Rock Island Argus., 1913-01-08

work to perfection. The medium OF
communication "a young, untried girD
must do her part with all the skill OF
artist and author combined. Would
she disappoint them? He did not think
SO. Women possess a marvellous
Rdaptability for this kind of work
and this one was French. which made
the case still more hopeful.
But Brotherson! In what spirit
would he meet the proposed ad-
vances? Would he even admit the
girl. and, IL he did, would the inter
view bear any such fruit as Sweet
water hoped for? The man who could
mock the terrors OF the night by
careless repetition of q strain instinct
with the most sacred memories, was
not to be depended upon to show
much feeling at sight Of departed
woman's writing.
But no other hope remained, and
Sweetwater faced the attempt with
heroic determination.
The day was Sunday, which en-
sured Brotherson's being at home.
Nothing would have lured Sweetwa-
ter out for a moment, though he had
no reason to expect that the affair
he was anticipating would come of
till early evening.
I But It did. Late in the afternoon
he heard the expected steps go by his
door-a woman's steps. But they
were not alone. A mans accompanied
them. What man? Sweetwater
hastened to satisfy himself on this
point by laying his ear to the parti-
tion.
Instantly the whole conversation
became audible.
IAN errand? Oh, yees, have an
errand," explained the evidently un-
welcome intruder, in her broken Eng
lish. This is my brother Pierre. My
name is Celeste; Celeste Ledru. l
understand English YER well l have
worked much in families. But he un-
derstands nothing. He is all French.
lie accompanies me for-for the
what you call it? les conveuances.
He knows nothing of the beesiness."
Sweetwater in the darkness of his
closet laughed in his gleeful apprecia-
tiCn.
Great" was his comment. "Just
great! She has thought OF everything
or Mr.. Cryce has"
Meanwhile. the girl was proceed
ing with increased volubility.
What is this beesiness, monsieur?
have something to sell-so you
Americans speak. Something you will
want much-ver sacred, yer precious.
A souvenir from the tomb, monsieur.
viii you give ten-no, that is too
leetle-ffteen dollars for it? 1t is
worth-Oh, more, much more to the
true lover. Pierre, tu es bette. Teins-
tu droit sur ia chaise. NJ. Brotherson
est un monsieur CONNIE il faut."
This adiuration. uttered in sharp
reprimand and with but little of the
French grace. may or may not have
!, been understood by the unsympathetic
} man they were meant TO impress. But
the name which accompanied them
q his own name, never heard but once
before in this house, undoubtedly
r caused the silence which almost
reached the point Of embarrassment,
before he broke it with the harsh re-
mark:
"Your French may be good. but II
does not go with me. Yet is 1t more
ineligible than your English. What
do you want here? What have you in
that bag you wish to open; and what
do you mean by the sentimental trash
with which you offer it?"
"Ah. monsieur has not memory OF
me-" came in the sweetest tones of a
really seductive voice. You astonish
me. monsieur. I thought you knew
everybody else does-Oh, tout le
monde, monsieur, that l was Miss
Challoners maid-near her when 9th
er people were not-near her the very
day she died"
A pause; then an angry exclama
ton from Some one. Sweetwatel
thought it from the brother, who may
have misinterpreted some look ol
gesture on Brotherson's part. Broth
erson himself would not be apt tC
show surprise in any such noisy way
Il saw many things-Oh, man!
things" the girl proceeded with ar
admirable mixture of suggestion anC
reserve. THAT day and other day.
. TOO. Sne Olu not ldlh-OH, uO, BIZ
y did not talk, but l saw-Oh, yes,
v saw that she-that you'll have t.
T say It, monsieur, that you were trei
: bons amis after that week in Lenox.
5 "Wen?" His utterance OF this wore
. was vigorous, but not tender. 'Wha
il are you coming to? What can yoI
: have to show me in this connection
g that I will believe in for a moment?'
n 81 have these-is monsieur certain'
e that no one can hear? l wouldn't hav'
! anybody hear what have to tell you
I for the world-for all the world"
e mo one can overhear"
i For the first time that day Sweet
Y water breathed a full, deep breath
This assurance had sounded heartfelt
blessings on her cunning younl
head. She thinks OF everything
You are unhappy. You have though
Miss Chslloner cold:-that she had NJ
| response for your yer ardent passion
1 But" these words we're uttered sottt
voce and with telling pauses-"bu
| -I-know-ver much better than that
| She was yer proud. She had a right
| she was no poor girl Ike me-but sh'
/ spend hours-hours in writing letter.