The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-08-14


| certain things derogatory to his char
acter. You refused to hear me. Lis
| ten now! He has reputation for
wildness second to none In Paris. 1t
was to pay his gambling debts, debts
which he had concealed from his
grandfather from very shame, that he
sold the draft Of the Anglo-French
treaty to the triple alliance. Doubt
less he has accused me-
And | believe you did. liar and
thief" cried.
He only laughed
III you persist In your refusal to see
things as they are, Miss Ives" he
said with Intense earnestness, then
! must abandon you to your fate. /
only warn you that the net OF evil
dence has been woven around him.
He cannot escape 1t. His arrest Is
imminent. Only you yourself can save
him. Say the word that win avail, and
Will zee to IL that the. vital evidence
10 missing, that he remains unscathed.
Marry mel"
"Neyerl" ] cried. Il loathe you and
despise you"
Il am unfortunately aware of that"
he answered Nevertheless, you shall
have the completest liberty. Until
win your love shall never modest you.
You will be free TO come and to go;
only ask you to go through the form
OF the ceremony with me-"
You may plead forever" an
swered. "but you viii waste your
breath. do not believe word OF
your concoction of falsehoods, and. IL
did, would not marry you"
Not to save clichy?"
"How--bow--?" stammered
Marry me and. on the day OF the
ceremony--as soon as the union has
been pronounced will present your
grandfather with a full and free re-
lease"
you will induce your father to fore
go his revenge?" | cried. you lack
the power monsieur. Not for a thou
sand worlds would he be baked now,
after these years OF scheming."
HE must" answered Leopold. II
have him In my power. He knows It;
that 10 why he made terms with me-"
"How?"
Because hold your bonds. he an
swered. You know their value now"
They are his; have sold them"
Anne" said by prosecutor. I'VE are
wasting words. Can ! never convince
you? Listenl Give me your solemn
promise to marry me and. on the morn
Ing OF the ceremony will restore Gil
chy TO your grandfather. And the chew
alier shall go free"
"Wait--waitl" | cried desperately,
trying to pierce the tangled net OF
cunning that surrounded me. GIVE
me until tomorrow to make my de-
cision."
Suddenly he seized my hand.
20, Anne, be wise." he cried. Il love
you; | worship you; you are the one
woman | have loved out of all who
have come into my life. You can re-
deem me with your goodness. Marry
me and | swear to heaven that will
adore you. will be your slave. will
consecrate my life to you. | love you
Anne"
And falling at my feet. he poured
forth a more impassioned plea to me.
1t was impossible to mistake the sim
certify of his passion; could not bun
recognize that In this. at least. he was
not base. | turned away and left him
kneeling in the path.
In the hallway met Charles.
feared that he would see my agitated
face. but his own was so distressed
that feared that the greatest of cor
rows must have come to him.
The comtel" gasped: and then
noticed that in one hand he held
can of kerosene.
MY monoplane," he answered Wild
ly. Il am going to burn her, Anne.
She shall never fall into his clutches,
she who bore US aloft that splendid
day"
Il took the can from him. Wait
until tomorrow, Charles" whispered,
Much may happen by then"
| left him standing irresolute and
went up to my room and sat down in
chair did not weep. My brain
was in whirl. and thousand
thoughts and doubts oppressed me.
Magniff's threats, his infamous sugges-
tons az to the honor OF my fiance. the
imminent loss OF Clichy-all this pre-
scented aspects and | strove dimly to
pierce to the heart OF the problem
which confronted me.
II | married Magniff. Clichy would
at least be saved. That seemed the
chief consideration My happiness
that of Charles. even. was nothing
compared TO the preservation OF the
old home that had withstood so many
yicissitudes. Other women, Drawer
than |. had sacrificed themselves in
the past for Chateau Clichy. Then
why not I, even though should kill
myself afterwards?
Then. in the midst of these cogita-
tons there flashed into my mind. in
the most incongruous way. the mem
DRY OF Mr.. Spratt.
Angrlly | sought to free myself from
this recollection. What had this lit.
lie WINNINGS taaeher To do with my