The Carlisle independent., 1915-09-16
CHAPTER xVHI-continued.

From where he stood Fremont could see the Comtesse de la Maine in her little shadow. the oriental decorations "a background to her slight Parisian figure, and little out of the shadow the bright aigret in her hair danced shaking it's sparkles of fire. She looked infinitely sad and infinitely appealing. One bare arm was along the back of her lounge. She leaned her head upon her hand
 After few moments the Due de Fremont quietly left the piano and Miss Redmond, and went and sat down beside the Comtesse de la Maine, who, in order to make place for him, moved out of the chadow.
 Julia, one after another, played songs she loved, keeping her fingers resolutely from the notes that wanted to run into single song, the music, the song that linked her to the man whose life had become a mystery She glanced at the Due de Fremont and the Comtesse de Ia Maine She glanced at her aunt, batting Mimi, who freshly washed, adorned by pale blue ribbon, looked disdainful and princeiy, and with passion and feeling she began to sing the song that seemed to reach beyond the tawdry room of the villa in Algiers, and to go Into the desert, trying in sweet in- tensity to speak and to comfort, and as she sat so singing to one man, Sabron would have adored adding that picture to his collection.
 The servant came up to the mar quise and gave her a message. The lady rose. beckoned Fremont to fol low her. and went out on the yeranda, followed by Mimi. Julia stopped play ing and went over to the Comtesse de Ia Maine
 i Where have my aunt and Monsieur de Fremont gone. Madame?"
 "To see someone who has come to suggest a camel excursion, believe"
 He chooses curious hour"
 Everything is curious in the East, Mademoiselle," returned the com- Jesse. T feel as though my own life were turned upside down."
 We are not far enough in the East for that" smiled Julia Redmond She regarded the comtesse with her frank girlish scrutiny. There was in it a fine truthfulness and utter disregard of all the barriers that long epochs of etiquette put between souls.
 Julia Redmond knew nothing of French society and of the deference due to the arts of the old world. She knew, perhaps, very little of anything. She was young and unschooled She Knew, as some women know, how to feel, and how to be, and how to love. She was as honest as her ancestors, among whose traditions is the story that one of them could never tell a lie.
 Julia Redmond sat beside the Com jesse de Ia Maine, whose elegance she admired enormously, and taking one s.f the lady's hands, with a frank lik- 1ag she asked in her rich young voice:
 Why do you tolerate me, Madame?"
 Ma chere enfant." exclaimed the 'comtesse. Why. you are adorable"
 Tt is terribly good of you to say ao," murmured Julia Redmond. Tt shows how generous you are"
 But you attribute qualities to me do not deserve, Mademoiselle."
 You deserve them and much more. Madame. I loved you the first day I saw you; no one could help loving you"
 Julia Redmond was irresistible. The Comtesse de la Maine had remarked Ter caprices. her moods, her sadness. She had seen that the good spirits fere false and. as keen women do. }he had attributed it to love affair Ffth the Due de Fremont. The girls rankness was contagious The Com. fl esse de la Maine murmured:
 T think the same of you. ma chere. arous etes charmante."
 Italia Redmond shook her head She lid not want compliments. The eyes pf the two women met and read each bther.
 Couldn't you be frank with me. Madame? It is so easy to be frank"
 It was. indeed. impossible for Julia Redmond to be anything else The fomtesse. who was only triHe older than the young girl. felt like her bother just then. She laughed
 Buf be fRank-about what?''
 You see{' said Julia Redmond
 Tiftly, T care absolutely nothing for the Due de fremont, nothing"
 You don't love him!" returned Ma