Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-29
CHAPTER XNII-CCon,inued)


given 1t as her opinion. Why else
should they have been attacked at
Churchill? Such things had occurred
before. he told Philip. The little
daughter of the factor at Nelson
House had been stolen. and held Tor
ransom. With a hundred questions
he wrung from Philip every detail or
the second fight and Of the struggle
for life in the rapids. He betrayed no
physical excitement, even In those
moments of Philips description when
Jeanne hung between life and death;
hut in his eyes there was the glow
Of red.hot fires. At last there came
70 interrupt them the low, musical
tinkling of bell under the table.
D,Arcambals face lighted up sud-
denly.
"Ah. I had forgotten" he exclaimed,
.pardon me. Philip. Dinner has been
awaiting us this last halfhour; and
besides
He reached out and touched tiny
button, which Philip had not observed
before.
"I am selfish"
He had hardly ceased speaking when
footsteps sounded in the hall. ana
in spite of every resolution no had
made to guard himself against any
BETRAYAL Of the emotions burning III
his breast Philip sprang to his feet.
Jeanne had come in under the glow
of the lamps and stood now dozen
feet from him, vision so cAquiSite'F
lovely that he saw nothing OF th'S"
who entered behind her, nor heard
D'Arcambal's low, happy laugh at ms
side. II seemed to him for moment
as If there had suddenly appearei
before him the face Of tho pIctur"
that had turned against the wall
only more beautiful now, radiant with
the glow of living flesh and blood.
But there was something even moro
startling than this resemblance. In
This moment Jeanne was the fulii!I'
ment of his dream: she had come 20
him from out of another world Sh'
was dressed in an old-fashioned gown
of pure white, "A fabric 80 deIl'a''
that il seemed 10 float about her sl"n'
der form. responsive to every breath
she drew. Her white shoulders re-
vealed themselves above masses OF
nlmy lace that fell upon her BOSOM
her slender arms, Eirlish rather than
womanly in their beauty, were bare.
Her hair was bound UP in shining
flower nesting amid it'll" cluster
of curls that fell upon her neck. After
his first movement, PhIlip recovered
himself by a strong effort II" bowed
low TO conceal the flush in his face.
Jeanne swept him a little curtseN.
and then ran past him. with the caGol.
ness of any modern child, into the
outstretched arms OF her father.
Laughter and JOY rumhled in the
beard OF the master OF Fort o God as
re looked over Jeaune's head at Philip.
"And this is what YOU have saved
for me-" he said.
Then he looked beyond, and for the
nrst time Philip realized there wcr"
others in the room. one was Pierre;
the other pretty, darkfaced girl with
hair that glistened like ravens wing
in the lamp.glow.
Jeanne left her fathers arms ana
gave her hand 10 Philip.
"Msieur Philip, this is my sister,
Mademoiselle Couchee," she cried.
Pierre's sister gave Philip her hand
and behind them D'Arcambal laughed
softly in his beard again, and said:
Tomorrow, in D'ArcamhaI House.
you may call her Otille, Philip. But
tonight We arc in Fore o. God Oh
Jeanne, Jeanne, what witch you
are!"
"An angel" brca'hed Philip, but
70 one heard him.
And this witch added the old man
'you are to take in 10 supper, M'sieur
Philip. Tonight l suppose that | must
call you msieur, but tomorrow, when
have on my leather leGgings and my
skin cap. will call you Phil, or Tom
Dick, or Harry, just as please. THIS
is the first time, sir, that my Jeanne
has ever gone in 10 dinner on an
other arm than mine or Picrrc's. And
so may be a little jealous Proceed
As Jcanne's hand rested in his arm
and they went into the hall, Philip
could not restrain himself from whis.
pering
II am glad--of that
"And the dress. M'sieur Philip" ex
claimed D'Arcambal behind them, in
a voice Of "A happy boy, 1T is an
honor to escort that, to say nothing Of
the silly girl that's in it, That dress,
sir, belonged 10 beautiful lady who
was called Camille and who died over
O century aso.'
Father, please do be good" pro-
tested Jeanne. Remember
"Ah, so | will,' said her father. II
had forgotten that you were 10 tell
Msieur Philip these things"
They entered another room illumi'
mated by a single huge lamp suspended
above q table spread with silver and
fine linen. The room was as great
q surprise as the other two had been.
II contained no chairs. What Philip
mentally designated as benches. with
deep cushion seats OF greenish leather.
were arranged about the table. These
same curioi seats furnished Other