Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-15
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

Alexandra" ! whispered. and
drew her to me. This is part OF the
price you must pay for the heritage
you lave achieved You must know
tie truth Vital and Andre Quarrelod
bitterly. thinking YOU dead
# Guessed az much" she whispered.
'v hen awoke. brew of the -hroud
that you had laid upon me, and found
Andres body there understood
They quarreled. repeated.
They fought 4 duel II was AL hon
estly done with those old rapiers i'll
the hall. as Two gentlemen should
have fought
"Of course. You neean't have told
me that. And Vital was killed.
Yes. Andre took poison. The
failure OF the experiment, as h.
thought, the death Of Vital and thu
.oss OF youhe loved you. Alcxardra'
proved more than he could bear.
His answer 10 il all was prus~ic
acid.
She dropped her hands and stood a
moment looking AZ me with eyes that
now once more had begun to resume
that wondorl yiolC color, with the
strGngc ;.olrnn st saiieisS. rad attn
,rom tla rur!. Fer ACC 7 d to- an on
certain hue 81 hoaith ala: In
wrinkles had commenced - disap.
near, the lines oi The throar ct7ek
and brow had begun to assume some.
thing OF their former beauty.
SWIFTLY as She had faded in that
Temporary ebbng OF the vital forces
that had marked some obscure, mex
plicable falling tide in her lslcprocess,
even more swiftly she seemed TO he
refrigerated before my very eyes. The
tide. rising again. was swiftly bring
ng her back, M. on 10 the crest OF
l,eGuty absolute.
Il know. understand she said
in low and level voice tonelcosly as
she turned back toward the inn''
ROOM Life has returned. Beauty
is comm. back Perfection. impioua.
and fatal, will soon be upon me, And
there she flung her hand toward
the hallway "lics one ri III" rash
men who tried 10 win it for me Here
in this room zee The other,
Their work done they know il not
Had they lived only another hour they
might have seen me and been recon-
ponsed for everything. Bul now
She entered the room. ! did not
follow but stood at the door, watch
ing her For 4 moment the idea came
10 me that she might possibly try to
find and take poison, as Andre had
done. ! decided To guard her closet!
and even restrain her by force if need
were TN such limo as | could take her
away and later return 10 burn the
house.
She paid no heed 10 me, hui stood
looking down at the body OF Andre n
il lay there hali-traillns on the floor
"Myrah.' said She, tears glistenins
in her eyes, we must take care o.
his poor clay Help me
Il cannot let YOU tax your still un
certain strength" answered. "Lo
me carry him away"
Despite her protests picked up tho
carried il out into the surgery, v her,
laid il on a leather couch under III,
window in an attitude of composure
Alexandra. who had followed me
crossed his hand a. | had done hers
and bent above him. For long mo
ment she looked earnestly into ,ha
peaceful face. | thought she woul'
have kissed 1t, but she only laid
hand on the cold forehead.
"Goodby." she whispered "Ia,
YOU only lived 10 see me- Had yol
only survived 10 know the triumph o
YOUR impious success that has set m,
fate upon me.
She turned to me.
Nov, Vitall?" she asked
"You need NOT see NitalL' an
swered "You must not WhateNc
need be done for him will do
She nodded understanding.
VERY WE'LL" She said gently u
does not matter. Whether ! see hin
or not before | 90
Before you co. | exclaimed. %
tcnishcd what do you mean"
She smiled at me almost indu