The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-07-07
The Red Mirage
4 Story of the French Legion
in Algiers
(All rights reserved. The Bobbs-M Merrill CO..
BY /. A. R. WYLIE

81 am sorry to have frightened you"
he said gently. Il did not mean that
you should ever see me-but you came
so suddenly, and out in this desoiate
place you We're the last person l ex-
pected. Forgive me-"
"Yes-yes, it is desolate place-it
makes me frightened. But l was told
1t was something l ought to see-and
few minutes ago I wasn't frightened
at all. Now-I see ghosts every
where"
II am one Of them" he said.
She brushed her hand over her fore
head as though indeed trying to dispel
some terrifying specter. Her feeble
effort to regain her previous laughing
courage failed. She was white and
trembling.
"I am No. 1905 of the Foreign Le-
gion,' he said. "Is there anything
else that you need understand"
"Yes-I must. feel as though one
Of US two were mad. The Foreign Le-
gion is just the last resort for all the
riffraff of the world-criminals, gam:
blers, cheats"
II am one of them
She was silent a moment looking at
him with large, thoughtful eyes, out of
which the fear had passed. When she
spoke again her voice was full of
smothered tenderness.
II have thought of you SO much late
ly, Richard. l couldn't understand
why it was. You haunted me. 1t
was as though something in the place
made me think Of you. 1 remembered
all your little movements, the way you
looked 1 seemed to see you in others.
1 grew almost-how shall l say p
homesick for you"
You should have forgotten" he in
terrupted roughly. 81 have gone out
Of your life. Look upon me now as
what 1 am nova mere shadow"
Richard, what have you done"
The tenderness had deepened. He
clenched his hands in movement Of
uncomfortable pain.
Hasn't your husband told you?"
mo. We never mention your name.
10 Iue IL Is SdCTeu
For Gods sake. Sylvia" He
Strengthened up, his black brows mark
ing a straight line across his face. II
was turned out Of the army for be-
traying my country's secrets"
"You-a traitor! Why?"
The monosyllable was like the stab
of a knife in the silence.
For a woman"
She drew back. Her eyes were dark
pools in which he saw no expression.
What woman?"
He bowed gravely.
Madame Arnaud, have still honor
enough left to remember the discre-
ton imposed upon honorable men,"
She turned away from him. He
could see nothing but her profile. the
exquisite, almost hawless profile, cut
against a background of mingling gold
and emerald. Her hands rested crossed
on the handle Of her parasol. She had
grown suddenly very calm and delib-
crate.
81 told you that l had thought of
you. Richard" she said quietly. Il did
not tell you how l thought of you Do
you remember our last meeting, or has
that been eclipsed by other more lovely
memories?"
SILVIA, be silent. l dare not listen
to you. You don't know what you
are saying"
Il know what l am saying. and you
something, it is no more than just that
he should see what he has done. You
have destroyed something-an ideal,
dream, my faith in honesty and good
ness. You were the one man l be-
lieved and trusted. And now you are
like the -nothing-nothing" She
turned away 81 wish to God | had
not met you. Richard"
He did not attempt to detain her.
He stood there like a man struck to
death by a treacherous blow, and she
went on down the path to the gate
where her companion waited for her.
There she paused for a moment.
II want you to go back to that
man." she said-carelessly. He is an
old acquaintance who went wrong, and
it might be rather unpleasant for my
husband If he grew importunate. Tell
him that on no account must he speak
to me again 1t is very regrettable,
but mistakes of that sort bring their
own punishment. You understand,
Miss Smith,
Yes, Madame Arnaud."
Thank YOU / will wait for you
outside the public cemetery. 1t is get
ting dark"
Miss Smith went slowly back along
the narrow gravel path. The man had
not moved He was gazing out on to
the fiery waste now dying beneath the
extinguishing mantle Of the night. and
neither heard nor saw. She touched
him on the arm.
Mr.. Farquhar!'
He turned slowly and stared at her.
Though he recognized her. his face was
blank and hard and terrible.
Miss Smith,
"Yes. Gabrielle Smith. You see.
a fter all, we have met again. Won't
you shake hands?"
His eyes wandered past her down
the path.
mo. You ought not to be speaking
to me. A respectable woman does not
speak to common soldier of the
Legion.
Doesn't she? How interesting!
One is always learning in this wonder
rul civilization of ours. Only as it
happens | am not respectable. told
YOU that once before