The Washington herald., 1914-06-14
CHAPTER XXXIII.
At tks Wiskin0 Wen.

I oW, rambling houses Of Spanish srchitecture
dotted the grest sres which the curiously fan
tsGtic, wholly artistic fence enclosed. The
grounds were laid out in orderly fashion, bloom
Ing like the Garden Of Ddan With riotous pro-
fusion of flowers that rested their heavy per-
fumes laziiy upon the ether, blending and har-
moni.ing yet never cloying and never oppressive.
Monstrous caci, tiny hedgerows, minute sword
palms. bayonet trees, everything seemed to hsse
sought this soil. Never q suggestion Of the lack
Of originality which the Landscape gardner gives
an estate, but showing decided character that
would have told the most undiscerning something
of the owners character.
This new Loubeque! Always had she ssso-
ciated him with the manner Of her knowing him.
been cruel always was he crafty, cunning cour-
ageous a one-ideal man. But now he seemed all
poet, painter. She could hear the softened tones
of his voice as, with some Of his companions, he
ing to them the history, ths beauty Of the how-
ers, the rare species he had imported for the
place. Always would he show . tender regard
for the beauty of Nature which struck Lucille
than she did the one of the diary, feared him
because she was learning that the WARM climate
was sapping her Of her purpose, forcing lethargy
upon her more powerful than bands Of iron.
It was after one Of these rambles that she
noticed signs Of some impending change about
the menage. 1t was while she watched the spy
wandering about the gardens of q morning, won
dering at the tenderness with which he would
amining their buds and blossoms. that he sud-
denly walked toward her, entering the house to
shortly enter her room.
Il am leaving today" he began abruptly, all
ner. "Again ask you to tell me where you put
the PsPsrs'" PAPER ,,.v ,.v.,.. ,.., ,o,,d- a..
stopped abruptly, realizing that her delight had
revealed quite as much as his demand.
Loubeque shook his head, studying her face
keenly, evidently recognizing the steel Of an un-
breakable nature. He held out his hand and
elasped her own, his eyes steadily fastened upon
her face.
81 am sorry. Lucille, that you cannot see the
folly of this. It is your last chance to tell me.
1t is your last chance to count me friend. I
am waiting"
held, both filled with an unaltered purpose. Then
Loubeque, without word, left the room.
Nor did she see him again. That he had
gone she knew from the 1axness> about the
for hope. She must escape She must shs must
escape before the iron grip Of dreamy lsnguor
about the place became unbreakable.
She had to fight against losing thought Of
emotions seemed so far away from the spiritual
ones which reached out and grasped at her with
greedy fingers. She could close her eyes and.
lulled by the Intoxicating perfumes, wander OF
into day dreams OF fancy rarer even than those
which had come to her maiden soul in the hours
when her sweetheart was BY hsr side and per-
feet happiness dwelt in her heart and shadows
dared not intrude.
But always when she wandered thus, always
when her feet moved with her spirit she would
encounter one of Loubeques aides, alwsys
naAsked, always casually surprised at coming
upon her, always urbsne and polite yet insistSnt
upon turning her In an opposite direction. The
surveillance was OF such . nature as never to Be
obtrusivS and never to be out of her mind. It
seemed 20 ineongTuous In this place, Just q the
appearance OF horde Of wild beasts might hays
appeared incongruous.
It got upon her nerves to such an extent
that she finally took to the house and remained
there She felt the prison atmosphere here and
there was no such startling contrast between the
dream and the reality to bring her from out the
clouds of her dream spirit. Every room was
srstsd and. though she knew they were not here
eee iaa1Ross thev served II a4ninblS