The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-22

smiled CoqueniI.
 "Of course not! Of course not! And
 such a dog. You've been kind to let
 him guard the church since old Max
 died. Come, Caesari Just moment, M Paul."
 How the course of events would
 have been changed had Paul Coquenil
 remained outside Notre Dame on this 1 occasion it is impossible to know. The l fact is he did not remain outside; but | growing impatient at Bonneton's de-
 lay. he pushed open the double swing l ing doors. with their coverings of leath-
 CT and red velvet. and entered the
 sanctuary. Immediately he saw girl. I She was in the shadows near stat
 ue of the Virgin before which candles
 were burning. On the table were TO- | saries and taIismans and candles of | different lengths that it was evidently | the girls business to sell. In front of l the Virgins shrine was a priedieu. at which woman was kneeling. but she presently rose and went out. and the girl sat there alone. When she lifted | 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.
 AuQ SuQQ0uly ne WAS more 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 Coquenil went to her quickly
 with reassuring smile. He was sure
 he had never seen her before. yet he
 realized that somehow she was equal
 Iy 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 a faint
 mustache and a wart on her>chin. who sat by the great column near the door dispensing holy water out of a crack ed saucer and whining for pennies
 Nothing escaped the fawklike eyes of
 Mother Bonneton. and now. with growing curiosity. she watched the scene between Coqueni and the can dle seller. What interest could great detective have in this girl. Alice. whom she and her husband had taken in as a half charity boa rder?
 Holy saints. how she talksr' grum- bled the sacristan's wife. And see the eyes she makesi And how he lis tens! The man must be crazy to waste his time on heri Now he asks a QueS- tion. 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 charge 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 I work in this.'' he muttered.
 "What is it?'' asked the sacristan.
 The detective faced him sharply. 6GTT she come from?' He stopped ab- ruptly and pressed the fingers of his two hands against his forehead. t'No. nor' he changed. Don't tell me yet must be alone. must think. Come to me at tonight"
 ''Yes, yes.'' murmured the sacristan. following him. But, NJ. Paul-er- which day do you sail?"
 Coquenil snapped angrily, q may not sail at all!''
 A day Of sinister portent this must 1 have been. for scarcely had Coquenii l left Notre Dame than another scene was enacted there that should have l been happy, but. alas. was not. And 1 again it was the girl who made trou- 1 ble. this seller of candles, with her | wistful dark eyes. A pathetic figure | she was. sitting there alone in the l somber church-quite alone now. for i it was closing time. Mother Bonneton | had shufied off rheumatically after word-she knew better than | to ask what had happened-and the l old sacristan was making his round of the galleries. securing doors and win dows.
 With shiver of apprehension Alice turned away from the whispering 1 shadows and went to the Virgins shrine, where she knelt and tried to pray. But she found it a difficult mat ter. Lloyd Kittredge-how often she had murmured that name in her lone ly hours. He would be here shortly for his answer.
 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 misjudge 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 oscillations. and she rose quickly from her knees The sacristan had finished his rounds and was coming to close the outer doors. It was time for her to go. And. with a glance at her hair in a little glass and touch to her hat, she went out into the garden back of Notre Dame. where she knew her lover 1 would be waiting
 "Ah. at last"' he exclaimed, spring ing toward her, with mirthful. boy ] ish smile He was a man of twenty ] seven, slender of build. but carrying himself well.
 She tried to speak gayly. but he was not deceived and answered seriously Ln ErenCh.s
 s.--e S-se.- X