Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-09
BOOK II.
CHAPTER XIV.
SANCTUARY


julien. 7 am going to send you a new
secretary"
He turned a little eagerly in his easy
chair.
Lady Amer he exclaimed
Are you glad?"
Julien hesitated. His eyes sought
his companions face. She was seated
at the small writing table drawn up
close TO his side, her head resting upon
her left hand. the pen in her right nm
gers sketching idle fingers at the bot
tom OF the sheet which she had just
written. She was wearing a dress of
fstrange-colored muslin. shade between
gray and silver but from underneath
came a simmer OF blue. and their tur-
uuoises about her neck Her large. soft
eyes were fixed steadfastly upon his.
There was a sort Of question in them
which he seemed to have surprised
there more than once during the last
few days. A sudden uneasiness seized
him His brain was crOwed with un-
willing fancies. There were, without
doubt. symptoms OF cOquetry in her
appearance He had spoken OF blue as
the one sublime color AS she leaned
q little hack in her chair. resting from
her labors. he could scarcely help no
ticing the blue silk stockings and suede
shoes which matched the hidden color
OF her skirt. the ribbon which cleaned
from the duslSy masses OF her hair.
Madame Christopher was always a very
beautiful and a very elegant woman.
and il seemed TO have pleased her dur
ing these last few days TO appear at
her best Julien gripped for moment
at his bandaged arm.
you are in pain2 You would like me
10 change the bandageT" she suggested
almost eagerly
Not yet" he replied 1t is still
quite comfortable"
she looked at him thoughtfuIIy.
You have the air OF wanting some
thing" she remarked. as there any
thing that displeases yOus"
ssDispIeases me. If you knew how
strange that sounded" he exclaimed.
Il do not think that anyone ever lived
with such luxury, or was treated with
so much kindness. as 1 during the last
few days You make every second per-
feet"
Madame Christopher sighed. Almost
as Julien finished his speech he regret
ted its conclusion Madame Christie
phor, on the other hand although she
sighed. seemed vaguely content
you see the fates against whom you
have 50 great a grievance have done
something 70 atone.r she declared NO
doubt YOU hated 10 leave your work TO
afternoon No doubt your >red-headed
journalist friend hated me also Yet
il you had not come. il my automobile
had been detained a few minutes on
the way-ah! II is terrible indeed to
think what might not have happened!
she shivered- A moment later she
raised her eyes and continued:
Il think she said. you must aban-
don a little of your hostility against
a
this mischief in your life and woman
who was fortunate enough TO save it I
think you can almost cry quits with US,
Sir Julien
He smiled he was struggling to lead
back their conversation to a lighter level.
A certain change in this womans tone
and manner. a change which was re-
fected even in her appearance. disturbed
him painfully
The balance is already on my side,
dear hostess" he assured her. You have
left me an eternal debtor TO your sex.
I shall never again indulge in generali-
ties or wholesale condemnation. 1t is.
after all. foolish. But tell me why you
are sending Lady Anne to help me to-
dayT''
She watched for any trace OF disap
pointment in his tone. There was none
On the contrary, his mention OF Lady
Anne was accompanied BY slight eager
ness which puzzled her
7 have a few social duties to attend
TO-" she explained a little vaguely. Lady
Anne is quite efficient I ike her hand
writing too. II is like herself-clean-cut,
Iegible. There are no hidden pools about
Lady Anne.
yet" he said. "a woman always keeps
some part OF herself concealed
You think that Lady Anne. too has
her secretg' Madame Christopher asked.
raising her eyes
Il think that II she has. she is quite
capable OF keeping it, he replied
There was a knock at the door. Lady
Anne entered She came a few yards into
the room with a slight smile upon her
lips. and nodded pleasantly to Julien In
her slim stateliness. the untrOubled seren-
ity OF youth reflected in her smiling face,
she represented perfectly the other type
OF womanhood- Madame Christopher rose
deliberately to her feet For one swift
moment she measured the things between
them She herself was conscious Of a
greater intellectual maturity. more sub
tie quality in her looks. a beauty less
describable. more exotic. perhaps, but
also more provocative The arts OF her
sex were az her fingertips. the small arts
disdained BY this well-looking and per-
fectly healthy young woman. She turned
her head quickly toward Sir Julien. II
M1e NlG rue Impulse u AAE man oA W.
man who plucl<s the petals from a flower.
Julien was gazing steadfastly at Lady
Anne. Madame Christopher picked UP her
belongings and moved toward the door.
BE merciless today, my friend.' she
exclaimed. pausing upon the threshold
''virulent. II you Will lie Jour was
screaming at you last night Jesen has
lost his head little: or is it the lash OF
his master which he feels? How can one
telIG'
After tonight" julien remarked. with
a smile. who will read lie Jour2 shall
tell the story OF the purchase Of that
paper BY Herr Freudenberg. French peo-
pie will not love 10 think that the pen OF
Jesen has been guided BY the hand Of
. Germany"
Madame Christopher made a little
IMAGE
MY friend" she declared. my house
Is. I believe. the safest spot in Paris. yet
there are limits Remember that you
have become a celebrity. There is an
agitation in England 70 have you back
at the Foreign ONCE. All Paris is divided
upon the subject Of your life or death.
And there are men here in the city who
seek for you night and day with death
in their hands. Ny house is sanctuary
but no one can write such things as you
are writing and deem themselves secure