Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-16

girl sat thereTalOne. Wnen she l1Iteu
her eyes he saw that they were dark
and beautiful, though tinged with sad
ness. He was surprised to find this
lovely young woman selling candles
here in Notre Dame church.
And suddenly he was more surpris-
ed, for as the girl glanced up she met
his gaze fixed on her, and Immediately
there came into her face a look SO
strange, so glad and yet so frightened
that Coquenn went to her quickly
with reassuring smile. He was sure
he had never seen her before, yet he
realized that somehow she was equal
ly sure that she knew him.
What followed was seen by only one
person-that is, the sacristan's wife, a
big, hard faced woman with faint
mustache and wart on her chin, who
sat by the great column near the door
dispensing holy water out of crack
Nothing escaped the hawklike eyes Of
Mother Bonneton, and now. with
growing curiosity, she. watched the
scene between Coquenil and the can
die seller. What interest could q great
detective have in this girl, Alice. whom
she and her husband had taken in as
a half charity boarder?
'Holy saints. how she talks" grum-
bled the sacristan's wife. "And see
tens! The man must be crazy to waste
his time on her! Now he asks ques-
ton. and she. talks again with that
queer, faraway look. He frowns and
clinches his hands, and, upon my soul,
he seems afraid Of her!
The incident wrought an extraordi-
nary change in Coquenil. He looked
worn, almost haggard, as he walked
to the church door with face set in an
ominous frown. There's some devils
work in this he muttered.
'sWhat is it," asked the sacristan.
The detective faced him sharply.
''Who is the girl in there? Where did
she come from?" He stopped alb
ruptly and pressed the fingers of his
two hands against his forehead. "No,
nor he changed. Don't tell me yet.
I must be alone. must think. Come
to me at tonight"
Eyes, yes" murmured the sacristan,
following him. But, NJ. Paul-er-
which day do you sail?"
Coquenil snapped engrily, II may not
sail at all!'
A day Of sinister portent this must
have. been. for scarcely had Coquenil
{ left Notre Dame than another scene
was enacted there that should have
been happy, but, alas, was not. And
again it WIS the girl who made trou-
BILE, this seller Of candles, with her
wistful dark eyes, a pathetic figure
she was, sitting the alone in the
somber church-Quit alone now. for
1t was closing time. dother Bonneton
had shufned on RI .matically after a
cutting word xnew better than
to ask what had happened-and the
old sacristan was making his round Of
the galleries, securing doors and win
dows.
With a shiver Of apprehension Alice
turned away from the whispering
shadows and went to the Virgins
shrine, where she knelt and tried to
pray. But she found it a difficult mat
ter. Lloyd Kittredge-h often she
had murmured that name in her lone
" hours! He would be here shortly
for his answer. 4
And, alas, she must say "No'' to
him. She must give him pain. She
could not hope to make him under
stand. How could any one understand?
And then perhaps he would misjudse
her. Perhaps he would leave her in
anger and not come back any more.
Not come back any more!
A descending step on the tower
stairs broke in upon her meditations,
and she rose quickly from her knees.
The sacristan had finished his rounds
and was coming to close the outer
doors. It was time tor her to go. And,
with glance at her hair in little
glass and touch to her hat, she went
out into the garden back Of Notre
Dame, where she knew her lover
would be waiting.
'Ah, at lastw he exclaimed, spring
ing toward her, with mirthful, boy
,ish smile. He was man Of twenty
seven, slender. of build, but Carrying
himself well.
She tried to speak gayly, but he was
not deceived and answered seriously
In French:
Hold on. There's something wrong.
We've been sad. eh"
4 'Why-er''- she began, "I-er-
"Been worrying, know. Too much
church, too much Of that old she
dragon. Come over. here and tell me
about IT. He led her to bench
shaded by a friendly sycamore tree.
Kittredge thrilled under the spell of
her beauty. He 1onged to take her in
his arms and comfort her.
Suppose we 60 back little" he
said reassuringly. "About six months
ago, think it was in January,
young chap In fur overcoat drifted
into this old stone barn and took
turn around 1t. He saw the treasure
and the fake relics and the white MIR
BILE French gentleman trying. to get
out Of his coffin, and he didn't care q
hang about any OF 'em until be saw
you. Then he began to take notice.
The young fellow with the fur over
coat kept coming back and coming
back, only soon he came without his
overcoat"
! '4In bitter cold weather." she said
reproachful1y.
ssHe was pretty blue that day, wasn't