The Springfield herald., 1912-06-21

moment the chief ornament of my
library. l must now congratulate him
for the second time"
At this she laughed. but the ripples
died away quickly upon her face. and
troubled her eyes. observed that she
was reticent in speaking plainly to me.
and did my best to help her out with
1t.
You have not yet put to me-" said
l, ''the precise question which brought
you here. 1t concerns the bracelet, OF
course?
"Ye-yes." said she, but am very
much afraid you will laugh at me.
wanted to ask you II, In your judg-
ment-that is. with your experience
there is any reason why should not
wear my present at the Opera ball to.
night?"
Her confusion. when thus she had
unburdened herself, was overwhelm-
Ing.
"Mademoiselle Bernier." said I, "the
most important part of the intelligence
you meant to bring to me remains un-
spoken. Let me encourage you to tell
me everything freely. and be assured
that without your express permission
nothing you may say will be remem-
bered by me-"
THANK you very much," she said
quietly. evidently regaining complete
confidence; but have nothing to con-
ceal. A week ago. Mons. Barre gave
me this bracelet with the, stipulation
tbot ch Mt ha hoI tp
night. Two days ago. received this
letter, which hesitated to show even
to you. lest 1t should be an injustice to
the man love-"
She passed, with her words, dirty
scrap of note to me, the leaf of a
sheet of the commonest lined scrib-
bling paper; and read upon 1t. writ
ten in very bad French. the warning:
"Mademoiselle. II you wear the
topaz bracelet at the Opera ball to-
night you carry death upon your arm"
Thrice read this: and as 1 read the
words, the third time aloud. saw.
shaping about the simplicity of the
girl, mystery which seemed as deep.
and at first sight as unfathomable, as
any that had known.
'Mademoiselle," said I, you speak
to me of very deep matters, fear.
But. of course. you have shown this
letter to your relatives?'
II have but one relative in the
world" said she, my mother, who is a
paralytic. | dare not mention such a
thing to her; she would die of fear"
l had now begun to pace up and
a ha hot in, hfrI
of theory and conjecture. And, in
truth, the problem presented so many
possibilities that it might well have
troubled a man whose whole occupa-
ton was the solution of mysteries.
Tell me- said I, stopping of a sud
den before her, what led you to
me?"
Madam Carmalovitch," said she. Il
went to her first. but she knew you
were in Paris, and would not rest un-
til | had consented to see you. She
would have come with me, but Is lat
terly almost always unable to face the
night air"
You have no one else you would
care to consult in such a case?"
mo one," said she.
And If you go to the ball tonight
without your bracelet"
She looked up at me with tears in
her eyes when she answered:
Georges would never forgive me-"
"Since you are determined to be
there tonight" said l, perhaps you
will give me Mons. Georges Barre's
address?"
"Oh, for the love of God. don't tell
him!" she cried; "he would never for
give me if | distrusted his present"
MY dear young lady. quite under
stand that. Really. you credit me with
being very poor diplomatist. When
see him l doubt If shall even men
tion your name to him"
You promise me that?"
Il promise you, at least, that he
shall never know of your coming to
me. But must exact another promise
from you-it is that you will not wear
the topaz until you have my permis-
sion."
But Georges expects me to wear 1t
at the ball"
He would not expect You to risk
your life. And there is no reason, so
far as ] can see, why | should not be
able to give you permission, or to re-
fuse 1t. by eleven O'Clock. You do not
go to the opera until midnight, l pre-
sume?"
Mons. Barre has promised to call In
the Rue Boissiere at quarter past
twelve. He has an apartment in
the Hotel Scribe. | can scarce go with
him and leave his gift at home"
"Of course you can't. but would
suggest that, unless you hear from me
by midnight. you carry 1t beneath your
cloak as you do now. l shall meet you
in the opera house. at any rate. Mean
while, have one more question to put
to you, forgive it from man who Is
nearly old enough to be your father.
Before you became the fiancee of
Mons. Barre was there-well, was
there any other in your thoughts?"
She looked at me with frankness
shining clearly from her eyes. when
! she said: