Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-04-23
CHAPTER VI.


Yvonne Lestranse, In . way, had
been born to purple and fne linen. She
had never known deprivation Of any
description. Neither money. position
nor love had been denied her during
the few years in which her charm and
beauty had flashed across the great
European capitals. penetrating even to
the recesses Of royal courts. Il 10
doubtful II James Brood knew very
much concerning her family when he
proposed marriage to her. but It II GER
tain that he did not care. He first saw
her at the home Of British nobleman.
but did not meet her. Something In
the vivid, brilliant face Of the woman
made q deep and lasting impression
on him. There was an instant when
their eyes met through IN opening In
the throng which separated them. He
was not only conscious Of the fact that
he was staring 1t her. but that she
was looking ct him In . curiously pehe.
trating way. There was q mocking
smile on her lips 1t the time. He law
It fade away. even a. the crowd came
between. He knew that the smile had
not been intended for him, but for
some Of the eager cavaliers who sur.
rounded her. and yet there was some.
thing singularly direct In the look she
gave him.
That single glance In the dukes
house proved to be Q fateful one for
both. They were married inside OF Q
month. The virile. confident American
had conquered where countless SUD
plants Of Q moro or less noble char.
actsr had gone down to defeat.
He asked but one question Of her,
she asked none Of him. The fact that
she was the intimate friend and asso.
ciate Of the woman in whose homo he
met her, was sufficient proof Of her
standing in society. although that
would have counted for little 20 far q
Brood was concerned.
She was the daughter Of Q baron:
she had spent much Of her Me IN
Paris. coming from st. Petersburg
whom . young girl; and she was, an
orphan with IN Independent fortune of
her own. Such common details a
these came to Brood In the natural
way and were not derived from any Of.
fort on his part to secure information
concerning Mademoiselle Lestrange.
Like the burnt child. he asked . oues-
ton which harked back to m unfor.
gotten pain.
Have you ever loved Q man deeply.
Yvonne-so deeply that
there II pain In the thought Of himf"
She replied without hesitation.
There 10 no such man. James. You
may be sure Of that"
Il am confident that can hold your
love against the future. but no man 10
Vital enough to compete with the past.
Love doesn't really die. you know. II
man cannot hold . woman's love
against I'll newcomer, he deserves to
lose 1t. 1t doesn't follow. however. that
he can protect himself against the
man who appears out Of the past and
claims his own"
You speak ~ though the past had
played you an evil trick" she said.
He did not mince words. Years
lgo . man came out Of the past and
'ook from me the woman I loved and
"Your-your wife?" she asked IN Q
voice suddenly lowered.
"Yes." he said quietly.
She was silent for Q long time. Il
wonder at your courage in taking the
'isk again." she said.
Il think ! wonder at It myself" said
10. mo. am not afraid" he went on.
v II convincing himself that there
Vas no risk. Il shall make you love
No to the end. Yvonne. I am not
lfraid. But why do you not ask ne
or Ill the wretched storyr