Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-03-21

noise DelOW maze MIN stop.
The marquise gave little cry as
they heard step in the hall. Max
drew to one side of the room.
You see. he's here" he said with a
shrug.
The ge of the Marquise d'Ande-
line had been rapidly OoZing away UNI
der MaX's disQuieting questions and
comment. and the sudden appearance
of Brachard terrified her. She stood
in the middle of the big room. gazing
with wide eyes at her diSheveied son
in-law as he entered. The marquis,
| unterrified, but embarrassed. knew not
what to say. Max discreetly with
| drew to the window. leaving his moth
| err to account to Brachard for her pres
ence in her own way.
! Brachard's appearance was such as
to inspire pity rather than fear. His
shoulders were bent. and he seemed in
actual physical pain. His face was
white and drawn. The lines over his
lips were like deep corrugations. His
| lips twitched. and he moved jerkily.
awkWaTdly. as if he had only partial
control of his muscles. There was IL
disturbing pause after his dramatic but
quiet entrance, broken finally by the
marquise, who felt that she must say
! something.
II suppose. Jacques. that-that
YOU
She could not bring herself to speak
! of Anne AIaries flight and stopped.
The marquis began:
Yes. my dear Brachard. We
/ thought-you-oh"
| Brachard was locking at him ear
! nestly. and HOnOre'S sentence trailed
! off into nothing. He turned helplessly
! to his wife and then to Max. who had
completely withdrawn from the situa-
! ton.
Il hope you won't take it amiss,
Brachard said quietly. but with
/ strained, badly controlled voice. "Amiss
that | came up. hesitated.
He stopped. evidently expecting them
to 90. Max. with reader appreciation
of the situation, turned ana beckoned
his mother and father toward the door
They were obivious. Rrachard spoke
again.
1T would be better when Anne-MArie
comes back-if-Id rather be alone
with her
Max turned away from the window
now and beckOned furiously to his
mother and the marquis. Both moved
slowly toward the door. -.....
Il hope you will excuse me- Bra
| chard finished politely.
At last the marQuise found her voice
again.
why, certainly. jacques she said
hurriedly. hutteringly. You see, as
we-as we heard you were both away
she went on in lame explanation, we
thought it might be our duty. :
ITO a certain eXtent-to a certain eX-
tent" the marquis supplemented.
"Now. of course. that you are home
we will 60" the marquis concluded.
Max breathed fervent THANK
heavenr' and tried to push his mother
toward the door. The marQuise, how
ever. went back to Brachard and held
out her hand for a parting, final fare
we'll
"My dear jacques she said effu-
sively. good night! Good night.
| She turned from Brachard and start
ed toward the door, when the second
apparition appeared. 1t was Anne
Marie, who had come up so quietly
that none had heard her. She looked
like one distraught. Her hair was
tumbled over her shoulders. Her face
was white as marble Her beautiful
evening gown, the same that she had
worn that evening at her mothers re-
ceDtion. was crump!ed and torn. and a
blood stained handkerchief was twist
ed around her right hand, which she
evidently had injured She said not a
word. but walked toward the door OF
bor aDartmentS. her mind evidently
failing TO take in the significance OF
the presence of her husband, her par
ents and her brother. When she saw
Jacoues for the first time she stopped
in Amusement.
The marquise hurriedly made her
farewell speech.
.Ah. here's Anne-Marie"' she ex-
claimed. walking over to her. Here
she is. You're reunited again. Now
we can go, feeling. perfectly safe about
if: but. my child, it is very late, and it
> was very imprudent. But I'm glad it
was no worse
Max stepped over and took his moth
err urgently by the arm. Its dead
and buried" he whispered fercely in
,, her ear. I'VE knew nothing about it.
II never occurred. Come on"'
Good night. my dear Jacques.
Good night. Anne-Marie"' the marquise
cried, with an assumption of gayety
as Max urged her toward the door
Good night. my children. both Of
!, YOU" Honore exclaimed benevolently
as Max pushed him out Also
Max followed his parents out and
closed the door after them. In few
minutes he had them bundled into his
I friends automobile and was whfrlins
q IL ia