Mexico Missouri message., 1915-04-22


ed almost hostilely on the gorgeous
marquise In her red gown. He felt
that she was glad to have him go. He
wanted to say: Il shall come back.
however; shall come back and when
l return" but he knew that
such boast. or even such a hope was
fruitless.
His colonel had told him only the
day before that Miss Redmond was
one of the richest American heiresses.
and there was a question of duke or
a prince and heaven only knew what
in the way of titles. AS the marquise
moved away her progress was some
thing like the rolling of an elegant
velvet chair, and while his feelings
were still disturbed Miss Redmond
crossed the room to him. Before Sab
ron quite knew how they had been
able to escape tie others or leave the
room, he was standing with her in the
winter garden where the sunlight
came in through trellises and the
perfume of the warmed plants was
heavy and sweet. Before them flowed
the Rhone, golden in the winters light.
The blue river swept its waves around
old Tarascon and the battlements Of
King Rene's towers.
You are going to Algiers tomorrow,
Monsieur de Sabron?" Miss Redmond
smiled, and how was Sabron to real.
lie that she could not very we'll have
went there and then, had she wished
to do SO?
YES" he said. "I adore my regi-
ment. ! love my work. / have al
ways wanted to see colonial service"
Have you? It is delightful to find
ones ambitions and desires satisfied"
said Miss Redmond II have always
longed to see the desert. 1t must be
beautiful. OF course you are going to
take Pitchoune?"
"Ah!" exclaimed Sabron, that is
just what am not going to do"
What" she cried You are never
going to leave that darling dog be-
hind your"
Il must, unfortunately. My superior
officers do not allow me to take horses
or dogs, or even my servant"
"Heavens!" she exclaimed. What
brutes they are! Why, Pitchoune will
die of a broken heart" Then she
said: You are leaving him with your
man servant"
Sabron shook his head.
Brunei would not be able to keep
him"
"Ah!" she breathed. HE is looking
for home? Is he? If so, would you
. might l take care of Pit
choune?"
The Frenchman impulsively put out
his hand, and she laid her own in it.
You are too good" he murmured.
THANK you. Pitchoune will thank
you"
He kissed her hand. That was all.
From within the salon came the
noise of voices, and the bow of the
violoncellist was beginning a new con-
certo. They stood looking at each
other. No condition could have pre-
vented 1t although the Marqulse
d'Esclignac was rolling toward them
across the polished floor of the music
room. AS though Sabron realized that
he might never see this lovely young
woman again, probably never would !
see her, and wanted before he left to |
have something made clear, he asked |
quickly:
Gould you, Mademoiselle, in a word |
or two tell me the meaning of the Eng
iish song you sang?"
She flushed and laughed slightly.
We'll, it is not very easy to put it .
In prose-" she hesitated. Things !
sound so differently in music and /
poetry; but it MEANS" she said in
French, bravely, why, it is a sort of
prayer that someone you love very
much should be kept safe night and !
day. That's about all There is lit
tie sadness in it, as though" and her
cheeks glowed, "as if there was a sort
of separation. 1t means :"
"Ah!" breathed the officer deeply, !
81 understand. Thank you"
And just then Madame d'Esclignac
rolled up between them and with an
satisfaction presented to
her niece the gentleman she had Sc
cured. I
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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