Jackson County journal., 1919-09-19
CHAPTER XIII.
Some Plain Speaking.

/ took three steps toward her and
stood still. For this was Jacquel1ne,
but it was not my Jacqueline. 1t
might have been Jacqueline's grand
mother when she was a girHthis
naughty belle with her high waist and
side curls and her flounced skirt and
aspect Of cold recognition.
She did not stir as ] approached her
but stood still, framed In the doorway,
looking at me as though I were an
unwelcome stranger. My outstretched
arms fell to my sides.
"Jacqueline! cried. 1T Is I, Paul !
You know me, Jacqueline?
Jacqueline inclined her head. "Oh,
yes; I know you, monsieur" she an
swered. "Why have you come hereT
ITO save you, Jacqueline!"
She made me a mocking courtesy.
II am infinitely obliged to you, mon
sieur, for your good WILL she said !;
"but 1 do not need your aid. I am
with friends now, Nm. Paull'
do you want to see me, JacQue-
line?" I asked, watching her through
q Whlrllng fOg.
"No, monsieur" she answered chill
lingly. "No, monsieur!
| do you wish me to go?'
She said nothing, and I walked un-
steadily toward the door. She fol
lowed me slowly. ] went out Of the
room and pulled the door to behind
me. l knew that after 1t had closed
l should never see Jacqueline again.
She opened it and stood confronting
me, and then burst into a flood Of i'm
passioned speech.
"Why have you followed me here
to persecute me?' she cried. care
you under the illusion that am help
less? Do you think the friends wht
rescued me from you have forgotten
that you exist? You took advantag
of my helplessness. I do not want t.
see you. hate you'll"
"You told me that you loved me
, and l believed you, Jacqueline," I an
swered miserably, watching the colo
flame into her lovely face. And
could see she remembered that.
your base schemes" she went on wit
> cutting emphasis. "And you-you 70
, lowed me here. Have you not ha
4 money enough? Do you want more!
I seized her by the wrists. Thus
G held her at arms length, and my fiji
gers frightened until I saw the fes
o grow white beneath them. The inter
y sity of my rage beat hers down an
o made it a puny thing.
q "Jacqueline! Only a few nights az
o you said you loved me that you wou1
, never send me away until I wished
go. What is it that has happened
change you so, JacquelineY'
"A had her in my arms. She stru
:. gled fiercely and let her go.
:, "How dare you, monsieur !" 81
~ ~ painted. 'Go at once, or I shall CO
~ for aid!"
- So went into the passage. But b
for reached the end of the little hi
w Jacqueline came running back to n
an Monsieur she gasped. I'M. Pat
n For the sake of-of what l on
thought you, I do not want you to
oq seen. You are in dreadful dang
IL Come back!'
Id mo, Nine. d'Epernay," I answer,
nt and she WINGED again, as though I h
struck her across the face.
he "For my sake" she pleaded, cat,
Do ing at my arm, and at that mOmen
O heard a door slam underneath a
heavy footsteps begin slowly to asce
he the stairs.
''No, madame I answered, try
vs. to release my arm from her clasp.
n !. "Then for the sake of-our 10
,ot Paul!' she gasped.
'ou 1 suffered her to lead me back i
AN the room. AS she drew me back s
lall closed the door behind US I heard
footsteps pause and turn along
,ar. corridor.
l knew that heavy gait as well
,ild though l already saw Leroux's h
to face before my eyes.
18th The room was completely dark.
on heard LerOuX tramp in and his VI
mingling with the click-click of
ece ball in the rouette Wheel
cad "Who is here?" he demanded.
and Il am" answered Jacqueline.
ON "Maudit!" he burst out explosiv
sew where is d'Epernay? l am tired
waiting for him!'
won II have told you many times t
the do not know" answered Jacquel
my "How long will you keep up
pretense, madame?" cried Leroux