New-York tribune., 1912-02-18
CHAPTER XIII.


Qt9 Fay" she gaspcd, and collapsed
the sofa.
"Ycs, l answered
me so, That is recognized her photographs. Nctors
room is pastcrcd with Them that is, 5caS before he be
came engaged TO YOU. And now back She comes. What
did the husSy WANT
Again served myself of the plain truth. "Shc came,
answered succncty "to beg me not to marry Victor
because she IS in love with him and he Is IN love with
her"
Mrs Cobb's face beneath the sweeping hat with its
immense emerald plumcs, turned an almost similar tint
Little pale green reflections appeared at her noStS at
the corners Of her nicely redeemed lips. 1t almost
seemed as if the blood had stood suddenly STILL concealed
by the obstacle that threatened the master pas
Sions of her heart.
"What did YOU answer" she asked in a chokcd voice.
If was to obtain any benefit from the complications
suddenly opened before me, 1t PLAIN that frank
truthtcing must have its limits. Responded guardedy,
"Nladame, | had no time to answer. she MADE heI
petition to me- she heard you coming and She ran away
"But what would you have answered.
NOV. if there is a set Of persons for whom have
~ little sympathy, it is those heroincs Of romance
who for lack Of lucid word at the proper moment,
let their lives and everybody clsc slide into the ditch
After all, Mrs. Cobb had not shown 50 much dehcacy
toward me- when | in her power, that ! need be
afraid to speak openly at least. And sudden rage
boiled Nd in me at the thought Of the helpless tangle IN
which, by her greedy Schenng and the caprice OF tate
| was now placed At least and for this moment that
Destiny had placed weapon IN my hands, would
fight. .-...
ness did YOU ever know of French person who would
willingly keep two loving hearts apart
She stared at me in dazcd kind OF way. Evidently
this was not the kind OF response she had expected so
| pursued my advantage by adding:
"How that poor girl loves your son, Madame
DicH! how she loves him.
But-ah that was where Lil thinking to be 50
clever, overrcachcd her mark. Mrs. Cobb snorIed'
actually snortcd, like a cabhOrsc in cold weather
Loves him. Of course she does. should think she
might love hm-a boy like my Victor,
@But he loves hcr cried, desperate at my lost ad-
vantage. III
know the reason why
"His Wife" The words fell cold on my ears, and my
heart swced in the courage Of desperation "AadamC'
said "bcforc the proposed steps are MADE TeyoCdDIJ
would it not be best that have a moment frank
conversation together?
"As many as YOU like" she answered; though, upon
nv word can't imagine what there IS TO be sad on the
subject" And she nodded her head as though JhcTe
was nothing more to be added.
"Nothing more" | cried, when everything IS 50
changed since that day the steamer when we arranged
o'sYfk sWbat5 she said with black look. a haven't
@Tor l." answered steadily. Then, yes" | cried
Il havcl In those days | was French grI-ioT my
months in England, they don't cOunt-Just a little
white goose who didn't understand anything and looked
forward to an arranged marriage as the most natural
inevitable thing in the world To be sure there were
special circumstances that made me hesitate; put 'hG
whole idea of the thing to marry the husband that nad
boen nickcd out for me by someone older and wiser
tban mvsclf-whv, | had never thought Of anything
else But now, though I'm as French as cVer,-y
though | live to be old like the world itself my dear
France must always come first,-yct | begin to feel
myself little bit American too. They please me So
your Amcrcans-the way they talk, the way thcy
think the way they arrange things And, whether l
want to or not can't help looking at things thc way
you do, you others That you must know ana Ioye
+l,stf'E hf y m RI