The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-07-30
CHAPTER XIV.
JuIIa's Romance.


quise d'Esclignac asked:
Are you absorbed in your book,
Julia?"
Miss Redmond family smiled as she
laid it down. She was absorbed in but
one thing, morning, noon and night,
waking OF 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
dog cuddled under her arm, and had
only the appearance OF 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 we're 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 voyage.
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. / confess. my dear. that
l find myself rather at loss as to
what to tell him."
Miss Redmond listened politely. She
was supremely 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 ransomi 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 o.
the witnesses OF my marriage. fee
that have brought up Robert
it 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
81 know, my dear, l know. But YOU
cannot escape from the yacht excep
in a lifeboat, and If you did it woulC
be one of Roberts lifeboats. YoJ
must no. be too formal with him.
She tapped the nose of her Pekiness
dog. BE still, Mimi, that man is only
a sailor! and If he were not here anC
at his duty you would be drowned, yo'
little goosei"
The Pekinese dog was a new add
ton. Julia tried not to dislike her; TO
Julia, only Pitchoune existed. Ssh
could not touch Mimi without sens
of disloyalty.
The boat cut the azure water will
its delicate white body, the deck
glistened like glass. The sailor a
whom Mimi had barked passed out o
sight, and far up in the bow fremont
in white fiannels, stood smoking.
II had to be very eircumspect, m,
dear Julia, when / talked with Robert
You see you are not engaged to Nor
sieur de Sabron." The girl colore6
"The sentimental woman in me" he
aunt went on. has responded TO al
your fantasies. but the practical won
an In me calls me . romantic goose.
All" breathed Miss Redmond, oper
ing her book, ma tante, let NE read,
Nonsense" said the msrquise afe'
ionately. The most important par
II the whole AFFAIR Is that We are her