South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-27
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Finest Things.

Endurance, Francois own Negro
boy, brought a note to Roanoke house
on a morning five days later. X read:
My Dear Miss Hampton:
The doctor has given me permits
sion to ride tomorrow and i wish to
ride 20 Roanoke house before all
other places. Will Mademoiselle see
me? VIII Mademoiselle permit me to
see her Cor a short time alone? 1
await anXiously a word from you, and
1 am your servant,
Francois Beaupre"
Mademoiselle sent a fair sheet cf
paper with a few unsteady scratches
across it. and sat down to live over
night, hard business at times. But
il was accomplished The colonel
had ridden to Norfolk for the day
had Francois known OF that, one won
ders? Lucy. waiting in that small
stately study with the dim portraits
and the wide vague view across the
fields of the James river. heard the
gay hoof beats OF Aquarelle pound
down the gravel under the window,
heard Francois deep gentle voice as
he gave the horse 10 Sambo, and wait
ed one minute more. the hardest min
ute of all. Then the door had opened
and he stood there-the miracle as It
seems at such moments 10 a woman,
possibly TO a man-Of all the gifts
and qualities worth loving.
The light on the thick bronzed hair
with its dramatic white lock, the
diagonal OF fresh color across the
dark face. the wonderful brilliant
eyes, the strong leanness Of his hands
there was something IN each de-
tail. as the two gazed at each other in
a short silence. which caught al
Lucy's soul That he was short. and
so unlike all the men she had ad-
mired before. was somehow an added
charm. The compact light figure
seemed worth a hundred big hulks of
men. The injured arm in its sling
gave her a pang of tenderness. a
everything for him. A tumult OF
these thoughts and a thousand others
beat about her as Francois stood
grave, alert in the doorway Then
NJ had made his precise bow. and she
hal heard his voice saying gently.
Good morning. Mademoisene." and
the door was closed. and they were
alone together. In a fash she felt
that IL could not be endured. that she
must escape. She rose hastily.
I'm sorry l must go; / can not
stay"
But Francois had laughed and
taken her hand and was holding it
with a tender force which thrilled her
lie understood. She knew he under
stod the shame and fear OF a woman
who has given love unasked. she was
safe In his hands: she knew that
With a sigh she let her fingers rest
En- his and sat down again anG waited
Dear MademOiselle Lucy SAID he
deep kind voice. my first fljend IN
Virginia. my comrade. my little
scholar"
Why did Lucy grow cold and quiet
at these words OF gentleress2 Fran
co.'s was sitting beside her. holding
her hand IN both his. gains at her
with the clearest affection I'm his look
Yet she braced herself against she
did not know what. The voice went
on with its winning foreign infiec-
ti0ns. its slip OF English now and
then, and its never-tobe described
power of reaching the heart.
See. Mademoiselle." said Francois
we are two real friends, you and I.
90 have deception between as. We
VIII not pretend. YOU and I. 20 each
Others II not MademOiselle2
Therefore I shall not try 10 hide from
You that 7 heard that day those words
50 wonderful which YOU spoke 90 me
50 unworthy. i have thought OF those
words ever since, MademOiseile as
lay III with this Troublesome arm
ever Eince-an the time. Ny heart