Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-03-23
CHAPTER xxvIl.-continued.

Yet she was the same. She seemed
slightly thinner now, yet not less beau
tiful. Her eyes were dark and brilliant
as ever. The clear features of her
face were framed in the roll of her
heavy locks, as / had seen them last.
Her garb. as usual, betokened luxury.
She was robed as though for some
fete. all In white satin, and pale blue
fires Of stones shone family at throat
and wrist. Contrast enough she made
to me, clad in smoke-browned tunic
Of buck, with the leggings and mecca
sins of savage. my belt lacking but
prepared for weapons.
Il see, madam" said l, smiling. that
still am only asleep and dreaming.
But how exquisite dream. here in
this wild country! How unfit here am
|. savage. who introduce the one
discordant note into SO sweet a
dreami"
gestured to my costume. gestured
about me as took in the details Of
the long room in which we stood. l
swear 1t was the same as that In
which I had seen her at a similar
hour in Montreal! 1t was the same |
had first seen in Washington!
Impossible? ! am doubted? All,
but do l not know? Did / not see?
Here were the pictures on the walls.
the carved Cupids. the candelabra
with their prisms. the chairs, the
couches! Beyond yopder satin cur
tains rose the high canopy of the en-
broidery-covered couch, its fringed
drapery reaching almost to the deep
pile of the carpets.
Yet not quite the same, It seemed
to me. There were some little things
missing. just as there were some little
things missing from her appearance.
For inKance, these draperies at the
right, which formerly had cut of the
Napoleon bed at its end of the room,
now were of blankets and not of silk.
The bed itself was not piled deep in
down. but contained, as fancied from
my hurried glance, a thin mattress.
stuffed perhaps with straw. A roll Of
blankets lay across its foot. AS
gazed to the farther extremity of this
side of the long suite. saw other evil
dences of change. It was indeed as
though Helena Won Ritz, creature of
luxury, woman of an old. luxurious
world, exotic of monarchical surround
ings, had begun insensibly to slip into
the ways of the rude democracy of the
far frontiers.
saw all this; but ere had finished
my first hurried glance had accepted
her. as always one must. just as she
was.
YES" said she at length. slowly.
yes, now believe It to be fate"
She had not yet smiled. took her
band and held It long. felt glad to
see her, and to take her hand; 1t
seemed pledge Of friendship; and as
things now were shaping. ! surely
needed a friend.
At last, her face flushing slightly.
she disengaged her hand and motioned
me to seat. But still we stood silent
for a few moments. Have you no
curiosity?" said she at length.
Il am too happy to have curiosity.
my dear madam"
"You will not even ask me why
am here?" she insisted.
II know. have known all along.
You are in the pay OF England When
missed you at Montreal. knew you
had sailed on the Modesto for Ore
gon. We knew all this, and planned
for Il. I have come across by land to
meet you. ! have waited. / greet you
nowl"
She looked me now clearly in the
face. 81 am not sure" said she at
length, slowly.
Not cure OF what. madam? When
you travel on England's warship," I
smiled, you travel as the guest of
England herself. II. then. you are
not for England. in Gods name, whose
friend are your"
Whose friend am n" she answered
slowly. II say to you that ! do not
know. Nor do I know who is my
friend. A friend--what is that?
never hAew one'"
Then be mine. Let me be your
friend. You know my history. You
know about me and my work. | throw
my secret into your hands You will
not betray me! You warned me once.
At Montreal. WIN you not shield me