The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

4
''Ge me morning paper and \ will
tell you" Sogrange declared, rising.
He was in the train which was stop
ped outside the Care du Nord, on his
way to England What became of the
1 passengers ] have not heard. knew
what was likely. to happen, and I left
an hour before IN Ioo-horsepower
Charron"
/ Peter rang the bell and ordered the
servant who answered it 10 procure the
Daily Telegraph. As soon as it ar
rived, he spread it open upon the table
and Sogrange looked over his shoulder.
These are the headings, which they saw
in large black characters:
|. RENEWED RIOTS IN PARIS.
THE CARE DU NORD IN FLAMES.
Terrible Accident to the Calais-Dou-
/ vres Express.
i Many Deaths.
! Peters forehnger Travelled down the
page swiftly. 1t paused at the following
paragraph:
| The S:55 train from the Care du
Nord, carrying many passengers for
London, after being detained within a
mile of Paris for over an hour owing
! to the murder of the engine-driver,
made an attempt last night to proceed.
with terrible results. Near Chantilly,
while travelling at over fifty miles an
hour. the switches were tampered with
and the express dashed into goods
train laden with minerals. Very few
particulars are yet to hand, but the
express was completely wrecked and
many lives have been lost
Among the dead are the following
One by one Peter read out the names.
Then he stopped short. A little excla-
nation broke from Sogrange's lips. The
thirteenth name upon that list of dead
was the name of Bernadine, Count Won
Hern.
Late in the afternoon of the same
day, motor car, splashed with mud,
drew up before the door of the house
in Berkeley Square. Sogrange, who was
standing talking to Peter before the IL
brary window, suddenly broke off in
the middle of a sentence. He stepped
book into the room and gripped his
friends shoulder
1T is the baroness he exclaimed,
quickly. what docs she want here?"
THE baroness who?" Peter demand
ed.
THE Baroness Won Rattai. You
must have heard of her-she is the
friend of Bernadine.'
There was knock at the door and
the sertant entered. bearing card.
This lady would like to see you,
sir, on important business he said.
You can show her in here" Peter
directed.
There was very short delay. The
two men had no time to exchange a
word. They heard the rustling Of a
woman's gown, and Immediately after
ward the perfume of violets seemed to
fill the room.
"The Baroness Won Ratten" the but
Ter announced.
j The door was closed behind her The
servant had disappeared. Peter advane-
ed to meet his guest. She was little
extraordinarily fair hair, colorlesS face,
ly beautiful and yet there was no man
upon whom her presence was without
its effect Her voice was like her
movements, slow, and with a grace of
its own.
You do not mind that | have come
to see you." she asked, raising her eyes
to Peters. 'I believe before | go that
you will think terrible things of me, but
you must not begin before / have told
you my errand. 1t has been a great
struggle with me before / made up my
mind to come here
Wont you sit down, baroness
Peter invited.
She saw Sogrange and hesitated.
Permit me to present to you the
Marquis de Sogrange," Peter begged.
"He is my Oldest friend, baroness.
think that whatever you might have to
say to me you might very well say be-
fore him."
at is-of private nature" she muir
INJURED.
The marquis and | have no secrets. y
Peter declared, either political or pri-
vate"
She sat down and motioned Peter to
take place by her side upon the sofa
you will forgive me if ! am a little
incoherent," she implored. To-day
have had shock. You, too, have read
the news? You must know that the
Count Won Hern is dead-killed in the
railway accident last night?"
1--WE read it in the Daily Telegraph" "
Peter replied.
1T is in all the papers" she oontin-
ued. you know that he was a very
dear friend of mine?"
'I have heard 50" Peter admitted.
i "Yet there was one subject she in
sisted, earnestly. upon which we never
agreed He hated England. ! have al
ways loved it. England was kind to me
when my own country drove me out. l
have always felt grateful. 1t has been
a sorrow to me that in so many of his
schemes, in so much of his work, Ber-
nadine should consider his own coun-
try at the expense of yours"
Sogrange drew little nearer. 1t be-
gan to be interesting, this.
Il heard the news early this morning
by telegram" she went on For a
long time | was PROSTATE. Then early
this afternoon began to think-one
must always think Bernadine was a
dear friend, but things between us late
ly have been different, little strained.
Was it his fault or mine-who can say
Does one tire with the years, | wonder
wonderp
Her eyes were lifted to his and Peter
was conscious of the fact that she wish
ed him to know that they were beauti-
full She looked slowly away again.
This afternoon. as | sat alone" she
proceeded, 81 remembered that in my
keeping were many boxes of papers and
many letters which have recently ar
rived, all belonging to Beruadine. ! re-