The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-05-05

you will have with my chief tonight
will show you things you have never
known, give you an interest in living
] am not mistaken, you will find much
in common between you and my mas
ter. i speak not to the agent of Eng
land, but to the lady Helena Won Ritz"
He is old" she went on. He is
very old. His face is thin and blood
less and f1eshless. He is old"
Madam" said, ibis mind is young,
his purpose young, his ambition young;
and his country is young. Is not the
youth of all these things still your
own?"
She made no answer, but sat mu-
sing, drumming lightly on the chair
arm. / was reaching for her cloak.
Then at once I caught glimpse of
her stockinged foot, the toe of which
slightly protruded from beneath her
ball gown. She saw the glance and
laughed.
Poor feet" she said. "Ah, mes
pauvres pieds la! You would like to
see them bruised by the hard going in
some heather country? See, you have
no carriage, and mine is gone. l have
not even a pair of shoes. Go look
under the bed beyond"
obeyed her gladly enough. Under
the fringe of the satin counterpart I
found box of boots, slippers, all man
ner of footwear, daintily and neatly
arranged. Taking out a pair to my
fancy, l carried them out and knelt
before her.
Then, madam" said l, "since you
insist on this, shall choose America
is not Europe. Our feet here have
rougher going and must be shod for
it. Allow mel"
Without the least hesitation in the
world, or the least immodesty, she half
protruded the foot which still retained
it's slipper. AS l removed this latter,
through some gay impulse, whose ma
ture did not pause to analyze, l half
mechanically thrust 1t into the side
pocket of my coat.
This shall be security" said |.
that what you speak with my master
shall be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth"
There was curious deeper red in
her cheek. l saw her bosom beat the
faster rhythm.
Quite agreed" she answered. But
she motioned me away, taking tho
stout boot in her own hand and turn
ing aside as she fastened it. She
hnr
and again while thus engaged.
Tell me-" she said gently, what
security do l have? You come, by
my invitation, it is true, but none the
less an intrusion, into my apartments
You demand of me something which
no man has a right to demand. Be-
cause l am disposed to be gracious.
and because 1 am disposed to be en-.
nuye, and because Mr. Pakenham is
fat, l am willing to take into consid-
GRAFTON what you ask. / have never
seen a thin gentleman in a wooden
nightcap, and / am curious. But no
gentleman plays games with a lady in
which the dice are loaded for himself.
Come, what security shall l have?"
/ did not pretend to understand her
Perhaps, after all, we all had been
misinformed regarding her? l could
not tell. But her spirit of camarader1e
her good-fellowship, her courage, quite
aside from her personal charm, had
| now begun to impress me.
Madam" said /, feeling in ny
pocket; mo heather has much of this
worlds goods. All my possessions
would not furnish one of these rooms
cannot offer gems, as does Senior
| Yturrio-but, would this be of service
| until tomorrow? That will leave
him and me with a slipper each. 1t il
with reluctance l pledge to return
minei"
BY chance l had felt in my pocket
| little object which | had placed
there that very day for quite another
/ purpose. 1t was only little trinket
of Indian manufacture, which | had
/ intended to give Elizabeth that very
| evening; sort of cloak clasp, orig.
| finally made as an Indian blanket
fastening, with two round discs ground
| Sut VI anu SohASSSCu W cSooc@
thongs. The trinket was curious,
] though of small value. The baroness
looked at it with interest.
| How it reminds me of this heather
/ country" she said. is this all that
your art can do in jewelry? Yet it is
beautiful. Come, will you not give il
! to me-"
Until tomorrow, madam"
| mo longer?"
Il cannot promise it longer. / must
| unfortunately, have it back when J
| send messenger shall hardly come
! myself, madam
"Ah!" she scoffed. Then 1t belongs
to another woman"
yes, it is promised to another"
Then this is to be the last time we
meet?'
Il do not doubt it,"
Are you not Sorry
Naturally, madam
She sighed, laughing AS she did so
Yet l could not evade seeing the
curious color on her cheek, the rise
and fall of the laces over her bosom
Utterly self-pcssessed, satisfied with
life as it had come to her, without il
fusion as to life, absorbed in the great