Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-12

what she has to say from ner own hPs'
You must remember that l have paid
price. / have given up the guardian
shin of my son. You, youself," he con-
tinued. looking steadfastly at Julien,
may know if any other cause exists
likely to have influenced my wife in
granting my request"
Julien set his teeth, but he did not
finch.
what is that you want with me,
Prince Falkenberg?" he demanded.
Another brutal attempt at massacre?
L owe you this" he added, raising his
Sandaged arm. do you. imagine that
you can continue to use the methods of
pther generations with impunity? The
thing is absurd. There are too many
who know already the secret Of Herr
Freudenberg, maker of toys. There are
too many who will know, also, before
long. the secret of the explosion in the
Rue de Montpelier!
Falkenberg nodded gravely.
81 understand" he admitted. One
moves, of course, always, with the knife
at ones heart Yet until now, 1 per-
sonally, am safe. Another man dies
tonight, even as we talk here, and con-
fesses himself guilty of the Rue de
Montpelier affair. But let that pass.
We have crossed swords, Sir Julien,
and 1 frankly admit, although 1 have
gained my end tonight, that 1 am
worsted. The money 1 spent to pur-
chase lie Jour has heen thrown away.
The months of careful intrigue, the
sacrifice and efforts / have made to de-
stroy the entente, have been rendered
almost futile by your diabolical pen.
Very we'll, for what you have done
will accept defeat will accept defeat
without malice. But there is the flu
ture."
What of it?" Julien asked.
II do not intend" FalkenbeFg de-
clared, in a low. firm tone, ito have
you back, a member of any English
government. 1 prefer Carraby and
such as he"
You fiatter me-" Julien remarked,
grimly.
Not in the least" Falkenberg OBJ
jected. you know the position as well
as 1. The political party of which you
are a member is in power for a long
time. You have got hold of the middle
class, you've bought the Irish vote,
you've bought labor. In the ranks of
your party there isn't a man whom 1
fear-only you. will not have you
go back"
But as it happens" Julien an
nounced, Il am going back. have
heard from England this evening.
AOhA AAAGAAA AdAIdUg IGSlBuluS
Falkerberg shook his head. He re-
manned calm, but there was an omi-
nous flash in his eyes.
You would make a mistake" he as
serted. mo one ever goes back
successfully. Do I not know, who
as twenty years your senior, I, who
have felt my way into all the corners
and crevices Of life? Listen to me,
please"
He drew chair towards them and sat
down, crossing his knees and looking
towards them both in friendly fashion.
"Sir Julien" he said, land you, my
dear young lady, your entire future de-
ponds upon this little conversation.
can you not put it out of your minds
for few moments that I am the dan
gerous Falkerberg, the mischlef-mak-
er, the ogre4 of all respectable Britons7
Can you not remember only that / am
well-meaning, not unkindly old gem
tleman, who has some good advice to
offer? You, at least, will listen to me.
Lady Anne. Do 1 look like an assas-
sin by choice? Do seem like the sort
Of person to indulge in these danger
Gus exercises for mere amusement?
You are both young, you have both
your lives before you. Why do you.
Sir Julien, voluntarily put the yoke
about your neck? Why do you, my
gracious young lady, suffer the man
with whom your life is to be linked to
deliver himself over voluntarily into
state of bondage? Politics lose all
glamor to those who have dwelt with
in the walls. Sir Julien has dwelt
there and so have I. He knows in his
heart whether 1t is worth while One
you. You can be rich-very rich, i'm
deed. You can make an idyll of this
lives always amidst a clamor Of evil
tongues, a pestilent trail Of poisonous
suspicious. One gives up ones life to
be fiouted and misunderstood, to be ac-
cused of evil motives and every image
Unable crime. When 1t is all over,
when one has time to think Of all that
one has missed, one feels that all one
has done could have been done just as
well by the next man in the street.
That is the end of it. And against all
that, you two have the world before
love Of yours. You can travel around
the world in your own yacht, you can
visit all strange countries, you can
wander where you will, and all the
time affairs in the world Will go on
very much the same as If you had
stayed and given the best hours of
your life to the dusty treadmill. 1 am
an old man, Lady Anne, and I have an
evil name in your country. They call
me greedy, subtle and ambitious. 1
may be all these things, but let me
again my master could find another
servant and my country another toiler.
There are fairer flowers in life to be
plucked than any which can be reach
ed from the high places in Downing
street or Berlin. Let me, at least,
Lady Anne, make sure Of your sup.
port? Mind, am not threatening now
Il plead"
Lady Anne locker at him gravely.
'Sir Julien" she declared, will an
swer you for himself"
But want your own decision"
Falkenberg insisted. II want you to
see the truth as 1 see IT, I want you
to tell me that you agree with me-"
She shook her head.
But 1 do notr she exclaimed ITO
me you have spoken like sophist
One does not gain happiness by seek
ing it. You may be honest in some
parts of what you say cannot tell
Only I think that you have mistaken
Sir Juliens ideas-and mine"
you disappoint me-" Falkenberg
murmured.
Sir Julien smiled.
mot very much. I think" he said.
you always did believe in trying the
hundredth chance. Let us come back
to the reasonable part of our discus
sion. DO you propose, then, that
should leave this house at this moment
with you?"
my car is entirely at your service"
Falkenberg suggested.