Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-06

!, me dln,g nut crsaIeu NO xaBpSs enI ii.
sauiten1snt, and "a little later dozen
horsemen spurred recklessly through
the street. scattering the .crowd, their
revolvers sputtering. Some alteration
arose opposite and voice called loud
" for the guard, but the trouble soon
ceased with the clump Of boots. dying
away in the distance, the regimsntal
band noisily blaring out waltz. Ham.
lin, immersed In his own thoughts.
scarcely observed the turmoil, Sut
leaned, arms on railing, gazing out in.
/ to the darkness Something mysteri.
! GUS from out the past had gripped
him; he was wondering how he should
greet her when she came; specializing
on her purpose in sending for him.
It seemed as though he waited a
long time before the curtain ut the
window was thrust aside and the lady
emerged, the slight rustIing Of her
dress apprisinR him of her nresancA
The curtain still held slightly back by
g her hand permitted the light from
within to reflect over her figure, re-
,, vealing In softened outline the beauty
of her features, the fossy brightness
of her hair. She was in evening dress,
light shawl draping her shoulders.
An instant she paused In uncertainty,
striving to distinguish his face; then
stepped impulsively forward. and held
out her hands.
Il have kept you waiting, but you
must forgive that, as came as soon
as I could manufacture an excuse.
Won't you even shake hands with
me?"
rs it necessary" he asked, almost
YEARLY. you have come to me for
some purpose surely, but 1t can hardly
be friendship
why should you say that?" re-
proachfully. II have deserted rath-
! er brilliant party to meet you here"
That, perhaps, is why I say it, Mrs.
Dupont. II my memory serves, you
would not be inclined to leave such
friends as you have yonder to rendez-
vous with q common soldier, unless
you had some special object In view.
If you win inform me what it 10, we
can very quickly terminate the inter-
view
She laughed, little touch of nerv.
BUSINESS in the voice, but drew her
skirts aside. and sat down on the
bench.
DO you think yeu can deceive me
by such play-acting?" she asked eager.
ly. you are no man Of wood. Tell
me, is there nothing you care to ask
me. after-after all these years?"
Hamlin lifted his eyes and looked at
her, stirred into sudden interest by
the almost caressing sound of the soft
voice.
YES" he said slowly. there are
some things should like to know. il /
thought you would answer frankly"
Try me and see"
Then why are you Mrs. Dupont, IN
stead Of Mrs. LIE Fevre?"
Then my guess is true, and you are
not SO devoid of curiosity" she
laughed. MY answer? Why, it is
simplicity itself-because was never
Mrs. LIE Fevre, but am rightfully Mrs.
Dupont"
DO you mean you were never mar
ried to LIE Fevre?"
What else could I mean?"
Then he led
She shrugged her white shoulders.
THAT would not surprise me in the
least. Twas a characteristic of the
man you lad ample reason to know.
How came you to believe so easily?"
Believe? What else could be-
lieve? Everything served to substan-
tate his boast. was in disgrace,
practically drummed out of camp.
There was nothing left for me to live
for, or strive for. was practically
dead. Then your letter confessing
came
Wait" she interrupted, that letter
was untrue, false; it was penned un-
der compulsion. wrote you again,
later. but you had gone, disappeared
utterly. / wanted to explain, but your
own people even did not know where
you were-do not know yet"
He leaned his body against the rail,
ana looked at her IN the dim light.
Her face retained much of its girlish
attractiveness, yet its undoubted
charms no longer held the man cap
tive. He smiled coldly.
"The explanation comes somewhat
late" he replied deliberately. when
it might have served me 1t was not
offered-indeed. you had convenient
ly disappeared. But ammo here to
criticise; that is all over with, prac-
tically forgotten. came at your re-
quest. and presume you had reason.
May / again ask what it VAST"
CHAPTER XVII.
At cross-Purposes.
She sat for moment silent, gazing
tho or Init