Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-09-22
(An rights reserved. lie Bobbs-Merrin Coz

daringly self-assured than ever. For
a minute, during which she hesitated.
her bright eyes rested rather earnestly
on Gabrielle Smith, who, bowling for
mally, went out into the courtyard
with a grim amusement written on her
small, sunburnt face. Whereupon
Mrs. Farquhar advanced and kissed
Sylvia on both cheeks.
my dear Sylvia-my dear little Syl-
via-now l am sure l am the last per-
son on earth you expected-an old
woman travelling in a savage country
full of foreignersl It's almost indie
cent. isn't it?"
Sylvia smiled family, like someone
awakened from a stupor.
"Oh, 1 don't know. Won't you sit
down? l certainly didn't expect any
English person in this dreadful place.
If one can live in England" She
broke off suddenly. what made you
leave?"
You see, have been rather lonely.
Since Richard left"
'Ah. yes, of course" Sylvia sat
down with her back to the sunlight,
her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
You must miss him very much"
"Oh, terribly. But that's our fate
to have to get on without people we
have suffered for. You, for instance.
I'm sure sometimes you feel sad-a
little homesick-"
"Often." Sylvia looked up eagerly.
eve are alike. rather. We under
stand each other" Mrs. Farquhar was
silent a moment, considering the white
faced woman opposite her with bright.
affectionate eyes. And so you are
Captain Arnaud should pity you, Syl-
VIA
Yes, of course, If it were not for
Desire" She stopped, as though
seeking for words, and slowly, beneath
the persistent gaze of the blue eyes,
the last trace of color died from her
cheeks. The hand that passed Mrs.
Farquhar's cup across the table shook
81 am sorry-but the life out here
makes one so nervy and Jerky."
Yes, 1 can imagine that" Mrs. Far
quhar agreed seriously. II had hoped
to find Captain Arnaud here. 1 was
so charmed with him, you know, and
wished Richard and he had been more
friendly. Poor Richardv Sylvia's
hand frightened on the carved arm of
her chair. She made a movement as
though on the edge of an impulsive
speech, then drew back, white Tipped
and silent. Mrs. Farquhar bent for
ward and patted her on the knee. II
~ 70.
delicate and sensitive you are, child.
But you must never worry about RICH
ard. He writes me such wonderful
letters, and In each one of them he
talks about you, how good you are,
how much nobler and better you are
than other women. Really-it is quite
touching" She stopped short. Syl-
via Arnaud had risen to her feet. She
stood prfectly upright for moment,
staring in front of her with blank eyes,
and then suddenly she lifted her hands
to her head.
Its the heat-the awful sun
shine"
She collapsed, senseless, at Mrs. Far
quhar's feet.
Mrs. Farquhar got up. She looked
down at the motionless figure but did
not touch it. She rang the little ORR
entail bell lying in the midst of the
English silver.
"Your mistress has tainted" she
said coolly to the panic-stricken serv-
ant who answered the summons. 81
think a little sal volatile is all that
is needed. l leave her. am sure, in
good hands," She smiled graciously
and went out into the sunny court
yard Gabrielle Smith, who stood by
the fountain, trimming the luxuriant
ferns, turned as she heard the light,
quick tap OF Mrs. Farquhar's French
heels. Mrs. Farquhar held out her
hand.
81 have to thank you for your let
ter" she said.
There isn't any need for thanks.
hesitated for twenty-four awful hours.
But l felt had to do something. Once
l had seen your name and address on
that envelope l dared not keep ST
| lence."
Il shall never be able to repay my
debt. 1 hurried here as fast as ex.
press trains and wretched French
packet boats could carry me. want.
ed to reach Sidi-bel-Abbes before you
left. You have given up your situa
tion?"
Eyes"
evil you come to meT
Gabrielle Smith did not answer fol
a moment Her eyes rested steadfast
". significantly. on the faded, pow
dered face.
81 think-better not, Mrs. Farquhar
You know nothing about me-not ever
whether 1 am respectable"
You are the woman who has giver
me the hope that 1 may see my sor
again before 1 die. That is all 1 care
about! 1 am an old woman, Mis-.
Smith. and what lies before me is al
most beyond my powers. 1 need you