Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER XIV.
Julia's Romance.

quise dEsclignac asked:
Are you absorbed in your book,
Julia?"
Miss Redmond family smiled as she
laid 1t down. She was absorbed in but
one thing, morning, noon and night,
waking or sleeping: when and where
she should find him; how he was being
treated. Had he been taken captive?
He was not dead. of that she was sure.
What is the book, Julia?"
lie Conte dun Spahi."
Put it down and let me speak to
you of Robert de fremont"
Miss Redmond, being his guest and
indebted to him for her luxurious
transportation, could not in decency
refuse the request.
He knows nothing whatever of our
errand, Julia"
"Ah, then. what does he think?"
Miss Redmond on the arm of her
blue serge coat wore band of white,
in the center of which cleaned the
Red Cross. The marquise, wrapped in
sable rug, held small Pekinese lap
dog cuddled under her arm, and had
only the appearance of a lady of leis-
ure bent on a pleasure excursion. She
did not suggest rescuing party in the
least. Her jaunty hat was enveloped
by delicate veil; her hands were in
cased in long white gloves. Now that
she had encouraged her energetic niece
and taken this decisive step, she re-
Taxed and found what pleasure she
might in the voyagel
when we came on board last night,
my dear, you remember that sat with
Robert in the salon until well,
latish."
After midnight"
Possibly; but am fifty and he is
thirty Moreover. am his godmother.
He is enchanting, Julia, spiritual and
sympathetic. i confess, my dear, that
j find myself rather at a loss as to
what to tell him"
Miss Redmond listened politely. She
was supremacy Indifferent as to what
had been told to her host. This was
Tuesday; they should reach Algiers
on Saturday at the latest. What news
would meet them there? She held in
her book the last dispatch from the
ministry Of war. Surprising the Cap
tain de Sabron had been taken captive
by some marauding tribe and was be-
ing held for a ransom! This was the
Romance Of a Spahi, in which she was
absorbed Taken captive! She could
not let herself think what that might
mean.
Roberts mother, you know, is my
closest friend. His father was one Of
the witnesses Of my marriage. l feel
that have brought up Robert
1t would have been SO perfect" She
sighed.
ma tante!" warned Miss Redmond,
with a note of pain in her voice
"Yes, yes" accepted the marQuise,
a know, my dear, know. But you
cannot escape from the yacht except
in a llfebopt, and if you did it would
be one Of Roberts lifeboats! You
must not be too formal with him
She tapred the nose of her Pebinese
dog. BE still, Mimi, that man is only
a sailor and if he were not here and
at his duty you would be drowned, you
little goosel"
The Pekinese dog was a new add
ticu. Julia tried not to dislike her; fol
julia, only Pitchoune existed She
could not touch Mimi without a sense
Of dislOyalty.
The boat cut the azure water viii
its delicate white body, the deck
glistenod like glass. The sailor a
whom Mimi had barked passed out 0
sight, and Tar np In the bow fremont
ia white dapnels, stood smoking.
Il had to be very oircumspect, M
dear Julia, when ! talked with Robert
You see you are not engaged TO Mon
sieu, de Sabpon /" Tie GIN colored
TINE sepumental y0man in me" he
aunt went on, has. responded to al
your fantasies, but the practical won
al in me eallsme aromantic goose
rAh." breathed Mss Redmond, open
ing her book, ma tante, let me read
Nonsense said the marQuise afec
.,onateiy. "Tho most important par
az the whole a1air is that we are her