The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-05-23
CHAPTER VIII.
aNso-ska"

"venetia"
How that nlght was spent Cecil
could never recall. NAgu. memor.
les remained with him OF wander
ing over the shadowy country. of
seeking by bodily fatigue To kill
tho thoughts rising In him. OF drink
ms at a little water-channel in the
rocks
As he bent over tho water he
saw something glitter. lie caught
Il In his hand and brough, Il up.
II was tho broken halt OF a gold
chain. with a jewel IN each link
lie remembered II as one that
Naaetia Corona had worn.
lie gared long at tho broken.
costly toy. while his heart ached
with cruel panE then he placed
Il IN safety In the Little blu. en-.
amel box. and went onward to tho
earayanserni.
Il was almost noon whom. attract
ed by a eommo,ion In the COURTYARD
OF the caravanaerai. he rose from a
fitfui sleep and looked GU, the case
m.nt.
Amid the littis throng he saw
the ono dazzling face Of which he
dreamed. She had already dis.
mounted from her mare, and vas
passing within.
He knew that II was madness 10
10 into her presence. and feed the
love which she would deem intoi.
cradle insult, He know that. but
he sent down into the court below.
and found her suite.
Tell your mistress that I. Louis
Victor. have som. Jewels which be
long to her. and ask her pcrmls-
sion to restore them to her hands.
he said to one OF her equerries.
In the best chamber % tho cara.
vanseFal Veneiia Corona vas at.
ting The room was daTkened from
the piercing light without. and her
voice In its lingering music came
on bis ear
'You have found my chain. n
think Lost Il in riding yester-
day am greatly indebted to you
for taking care OF It,"
1t Ia I. madame who am the
debtor OF so happy an accident
Your chain r. here, tho broken. I
regret TO see" no continued. a. he
took the little boz from his coat
and handed II TO her.
The I'D came Off at her touch.
It's interior studded with ono name
In turquoise letters" venstia.
She started az the word caught
her eve and broke her reverie.
How did you obtain this7"
The chain. madame II had
fallen In the water"
The chain NO. tho boz
He looked at her IN surprise.
1T vas given me very long ago"
And By whom"
by a young child. madame
Her lips parted slightly. The
box is mine! II gave II, And
YOU"
He stood entranced before her.
breathless and mute.
And your she cried once more.
And you--you are Philips friend?
You arc BERTHE Cecil7"
Petite Refine" he murmured.
All, how could be 20 blnd7"
She grew very pale Ms she sank
back again upon the couch from
which she had risen. He sank
down beside her on a low seat. and
bowed his head on his hands.
She watched him with grave.
musing eyes
Why have you allowed my
brother to think you dead all these
years. You know how Philip loved
you. You must know how hs
would grieve." she said. at last. |
when he did not break the silence
Let Va not talk OF me-" no OK
claimed. passionately. Tell me OF
yourself and OF him
He raised his burning eyes 70 her
face, and she. unable TO resist the
appeal. talked for many minutes.
while he drank IN her words.
Then she determinedly turned
tho conversation back 10 hlmself.
DO you know that Lord Royal |
lieu il dead2 That your younger
brother bears the title. thinking
you perished at Marseilles7 He wat |
here with me yesterday: he has
come TO Algeria for tho autumn.
Whatever your motive may have |
been to remain thus hidden from |
us all. you must claim your own |
rights now"
Hush. for PHYS sake! Have
YOU never heard-have mono ever
told YOU"
"What7"
He turned from her so that she
could not see his face.
That. when became dead to |
the world. died accused OF having |
forged your brothers name"
His last words were suffocated
with the supreme anguish of their
utterance. Az she heard she
stretched her hands out toward