The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-14
There Is One
 Heres

1 quite alone, in the French town of Dion, and went to a hotel near the station Evidently she was expected. Rowing ser wants led her to private suite of rooms where preparations had been made as | for a splendid supper. Monsieur had or dered it, they said, when he passed through Dion alone, ahead of her. Mon sieur had left letter for her. Monsieur had left word that he would be there with | in an hour.
 While they were laying the table she arose and examined all the rooms, par ticularly one that had door in it leading to rear corridor. From this she took the key and put it on the outer side of the door, | Then she sat down and waited. She paid no attention to the walters, nor did she answer, save in monosyllables, when they asked if she were pleased. Some purpose, strong enough to fill up any pause, pos sessed her. With her lips pressed close and quivering whenever she released her | control for even a moment, with her nos | tril inflated. her hands clasped and the purpose swelling in her breast. she waited.
  said the water 10 her "It is Monsieur" Monsieur came. with his gleaming teeth Monsieur embraced Madame, and ad- dressed her in the French tongue as his | charming wife.
 ] Madame is overcome with joy! Madame I is going to faint" cried the head waiter.
 Madame had only shrunk and quivered. Before the words were done she was standing with her hand on the back of a great chair tall and naughty, her face l immovabe.
 | Monsieur ordered the servants to leave. He would remove the dishes with his own hands. He saw them to the door and se- cured it behind them. As he locked the door her hand left the chair for an in stant to bring sharp knife on the table within her reach. Then she stood as she had stood before.
 Monsieur advanced to the table with a smile. "Your hard, unrelenting terms are all fulfilled" said he. T have never | seen you look so handsome as you do to- nIsht. Even the picture have carried in my mind during this probation is ex- ceeded by the reality He was coming toward her. Sicily shall be the place or our retreat said he. gaily. Instantly she snatched up the knife and ! started backward one step.
 stand still,s she said, "or shall mur- der you.'
 | The sudden change in her, the towering fury and intense abhorrence sparkling In her eyes, made him stop as if fire had | stopped him.
 Touching her bosom she said: ''I have | something lying here that is no love trinket. and sooner than endure your | touch once more I would use it on you and you know it while I speak" 1 He affected to laugh, but he bit his finger and he struck his foot on the | ground with a muttered oath; and he did not advance.
 "How many times. 'continued she, bend | ing her darkest glance on him. has your knavery outraged and insuted me? How often have you tempted me'to take a des- perate revenge?"
 Come. Edith,' said he, trying again to laugh ITO your husband, poor wretch, this might have been well enough
 'Tf," said she. surveying him with a naughty contempt and disgust that made him shrink, brave it as he would, If all my other reasons for despsng him had been blown away like feathers, his hay ing you for counsellor and friend would have been enough"
 "Is that why you have run away with me?" asked he tauntingly.
 "Yes, And why we are face to face for the last time, We meet tonight and part forever" He turned upon her his ugiest look. but did not move. "On that night when you dared to come to my room and propose this fiight-not this flight, but the flight you thought it-I turned from every thought but revenge. struck blow that laid your lofty master in the dust, and set you there before me. looking at me now and knowing what mean!'
 He sprang toward her with great oath. She put her hand on her bosom, and not a finger trembled. He stood stili' she too; the table and chair between
 them
 She held out some letters. "see these!'
 she cried You addressed these to me lone here. some elsewhere on my road
 The seals are unbreken, Take thep