Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-16

there a little CLEAN of sunlight fell upon
the country below them. Estermen
/ closed his eyes.
'It makes me giddy," he muttered ct
hope that you will drive slowly down the
hill"
! chauffeur was still peering at the mile
stones He slipped in the clutch, and
the car glided off, gathering speed as
| though by magic.
you have left Henri" Estermen cried.
HE is running after us. Stop the car!
| Can't you stop it?'
Falkenberg turned his head only once.
The stone walls now on either side
seemed flying past them. Estermen
looked into his face, and quaked with
fear.
This ride is for you and me alone,
my friend!" Falkenberg replied. "Sit
| tight and say your prayers, if it pleases
you. This is better, after all, than pois-
on, or the cold muzzle of a revolver at
your forehead. Close your eyes if you
are afraid; or open them, if you have
| the courage, and see the world spin by.
We start on the great Journey"
Estermen shrieked. He half rose to
his feet, but Falkenberg. holding the
wheel in his right hand, struck him
across the face with his left so that he
| fell back in his place.
IF you try to leave the car" he said,
81 swear that I will stop and come back.
will shoot you where you lie, like a
dog. Be brave, man! Be thankful that
you are going to your death in honor
able company and in honorable fashionl
It's better, this, than the guillotine,
isn't it? Look at the country below,
like patchwork, coming up to us. List
en- to the wind rushing by. You see
the trees how they bend? You feel the
rain singing your cheeks? Sit STILL
man, and fix your thoughts where you
will. Think of mademoiselle la dan
seuse, think of her kisses, think of the
perfume Of the violets at her bosom
You see, we arrive. Watch that corner
of the viaduct."
They were travelling now at a terrific
speed, falling fast to the level coun-
try. Before them was a high bridge,
crossing the river. On the left, a por-
ton of it was being repaired and a few
boards alone were up for protection.
Falkenberg, recognizing the spot for
which he had been looking, settled down
in his seat. A grim smile parted his
lips
Jean Charles will never place his
hand upon your shoulder now!" he
cried. Can you hear the wind sob,
Estermen? Soon you'll hear the water
in your ears! Hold fast Don't spoil
the endY'
They were going at so miles an hour,
and with the slightest swerve of the
steering wheel they turned to the left
on entering the bridge and struck the
boards. Henri, in his account of the
accident, declared that although the car
turned over before it reach the river,
Falkenberg never left his seat. Ester
man, on the other hand, was thrown vio-
lently out, and struck the water head
foremost From the condition of his
body it would seem that death was in
Simultaneous. Falkenberg was found
with his arms locked around the steer
ing gear, his head bent forward. He,
too, seemed to have been drowned al
most Immediately. The steering wheel
was Jammed, the car wrecked.
The authorities, who had left only a
temporary protection while they repair
ed viaduct on the bridge, were severely
censured. The makers of the car were
subjected to a very searching cross-ex-
animation. The brakes and the uncer-
tain light were blamed. Henri, who
from the hillside, mile or more back,
had watched with CHASTITY face, was the
only one who understood the accident,
and he kept silent!
BOOK II.
CHAPTER XIX.
ALL ENDS WE'LL.
The Duchess of Clonarty was famous
for doing the rigRk thing. Three weeks
after the return of Julien and Lady Anne
to London. she gave large dinner party
in their honor. At a quarter past 8, a
telephone message from the house of
commons was received, explaining that
Sir Julien would be 10 minutes late,
owing to his having to speak at greater
length than he had first intended upon
the Agdar question. Lady Anne was
waiting for him, and they would arrive
together certainly within a quarter of an
hour. The duchess made every use of
her opportunity. She was at her very
best during that brief period which en-
sued while they waited for the delayed
guests.
''You know, my dear Lady Carding-
ton,' she explained, raising her voice a
little to indicate that this was not en-
tirely a confidence, 81 never dreamed
that dear Anne had so much self-confi-
dence and resolution. Even now I have
scarcely given up wondering at it. If
she had only told me that she was so
Isincerely attached to Julien, 1 would never
have listened for one moment to that
Harbord affair. 1t was a mistake, of
course" she rippled on, "but then one
learns so much by ones mistakes. Not
withstanding their wealth they were
most terrible and impossible people. 1
am sure the association would have been
most distasteful to the duke Poor Henry
used to lock himself in his study when
any of them were about the place, and
what it would have been If they were
really able to call themselves connec-
tons, cannot imagine. You were speak
ing of the Carraby woman a few min
utes ago. My dear Eva! OF course, you
have heard about her? Her husband,
when he resigned, gave out that he was
obliged to go abroad for his wife
Health. My dear, his wife had already
left him, three days before! She was
seen in Paris with Bob Sutherland.
hear the divorce suit is filed. What a
terrible woman!"
"a great escape, / am sure, for Sir Ju-
llien," Lady Cardington declared.
The duchess drew a little breath.
''Poor Julien was always so chivalrous, ="
she nurmured How thankful your dear
husband must be to think that at last
he has one person in his cabinet who does
command some soft of following in the
country
The duchess delivered her little shaft
and moved to the door. Sir Julien and
Lady Anne Portel had just been an
lnounced. 1t was almost family dinner.
The duchess took Julien's arm and drew