Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-02-28

with a graceful gesture, and stood
for a few moments, without NOV
ing, as though seeking a word of
farewell. Then she said:
"Edmond's not here! l thought
he was working with youi"
He was feeling tired"
lis he asleep7"
eyes" +
II wanted to kiss him good
night"
"No, you would only wake him.
And here's your car; so go, dear.
Amnse yourself"
"Oh, amuse myself" she said.
"There's not much amusement
about the opera and an evening
party" .
"Still, it's better than keeping
one s room"
There was some little constraint.
1t was obviously one Of those i'll
assorted households in which the
husband, suffering in health and
not caring for the pleasures of So
ciety, stays at home, while the wife
seeks the enjoyments to which her
age and habits entitle her.
As he said nothing more, she
bent over and kissed him on the
forehead. Then, once more bowling
to the two visitors, she went out.
A moment later they heard the
sound of the motor driving away.
Hippolyte Fauville at once rose
and rang the bell. Then he said:
mo one here has any idea of the
danger hanging over me. l have
confided in nobody, not even in
Silvestre, my own man, though he
has been in my service for years
and is honesty itself"
The m~anservant entered.
81 am going to bed, Silvestre,"
said M. F'auville. "Get everything
ready"
Silvestre opened the upper part
Of the great sofa, which made a
comfortable bed, and laid the
sheets and blankets. Next, at his
masters orders, he brought a jug
of water, a glass, a plate if biscuits,
and a dish of fruit.
M. Fauville ate a couple of bis
cults and then cut a dessert apple.
It was not ripe. He took two
others, felt them, and, not thinking
them good, put them back as well.
Then he peeled a pear and ate it.
"You can leave the fruit DISH"
he said to his man. II shall be glad
of it, if l am hungry during the
night. Oh, / was forgetting!
These two gentlemen are staying.
Don't mention it to anybody. And,
in the morning, don't come until |
ring"
The man placed the fruit dish on
the table before retiring. Perenna,
who was noticing everything,
and who was afterward to remem-
Der every smallest detail Of that
evening, which his memory record
ed with a sort Of mechanical faith
fulness, counted three pears and
four apples in the dish.
Meanwhile, Fauville went up the
winding staircase, and, going
along the gallery, reached the
room where his son lay in bed.
Hes fast asleep" he said to
Perenna, who had joined him.
The bedroom was a small one.
The air was admitted by a special
system of ventilation, for the DOR
mer window was Theoretically
closed by q wooden shutter tightly
nailed down.
II took the precaution last
year" Hippelyte Fauville ex-
planned. II usedrto make my cleo
trical experiments in this room and
was afraid of being spied upon,
SO / closed the aperture opening on
the roof"
And he added in a low voice:
"They have been providing
around me for a long time"
The two men went downstairs
again.
Fauville looked at his watch.
"A quarter past 10: bedtime. I
am exceedingly tired, and you will
excuse me-"
It was, arranged that Perenna
and Mazeroux should make them
selves comfortable in a couple Of
easy chairs which they carried into
the passage between the study and
the entrance hall. But, before bid
ding them good night, Hippolyte
Fauville, who, although greatly
excited, had appeared until then to
retain his self control, was seized
with q sudden attack Of weakness.
He uttered q faint cry. Don Luis
turned around and saw the sweat
pouring like cleaning water down
his face and neck, while he shook
with fever and anguish.