The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-02

1 house of France that he brooded over the
 fact and as he brooded became more bit
 ter In his mind toward Lord Alfred. Had
 it not been for him." thought the Duke,
 "she might have been mine. He loves
 her. she loves him. I love her and hate
 him with a hatred which l shall some day
 be able to satisfy Lucille, meantime, had
 vanished from her usual places. No
 longer was she the belle of Paris salons
 and fashionable watering places. She had
 gone to the Far East to the French col-
 only where she had been born. There,
 with a friend of her youth, she stayed until she thought that the romance and
 sadness of her heart had departed. It
 was three years before she returned to
 Europe. Then one night in the Casino at
 Ems those people whose life and fate
 seemed so closely linked together that the tangled threads could not be sepa-
 rated met again.
 Alfred was idly wasting some rouleaux
 at the whirling wheel of roulette, while Matilda, half vexed, sat at the rooms l rurthest end talking with man who had I just recognized and greeted her-none
 other than the Duke de Luvois. Suddenly
 Alfred raised his eyes from his futile
 game and saw-the face of Lucille de Meyers. It seemed as If the ghosts which
 had haunted him had materialized He
 had at the same time vague sense of
 horror. for, deep down in his heart, he
 felt as he had always felt at the sight
 of Lucille, the conviction that their souls could never be separated.
 Alfred rose from the table and turned
 to Lucille They met as two old friends
 and talking, side by side, left the crowd
 and walked apart. The Duke saw the
 meeting and in his heart sprang up l a bitter and great resentment. After
 these years is 1t thus that they meet?"
 he murmured. She will renew the old charm The serpent rose in him. Lean | ing over Matldas chair he called her attention to the meeting of the former l lovers. He sighed as he said that it was strange that. after all, old loves were best-most potent. Not that in this case there could be any thought of such a thing. Was Lord Alfred not married to one younger and more beau | tiful than Lucille de Meyers? But peo- l pie might talk. And so the serpent in him hissed into the jealous ears of Ma tilda until he saw the moment come ! when he. dared to say: "Oh lady; young, lovely and loving-are you | loved?"
 A vague sense of fear filled the heart of Matilda, but jealousy was stronger. She said in dignified manner, it Is true, sir, can you not see that my
 heart Is my husbands? For three years
 we have lived happily together Oblige
 me by never referring to the subject you have now preached" There may be hearts that more truly appreciate
 the worth of yours than Lord Alfred Vargrave," said the Duke. He had
 taken her to the garden and the full | moon, shone down upon them. Lucille and Alfred were walking there. For pity's sake, leave me- cried Matilda. 'I feel that we both would be to blame i: we continued this conversation long CT" "To blame? Yes" replied the Duke, had not your husband signed your release by the hand of another. An ether consoles him and receives from his lips the words which should be spoken 10 you.
 They were then seated in an arbor and hardly had the Duke thus spoken when a voice, calm and serene said: You mistake. sir" Both started-it
 was Lucille Lord Alfred had returned to the casino and Lucille, with womans instinct had felt and known the plans of the DulSe-that man who had loved
 her and loved her still. What, caves dropping, madam?" cried the Duke, as Lucille walked into the arbor. Duke"
 she answered, my place is where my
 duty calls me. Lady, l am your hus-
 bands friend. What say you, Duke de Luvois-my place is not here?" Lucille | took the hand of Matilda in hers and seated herself beside her as she spoke Then, putting her arm around the frightened woman, she led her gently