Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-06-10
CHAPTER xvlI-contlnued.

She had done this for several days,
but now she was restless. Sabron
was not in Algiers. No news had
been brought of him. His regiment
had been ordered out farther into the
desert that seemed to stretch away
into infinity, and the vast cruel sands
knew, and the stars knew where
Sabron had fallen and what was his
history. and they kept the secret.
The marquise made herself as
much at home as possible in Algiers,
put up with the inefficiency of native
servants, and her duty was done. Her
FIRST romantic elan was over. Sabron
had recalled to her the idyl of love
AFFAIR of a quarter of century be-
fore, but she had been for too long
Marquise d'Esclignac to go back to
an ideal She pinned to have her
niece a duchess, and never spoke the
unfortunate Sabron's name.
They were surrounded W fashion
able life. AS soon as their arrival had
been made known there had been
futter 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 woman's
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
loveliness."
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 it could say
adorable things"
fremont laughed softly and said:
60 on, you amuse me"
"And her hands look as though they
could caress and comfort. l like her
awfully. 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 change come
over his features
At this moment, as they stood so
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 lie
Capitaine de Sabron."
What" exclaimed fremont, what
did you say?"
ASK him to come up here" said
Julia Redmond, "or, no--let us go
down to the garden"
1T is damp" said fremont, let me
get you shawl"
mo no. need nothing"
h. haA I'D
the little stairs leading into the gar
den from the balcony, and she had be
gun to speak to the native before TIE
mont appeared. In this recital he ad
dressed his words to Julia alone.
Il am very poor man, Excellency,
he said in mellihuous tone, "and very
sick"
''Have you any money, Monsieur?"
pray do not suggest IT," said tn,
duke sharply, Let him tell what b.
will: we WIN pay him later"
81 have been very SICK" said tn
man. 81 have left the army. d
not like the French army" said tn
native simply.
you are very frank" said Trenton
brutally why do you come here a
!, any rateg'
Hush" said Julia Redmond in
ploringly, DO not anger him, MOI
sieur, he may have news She asked
"Havs you newsay and there was
note in her voice that made TFenor
glance at her
II have seen the exeellency an
her grsndmother." said the nhsiy