Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-02

d
I found her in the supper room, putting
flowers on a table that was set for-only
one.
Supper is served, monsieur she said,
as / came in.
For me alone?" l gasped. feeling that
the world had come to an end.
For monsieur she answered.
Tell me- and the tone made her look
at me quickly, with Difference not be-
fore observable in her manner. Tell me
at once where Mile. lie Fevre is gone
Certainly, monsieur. certainly. There
is no desire to deceive monsieur. Made
moiselle and her maid have removed 10
the inn at Cheticamp, where mademoise.!e
intends to reside till she can join mon
sieur her brother At Louisbourg.
1 heard her through, then rushed from
the room, snatched up my hat and sped
down to the inn of Cheticamp. l fear
that the civil salutations of the villagers
whom I passed went outrageously unre-
garded.
My demand was urgent, so within a
very few minutes of my coming l was
ushered into mademoiselle's parlor, and
with thrill Of hope at the omen l noted
that it was the same room which l had
occupied on the night of my arrival at
Cheticamp. the same dear room through
whose hop-garlanded window l had made
such bold and merry counterfeit with
mademoiselle in her disguise. But not
nourishing to hope was mademoiselles
greeting. J had not dreamed SO small
dame could ever look SO tall. Her slim
figure was in the gown of creamery linen
which she had worn when l met her IN
the rose garden. Her small. strange,
child-like face was very white, her lips
set coldly and less scarlet than their
wont, and her eyes-they were almost
terribly bright and large. with steady
gaze which l could not fathom.
ITO what do 1 owe this honor. mon.
sieur?" she asked. 1T is much
But 1 was rude in my trouble.
why have YOU fled from me, made
moiselle?" ! interrupted. passionately
why have you left your own home in
this way. l will leave it at once-for You
shall not be driven from it,
my home, monsieur? 1t is your house
l will not be a pensioner on your bounty
How had she found this out? 1 was in
confusion.
''What-what do you mean, made
moiselle?" / stammered
II mean, monsieur" she said, with ice
and fire contending in her voice, that all
these days, when l thought was playing
the hostess, in a home belonging either tn
my brother or to the English govern
ment, / have been but beggar living on
your charity. 1 know that you are the
owner of Cheticamp house and all in It, it
having been taken from us to give To
YOU"
I was in despair over this further COM
finding out the betrayer of my secret
II had hoped that you would never
know. mademoiselle," 1 protested. But
it is not of that I would speak Forgive
me. beg you on my knees, for the stupid
mistake. the objectionable mistake L
made this morning. And oh, count it
something that I did my best to remedy
the error. so that no harm came OF it,
The anger that flashed into her eyes was
of a beauty that did not delight me-
Doubtless YOU did your duty. monsieur.
as servant of your government. Doubt
less honor required that you should be-
tray the trust so foolishly reposed in you
by silly girl. You would have taken
my brother. and through his sisters folly.
I cannot feel very keen gratitude for the
generosity which suffered my fiance,
whom you did not seek, to go Free
Light began to struggle In upon the
darkness Of my brain.
Your fiance"' I returned quickly
Gould you think for one moment 1 did
not know that was your brother?"
Her face changed marvelously at this
declaration.
II knew your purpose them" went on
but forgive me. forgive me. for not un-
derstanding you before. 1 was not worthy
Of the simple trust you placed in me,
thought you meant me to understand that
I should take my men to South cove at
noon to have them out OF the way
thought it was a piece Of your daring
strategy-and I was proud because you
trusted my stupid wits to follow your
plan. thought 1t was to save me the
embarrassment Of openly letting your
brother go. l thought-oh, I thought
ryself so wfSe-And / Was so cheaply