The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-03-13
GOPYRICEEIT 20

looked at her earnestly, scarcely
understanding that she was saying she
was glad had come, that she had
waited for me, that she had wanted tc
see me, that she had wished to tell me
how deeply our tragic experience al
La Trappe and in Morshronn had i'm.
pressed her.
But come out to my garden" she
said, smiling, and stripping of her lit
tie bun gauntlets. There we will
have tea a PAnglaise, and sunshine
and long, long, satisfying talk"
She led the way along path under
the apricots to a seat against sunny
wall.
First of ALL" she said, impulsively
Il know your life-an of it in minute
particular. Are you astonished?"
NO, madame" replied; "Mornac
showed you my dossier."
THAT is true" she said, with trou
bled look of surprise.
smiled. CAS- for Mornac," began
but she interrupted me.
"Ah, Mornac! Do you suppose be
lieyed him? In your dossier read the
tragedy of gentleman"
do you know" said l, "that l am
now a performer in third-rate travel.
| ing circus?"
Il think that is very sad" she said
sweetly. with no hope?"
"Hope?" With every hope" said
smiling. "My name is not my own
but it must serve me to my end, and
shall wear it threadbare and leave ii
to no one"
Els there no hope?" she asked
quietly.
Suddenly the ghost of all had lost
rose before me with her words-rose
at last after all these years, towering
terrible, free once more to fill the days
| with loathing and my nights with hell
eternal, after all these years
There is every hope" l said, save
the hopes of youth-the hope of a
woman's love, and of that happiness
which comes through love. l am a
man past thirty, five
believe my dossier makes it. 1t has
AIKEN me fifteen years to bury my
youth. Let us talk of Mornac."
"Yes, we will talk of Mornac," she
said, gently.
So with infinite pains / went back
and traced for her the career Of Buck.
hurst, sparing her nothing. She sat
motionless, her face like cold marble
as carefully gathered the threads OF
the plot and gently twitched that one
which galvanized the mask of Mornac
.Mornac!" she stammered, aghast.
showed her why Buckhurst desired
to come to Paradise: showed her
why Mornac had initiated her into the
mysteries of my dossier. taking that
internal precaution. although he had
every reason to believe he had me
practically in prison, with the keys in
his own pocket
| She told me that Buckhurst came
to her house here in Paradise early in
September; that while in Paris, pom
dering on what had said, she had
determined to withdraw herself abso.
lutely from all organized socialistic as.
sociations during the war; that she
believed she could do the greatest
good by living a natural and cheerful
life, by maintaining the position that
birth and fortune had given her, and
by using that portion and fortune for
the benefit of those less fortunate.
This she had told Buckhurst, and
the rascal appeared to agree with her
SO thoroughly that, when Doctor Del
mont and Professor Tavernier ar
rived, they also applauded the choice
She made OF Buckhurst as distributor
of money, food and clothing to the
provincial hospitals. now crowded tc
suffocation with the wreck Of battle.
Then strange thing occurred. Doc