Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-06-17
CHAPTER xVIII-continued.


From where he stood, fremont
could see the Comtesse de la Maine
in her little shadow, the oriental
decorations a background to her
slight Partisan figure, and little out
of the shadow, the bright aigret in
her hair danced, shaking its sparkles
of fire. She looked infinitely sad and
Infinitely appealing. One bare arm
was along the back of her lounge. She
leaned her head upon her hand.
After a few moments the Due de
fremont quietly left the piano and
Miss Redmond, and went and sat
down beside the Comtesse de la
Maine, who, in order to make a place
for him, moved out of the shadow.
Julia, one after another, played
songs she loved, keeping her fingers
resolutely from the notes that wanted
to run into a single song, the music,
the song that linked her to the man
whose life had become a mystery.
She glanced at the Due de fremont
and the Comtesse de la Maine. She
glanced at her aunt, patting Mimi,
who, freshly washed, adorned by pale
blue ribbon, looked dlsdainful and
princely, and with passion and feeling
she began to sing the song that
seemed to reach beyond the tawdry
room of the villa in Algiers, and to go
into the desert, trying in sweet In
tensity to speak and to comfort, and
lln cd IN RI
Sabron would have adored adding
that picture to his collection.
The servant came up to the mar
quise and gave her message. The
lady rose, beckoned fremont to fol-
low her, and went out on the veranda,
followed by Mimi. Julia stopped play
1ng and went over to the Comtesse de
Ia Maine.
Where have my aunt and Monsieur
de fremont gone, Madame?"
ITO see someone who has come to
suggest a camel excursion, l believe"
"He chooses a curious hour"
Everything is curious in the East,
Mademoiselle," returned the com.
rtesse. 81 feel as though my own life
were turned upside down."
1--WE are not far enough in the East
for that" smiled Julia Redmond. She
regarded the comtesse with her frank
.girlish scrutiny. There was in it a
fine truthfulness and utter disregard
of all the barriers that long epochs OF
etiquette put between souls.
Julia Redmond knew nothing OF
French society and of the Difference
due to the arts of the old world. She
knew, perhaps, very little of anything
She was young and unschooled. She
knew, as some women know, how tC
feel, and how to be, and how to love
She was as honest as her ancestors
among whose traditions is the story
that one Of them could never tell {
lie.
Julia Redmond sat beside the Com
Jesse de la Maine, whose elegance shC
admired enormously, and taking ont
of the lady's hands, with a frank lik
ing she asked in her rich young voice
why do you tolerate me, Madame :?
ma chere enfant." exclaimed tn
comtesse. why, you are adorable"
"It is terribly good of you to sa
So" murmured Julia Redmond. 81
shows how generous you are"
But you attribute qualities to m
/ do not deserve, Mademoiselle."
You deserve them and much NOR,
Madame. loved you the first day
saw you; no one could help lovin
you"
Julia Redmond was irresistible. TIL
Comtesse de la Maine had remarke
her capriees, her moods, her sadness
She had seen that the good spirit
were false and as keen women d
she had attributed it to love ana
with the Due de fremont. The girl
frankness was contagious. The Cor
tesse de la Maine murmured:
Il think the same OF you, ma cher
vous etes charIaante."
Julia Redmond shook her head. 81
did not want compliments The ey,
OF the two women met and read ca,
other.
Couldn't you be frank with m
Madame? II is so easy to be frank
It was. indeed. impossible for Jul
Redmond to be anything else. tt
comtesse. who was only tribe old
than the young girl. felt like h
mother just then. She laughed.
"But be frank about whatg'
lyon see" said Julia Redmol
swiftly, Il care absolutely nothing I
the Due de fremont nothing"
''YOu don't love him." returned N