The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-02-28
Nine. dErsingen's party after

WdlNt
$50 1 did, so l did," he said. "It
escaped my memory; l am working
so hard"
She finished buttoning her
gloves and asked:
won't you come and fetch me
at Nine. d'Ersingen's9"
"What for?"
"They would like it,"
"But | shouldn't. Besides, I
don't feel well enough"
"Then I'll make your apologies
for you"
Eyes, do"
She drew her cloak around her
with a graceful gesture, and stood
for a few moments, without NOV
ing, as though seeking a wcrd Of
farewell. Then she said:
"Edmond's not herel thought
he was working with youf"
"He was feeling tired"
lis he asleepf"
eyes"
II wanted to kiss him good
night"
"No, you would only wake him.
And here's your car; so go, dear.
Amuse yourself"
ooh, amuse myself" she said.
"There's not much amusement
about the opera and an evening
party"
"Still, it's better than keeping
one room"
There was some little constraint.
It 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 !:
"No one here has any idea Of the
danger hanging over me-. I 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 manservant entered.
II am going to bed, Silvestre,"
said M. Fauville. "Gct 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.
NJ. Fauville ate a couple Of bis
cults and then cut a dessert apple.
1t 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 I am hungry during the
night. Oh, I was forgetting !
These two gentlemen are staying.
Don't mention it to anybody. And,
in the morning, don't come until 1
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.
He's fast asleep" he said to
Perenna, who had joined him.
The bedroom was q small one.
The air was admitted by a special
system Of ventilation, for the dor
mer window was Theoretically
closed by a wooden shutter tightly
nailed down.
II took the precaution last
year. Hippolyte Fauville ex-
planned. 81 used to 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-
1t was arranged that Perenna
and Mazeroux should make them
selves comfortable in a couple of
easy chairs which they carried into