The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-07-01
CHAPTER XIII.
Continued.

AC clISN u Et AIlIS itd't III WI
eyes, your very look; every move
ment you MAKE reminds me of her. "
Il never knew my mother" said
Antoinette, sadly But, my cousin,
to return to what I was about to say.
You have seen something Of my
father of late. Can you account for
the nervous timidity Of his letters to
me? Have you seen any change in
him? IN the state OF his nerves, for
instance?"
Paul paused; then said, hesitating-
ly, Il cannot deny it. Yes"
In what waT?"
He Clung 10 me in a manner
rather surprising to me; seemed to
feel distrust of those surrounding
him Especially of-patience, dear
cousin-most especially cf old Bat
tiste."
"Ah, then it must have been alto
gether on the nerves. " said Antoin-
cite. He has always had every rea-
son to believe in the absolute fidelity
of old Battiste and Nanon."
<'AlI will be we'll now that You are
come, said Arthur. You will make
it all right.
81 hope So" she answered; but
the beginning has certainly been
rather disheartening.
Paul Leduc rose to his feet. you
are weary with your journey, by
cousin" he said, "and it makes you
see things en noir; and Monsieur here,
your fellow-traveler should see his
room. | think it would be we'll if
We were to take leave. 1t grieyes me
to the heart to he obliged to go SO
soon, but il the course of a week
l hope to be back again, and to find
you safely and happily settled with
yoLr father"
Antoinette stopped him. Before
you leave us, Monsieur" she said,
"wou.d YOU do me a favor?"
"Anything that is in my power" "
he exclaimed.
1T is this. I want YOU to do me
this kindness. Knock at my father S
door yourself, tell him that l am
longing to see him, unhappy at not
being permitted TO DO so, and beg
him to let NE in, for a moment, if
only to wish him good night"
L will do my best" Paul said q
wish l could hold out any hope that
my errand would be successful; bat
you know he is very old. For no
one else in the world would l under
take to disturb him, but l cannot re-
fuse YOU"
lie left the room. He had no
sooner disappeared than a look of
great relief passed over Antoniette' 5
face She caught hold of Arthur S
hand in both hers, and exclaimed, in
a quick, urgent whisper, Il distrust
him from the depth of my heart"
He was greatly astOnishcd at her
extreme emotion.
''Do you not, then, believe that he
is your cOusin?" he asked.
'Yes-no-yes; I don't know. Oh,
you"
He put his arm round her. You
may trust me" he said. You know
that, do you notE Tell me every,
thing Have you heard anything
fresh?'
Yes" she said, still holding hin
fast, as if TO do 50 gave her courage
"Battisto has told ne something very
strange. You were right. My father
was very rich, but he has turned al
his fortune into diamonds. That i:
the reason he shuts himself up like
this. He. has never known a momen
free rom terror since he did il. Th,
terror amounts to d mania. He con
fided ali to Batti5te one day, and sine;
then the poor Old man says he ha
seemed to fear him also" She sanI
her voice. He keeps them all in hi
room. He spends all his tine count
ing them.
"BatJiste told me that he believe
no one in the world knows but him
self, not Paul Leduc, he thinks, bu
he SAYS that if l had not come h
meant TO confide the secret to hin
himself He says rightly that some
one ought to know"
Oh yes. he would never fail.
am quite certain Of that lie say
that my father never shut himself u
SO early as he has since Paul came
and the poor oil follow has a fame
that he ha- done his best to max
his old master distrust him more
But ought not - dctain YOU" sh
went on. with suCh Sudden chang
of tone that Arthur turned round an
saw that Paul LoJur had returned.
''If was OF no avail 4 "a cousin,