The Washington herald., 1911-03-05
1T is, Mr.. Ferraud. Go on"

ask, why all these subterfuges, this dodg-
ing in and out? Thus. Could I have
found the secret of the chimney
worked from memory-none of JUS would
be here, and one of the great conspiracies
of the time would have been nipped in
the bud. What do you think? Brett
mann proposes to go into France with
the torch of anarchy in his hand; and II
he does, he will be shot. He proposes 10
divide this money among his companions.
who. with their pockets full of gold, will
desert him the day he touches France.
Do you recollect the scar on his temple
1t was not made by saber; it is the
mark of bullet. He received it while a
left mark on his brain also. That is to
say, he is conscious of what he does but
not why he does it. He is a sane man
with an obsession. This wound. together
with the result of Germany's brutal
policy toward him and Frances indif-
ference, has made him kind of mono
maniac. You will ask why /, an accred-
tied agent in the employ of France. have
not stepped in and arrested him. My evi-
dence might bring him to trial, but II
would never convict him. Once liberated
he would begin all over again, meaning
that l also would have to start in at a
new beginning. So have let him proceed
to the end; and in doing so I shall save
him in spite of himself. You see, have
bit of sentiment
Hildegarde could have reached over and
kissed his hand.
Why didn't he tell all this to me -
cried the admiral why didn't he tell
me? 1 would have helped him."
TO his death, perhaps" grimly. For
the money was only a means. not an
nWNI
well, he will never rise from his obScur-
ity. And sometimes. when the clouds lift
from his brain, he will remember me.
I have seen in your American cottages
the motto hanging on the walls-God
Bless Our Home. Mr.. Breitmann will
place my photograph beside II and smoke
his cigarette in peace
And this whimsical turn caused even
the admiral to struggle with a smile.
He was a square, generous old sailor
He stretched his hand across the table.
NJ. Ferraud took il, but with a shade of
doubt
You are a good man, Mr.. Ferraud
I'm terribly disappointed. All my life I
have been gOose-chasing for treasures,
and this one 1 had set my heart on.
You've gone about it the best you could.
If you had told me from the start there
wouldn't have been any fun"
That is it, eagerly assented M. Fer
raud. Why should spoil your innocent
pleasure? For a month you have lived in
a fine adventure, and no harm has be-
tallen. And when you return to America,
you will have an unrivaled story to tell;
but, l do not think you will ever tell ali
Of 1t. He will have paid in wretchedness
and humiliation for his inheritance And
who has a better right to il? Every coin
may represent a sacrifice, a deprivation,
and those who gave il freely. gave il to
the blood. Is t sometimes that you laugh
at French sentiment"
Not IN French h.nen like you," said the
admiral gravely.
Good! To men OF heart what matters
the tongue?"
Poor young man. sighed Laura. "I
am glad he mas found it. Didn't 1 wish
him to have To-
And you knew all ttis?'' said Cathewe
into the ear of the woman he loved.
Thinly the word came through her lips:
Yes
Cathege's chin sank into his collar and
he stared at the crumbs on the cloth.
But what meant this argument with
the drivers?' asked Coldfield.
Yes! l had forgotten that" supple
mented the sailor.
On the way back to Carshese we
should have been stopped. We were to
be quietly but effectively suppressed till
Cur Napoleon set sail for 'MarseiIIes {"
M Ferraud bowed. He had no more to
add
The admiral shook his head. He had
come to Corsica as one might go to a
picnic, and here he had almost toppled
Over into a gulf,
The significance of the swift glance
winch was exchanged between NJ. Fer
raud and Fitzgerald was not translatable
to Laura, who alone caught it in its
transit. An idea took possession of her
but this idea had nothing to do with the
glance, which she forgot almost instant
~. Woman has a way with a man: she
leads him whittier she desires, and never
Is he any the wiser. She will throw OBJ
stacles in his way, or she will tear down
walls that rise up before him; she will
make a mile out of a rod or turn a
into a mole hill, and none but
the Cumaean Sibyl could tell why. And
rs Laura was of the disposition to walk
Gown by the cemetery, to take a final
view of the sea before it melted into the
sky, what was more natural than that
Fitzgerald should follow her? They
walked on in the peace of twilight, un-
nindfuT>of the curiosity of the villagers
Hr of the play of children about their
eet- The two were strangely silent; but
% him il seemed that she must presently
hear the thunder OF his insurgent heart
At length she paused, gazing toward the
sea upon which the puppies of night were
'apidly deepening
And If I had not made that wager
lie said, following aloud his train of
-hought
,tte" picking up the thread. II she had
aughed nothing might have happened.
3ut her voice was low and sweet and
'uminating
The dam of his reserve broke and the
sreat current Of life rushed over his lips,
o happiness or to misery, whichever it
vas to be.
Il love you, and 1 can no more help
ellng you than can help breathing. 1
lave tried not to speak / have SO little
o of1er. 1 have been lonely so long. /
ild not mean to tell you here. but I've
lone 1t. He ceased. terrified. His voice
lad diminished down to a mere whisper,
md finally refused to work at ALL
Still she stared out to sea.
He found his voice again. so there
sn't any hope? There is some one else %
lie was very miserable.
Had there been should have stopped
'ou at once"
But
: do you wish more definite answer
JDhn?" And only then did she
urn her head
"Yes!" his courage coming back full
nd strong. 81 want you to tell me you
ove me, and while my arms are round
'ou like this. May I kiss your
mo other man save my father shall"
"Ah. ] haven't done anything to de-
erve thisi''
Mop
I'm not even a third-rate hero
Nor with gentle raillery.
'.Say you love me.r
"Amo. anna, amiamo