The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-10-27
aINsLEE MAGAZINE COMPANY
-.s>~a~ee.e.e.&.e-e.e.e.0

partners increasing une%Siue>S anu
that both were the object Of Watchful
hostile eyes. he continued 10 act as if
time and opportunity had hren created
solely for Adele and himself. Dinner
finally at an end he ard his young
hostess. entirely absorbed in each 9th
er's society. sought the drawing room
balcony. while the others. with the eZ.
ception of Bunce. INDUCED III game
of piQuet. NJ Vcaudry proving a
wretched partner. his entire attention
being occupied with the couple on the
balcony.
NJ. Neaudry. owing 10 his prcoccu-
patton. proving such th2HhleSS part
ner. Nine. DaveZac 1T last turned to
Bunce and suggested that he and hir-
by Join the game in lieu Of the young
creole and the judge.
"Eh, sruly. Anatole.' she added. with
some asperity. tapping the others arm
with her fan. You cannot keep your
mind on the game. and 50 we are IN
able to play. Will YOU surrender your
place to Colonel MCreau:
1T seems to me that | have already
done that" he responded gloomily.
With as good grace as possible yield
ing to the dictates of courtesy. Nirby
unwillinsly 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. 1t
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
reproachfully. You are changed-so
quickly. Yes. you will say | wanted to
see you happier. but l also had wished
to pe the one to make you so. Adele.
be added earnestly. striving to take
her hand. If this difference in you
| comes only from the gratitude you
feel toto Colonel Moreau because he
tried to protect your father l shall be
hapny. But how have this man be-
| witched you that
81 don't understand you. Anatole.
she said quietly. drawing away.
"'Tis I that do not understand you
Adele. think you know from the
! first he is not Colonel Moreau. 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. 1T Is enough that I know he
is a man who has had great wrong
done him. That's one way Of making
q woman believe that you love her
when she's trying to help some one In
trouble. make 1t harder for her-be
Jealous" she finished, with a bitter
laugh.
81 am jealous-I do not deny that.
But 1 am. first Of all things. man OF
honor" he said quietly enough. al
though white with anger. His voice
trembled with emotion as he added
with simple dignity: do you think a
man Of donor have suspicion Of rival
only because he is jealous? Do you
think I would suspect him only for
that?"
Il can't discuss it with you" she re-
turned coidly. 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 bis words
were but natural. impersonal and sim
cere. 1t 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 toe
bitterly apparent that this debonail
inpostor had succeeded where Others
had failed and that Adele hac discard
ed all sorrow with her mourning and
was yielding to a fascination that ne
firmly believed would prove her ruin.
While he still hesitated, afraid tc
make an enemy Of the girl he loved
vet stubborn in his resolution tf
thwart Kirby. Aaron Randall. suspect
ing some such controversy as had tax
en- place. Joined them on the balcony
and Anatole. with evident relief. turn
ed again to Adele.
"Madenoiselle. here Is your cousin
He will not be thought to be jealous"
he said gravel;. II ask him to tell
you what he will not tell me. l 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, in my
brothers absence you respect my au-
thority here. do you not? Very well,
then. My introduction Of this gentle
man as Colonel Moreau is enough for
you"