adele, and as he approached the card table his place was promptly pre- empted by the young Creole, who fol- lowed Miss Randall to the balcony. It was the first time he had been alone with Adele, and his long repressed emotion and bitterness found vent.
 'Ah, mamzelle, it is true," he said responsibility "You are changed-se quickly. Yes, you will say I wanted to see you happier. but I also had wished to be the one to make you so. Adele" he added earnestly, striving to take her hand, eff this difference in you comes only from the gratitude you feel toto Colonel Moreau because he tried to protect your father l shall be happy. But how have this man be- witched you that
 'I don't understand you, Anatole," she said quietly, drawing away.
 "'Tis I that do not understand you, Adele I think you know from the first he is not Colonel Moreau. I have some very strange suspicion of him."
 Instantly the woman in her was up in arms, seeking to defend, eager to do battle for the object it sought to shield "It is enough that I know he is a Tuan who has had great wrong done him. That's one way of making a woman believe that you love her when she's trying to help some one in trouble, make it harder for her-be jealous," she finished, with a bitter laugh
 "I am jealous+I do not deny that But I am, first of all things. a man of honor," he said quietly enough, aE though white with anger. His voice trembled with emotion as he added, with simple dignity: "Do you think a man of honor have suspicion of rival only because he is jealous? Do you think I would suspect him only for that?'
 sI can't discuss it with you," she re- turned coldly. Leaning on the balco- ny railing, she promptly became ab- sorbed in the wonders of the night.
 Recognizing the sign of dismissal, he yet hesitated, miserably conscious that he had offended, but still feeling justified in the position he had as- sumed, still holding that those emo tions which had prompted his words were but natural, fmpersonal and sin cere. It was his right to protect the girl he loved from the wiles of name less adventurer, of whose integrity he had the gravest doubts. 1t was his right to protect her from herself, for, deny it as she might it was all too bitterly apparent that this debonair impostor had succeeded where others had failed and that Adele had discard ed all sorrow with her mourning and was yielding to a fascination that he firmly believed would prove her ruin.
 While he still hesitated, afraid to make an enemy of the girl he loved, yet stubborn in his resolution to thwart Kirby, Aaron Randall, suspect ing some such controversy as had talk en place, joined them on the balcony and -Anatole, with evident relief, turn ed again to Adele.
 ''MademcAelle. here is your cousin. He will not be thought. to be jealous," he said gravely. 'I ask him to tell you what he will not tell me. I ask him to tell you what he thinks about this gentleman"
 Cousin Aaron" replied the girl, turning and confronting the two from whom she had most to fear, 'tin my brothers absence you respect my au- thority here, do you not? Very we'll, then. My introduction of this gentle man as Colonel Moreau is enough for you"
 ''It must be, Cousin Adele" replied Aaron, evidently greatly perplexed and troubled.
 "And am responsible for my ac- tions only to my brother" added the girl, looking directly at M. Veaudry.
 He flushed under the scrutiny of her eyes and the significant infection of her voice.
 ''In his absence I would protect you I would act for him." he protested des- perately.
 You may when you have his au- thority. Until then bid you adieu." And, with an elaborate courtesy and pleasant smile, she vanished through
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