The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-06-24

| river ana ~ watched over by PitCnOuni
After a horrible night and day Pitchoun
leaves him. fremont takes Julia and tn
marquise to Algiers In his yacht but ha
doubts about Julia's Red Cross mission
{ CHAPTER xvlI--contlnued.
She had done this for several dayr
: but now she was restless. Sabrol
was not In Algiers. No news ha,
been brought OF him. His regimen
had been ordered out farther into tn,
desert that seemed to stretch ava,
Into tnfinity, and the vast cruel sand
knew, and the stars knew wher,
Sabron had fallen and what was hi
history. and they kept the secret.
The marQuise made herself al
much At home as possible In Algiers
put up with the inefiiciency OF native
servants, and her duty was done. Hell
first romantic elan was over. Sabror
had recalled to her the idyl of a love
affair Of a quarter OF century be
fore, but she had been for too long
Marquise dEsclignac to go back to
an Ideal. She pinned to have her
niece duchess, and never spoke the
unfortunate Sabron's name.
They were surrounded By fashion
able life. As-soon as their arrival had
been made known there had been a
hutter OF cards and a passing Of
carriages and automobiles, and this
worldly life added to the unhappi-
ness and restlessness of Julia. Among
the guests had been one woman whom
she found sympathetic; the womans
eyes had drawn Julia to her. 1t was
Comtesse de la Maine, a widow,
young as herself and, as Julia said,
vastly better-looking. Turning to
fremont on the balcony, when he told
her she was beautiful. she said:
Madame de la Maine is my ideal of
loneliness"
The young man wrinkled his fair
brow.
DO you think SO. Mademoiselle?
Why?"
She has character as well as per-
feet lines. Her eyes look as though
they could weep and laugh. Her
mouth looks as though 1t could say
adorable things"
fremont laughed softly and said:
Go on, you amuse me-"
And her hands look as though thew
could caress and comfort. | like her
awfully. l wish she were my friend"
fremont said nothing, and she
glanced at him suddenly.
She says such lovely things about
you, Monsieur"
Really! She is too indulgent."
Don't be worldly" said Miss Red
mond gravely. be human. | like YOU
best so. Don't you agree with me?"
Madame de la Maine is a very
charming woman" said the young
man, and the girl saw a change come
over his features.
At this moment, as they stood 40
together fremont pulling his mus
tache and looking out through the
bougainvillea vines. a dark figure
made Its way through the garden to
the villa. came and took its position
under the balcony where the duke and
Miss Redmond leaned. 1t was a ma
tive. man in filthy rags. He turned
his face to fremont and bowed low
to the lady.
"Excellency." he said In broken
French. my name Is Hammet Abou.
was the ordinance Of Monsieur le
Capitaine de Sabron."
What" exclaimed fremont. what
did you sayf"
Ask him to come up here" said
Julia Redmond, "or. no-let us 20
down to the garden"
1T is damp" said fremont. '1et me
get you shawl"
No. no. l need nothing"
She had hurried before him down
the little stairs leading into the gar
den from the balcony, and she had be-
gun to speak to the native before Ire
mont appeared. In this recital he ad-
dressed his words to Julia alone.
Il am very poor man, Excellency. /"
he said In mellifluous tone, and very
sick"
Have you any money. Monsieur"
Pray do not suggest It," said the
duke sharply. Let him tell what he
VIII: We will pay him later"
Il have been very sick" said the
man. Il have left the army. do
not like tho French army" said the
native simply.
You are very frank" said fremont
orutally. Why do you come here at
any rate?"
Hush" said Julia Redmond i'm
ploringly. DO not anger him, Mon
sieur. he may have news" She asked:
Have you newsy" and there was a
note In her voice that made fremont
glance at her.
I have seen the excellency and
her grandmother" said the native.