Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-14

monde, monsieur, that | was Miss
Challoner's 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. Sweetwater
thought it from the brother, who may
have misinterpreted some look or
gesture on Brotherson's part Broth
erson himself would not be apt to
show surprise in any such noisy way.
IL saw many things-Oh, many
things" the girl proceeded with an
admirable mixture OF suggestion and
reserve. THAT day and other days
too. She did not talk-Oh, no. she
did not talk, but l saw-Oh, yes. |
saw that she-that you'll have to
say it, monsieur, that you were tres
bons amis after that week in Lenox"
"Well?" His utterance of this word
was vigorous, but not tender. What
are you coming to? What can you
have to show me in this connection
that will believe in for moment?'
II have these-is monsieur certaine
that no one can hear? wouldn't have
anybody hear what have to tell you,
for the world-for all the world"
mo one can overhear"
For the first time that day Sweet
water breathed a full, deep breath
This assurance had sounded heartfelt
blessings on her cunning young
head. She thinks of everything
you are unhappy. You have thought
Miss Challoner cold;-that she had no
response for your yer ardent passion.
But" these words were uttered soto
voce and with telling pauses-"but
much better than that.
She was yer proud. She had right;
she was no poor girl like me-but she
spend hours-hours In writing letters
she nevaire send. l saw one, just
once, for a leetle minute; while you
could breathe SO short as that; and
1t began with Cheri, or your English
for that, and it ended with words
oh, yer much like these: You may
nevaire see these lines, which was
yer interesting, veree so, and made
OllC WANT W OCO Whdt BIC diQ Win
letters she wrote and nevaire mail; SO
watch and look, and one day l see
them She had leetle ivory box
Oh, yer nice, yer pretty. I thought 1t
was Jewels she kept locked up so
tight. But, non, non, non. 1t was let
ters-these letters. l heard them rat
tie, rattle, not once but many times.
You believe me, monsieur"
Il believe you to have taken every
possible to spy upon your
mistress. believe that, yes"
From interest. monsieur. from
great interest"
"Self-interest"
"As monsieur pleases. But it was
strange, yer strange for a grande
dame like that to write letters
sheets on sheets-and then not send
them, nevaire. l dreamed of those let
ters-I could not help it, no; and
when she died SO quick-with no word
for any one, no word at all. thought
of those writings SO secret so of the
heart, and when no one noticed-or
thought about this box, or-or the key
she kept shut tight, OH always tight
in her leetle gold purse, Monsieur,
do you want to see those letters?"
asked the girl, with gulp. Evident
ly his appearance frightened her-or
had her acting reached this point of
extreme finish? Il had nevaire the
chance to put them back And-and
they belong to monsieur They are
his-all his-and SO beautiful! All,
just like poetry
Il don't consider them mine.
haven't a particle Of confidence in you
or in your story You are a thief
self-convicted; or you're an agent of
the police whose motives / neither
understand nor care to investigate.
Take up your bag and go. 1 haven't
cents worth of interest in it's con-
tents"
She started to her feet Sweetwater
heard her chair CRATE on the painted
floor, as she pushed 1t back in rising.
The brother rose too. but more calm
ly Brotherson did MT stir. Sweet
water felt his hopes rapidly dying
downtown into ashes. when sud
denly her voice broke forth in pants
And Marie said-everybod said
that you loved our great lady; that
you, of the people. common, com
mon, working with the hands, living
with men and women working with
the hands, that you had soul, senti-
ment-what you will Of the good and
the great, and that you would give
your eyes for her words, ST fines, 81
spirltuelles, so like des vers de poete.
False! false! all false! She was an
angel You are-read that" she We
hemently broke in, opening her bag
and whisking paper down before
him Read and understand my proud
and lovely lady She did right to die.
You are hard-hard You would have
killed her If she had not
Silence, woman! | will read moth
ingi" came kissing from the strong
mans teeth, set in almost ungovern-
able anger. Take back this letter,
as you call it, and leave my room"