The Carlisle independent., 1915-08-26
CHAPTER xV.
Julias Romance,

From her steamer chair the Mar quise d'Esclignac asked:
 Are you absorbed in your book. Julia?"
 Miss Redmond faintly 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?"
 NLe 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 a band of white. in the center of which gleamed the Red Cross. The marquise, wrapped in sable rug, held small Pekinese lap dog euddled under her arn, and had only the appearance of a lady of leis- ure bent on pleasure excursion. She did not suggest a 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- faxed and found what pleasure she might in the voyage.
 When we came on board last night, my dear. you remember that I sat with Robert in the salon until well, latish."
 After midnight?"
 Possibly; but I am fifty and he is thirty. Moreover, am his godmother. He is enchanting, Julia, spiritual and sympathetic. I confess. my dear, that I find myself rather at a 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. Supposing 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 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 o1 the witnesses of my marriage. I fee that have brought up Robert it would have been so perfect" She sighed.
 Ma tantei" warned Miss Redmond with note of pain in her voice.
 Yes, yes." accepted the marquise ''I know, my dear, I know. But yol cannot escape from the yacht excep in a lifeboat, and if you did it would be one of Roberts lifeboats YoI must not be too formal with him She tapped the nose of her Pekines' dog "Be still, Mimi, that man is only a sailorl and if he were not here anC at his duty you would be drowned, yol little goose!"
 The Pekinese dog was a new addi tion. Julia tried not to dislike her; fol Julia, only Pitchoune existed Sh' could not touch Mimi without sense of disloyalty.
 The boat cut the azure water witt it's delicate white body, the deck glistened like glass. The sailor a whom Mimi had parked passed out 0 sight, and far up in, the bow Fremont in white fannels, stood smoking.
 T had to be very circumspect, n, dear Julia, when l talked with Robert You see you are not engaged to Mon sieur de Sabron" The girl colored "The sentimental woman in me" he aunt went on, has responded to al your fantasies, but the practical wom an in me calls me romantic goose.
 ~AAh," breathed Miss Redmond. open ing her book, ma tante. let me read.
 Nonsense, said the marquise affec tionately. "The most important par of the whole affair is that we are her,