Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-11-01
CHAPTER xx-cOntinued.

hAS AAetAA " AVE- ivy @AAs Il AOOSCA was
sleeping just as soundly and as re-
soundingly as at midnight!
"By gad!'' he muttered, half-aloud.
Everything was as clear as day to him
now. Boiling into his own room, he
closed the door and stood stockstill
for many minutes, trying to picture
the scene in the cottage.
He found a letter in his box when
he went downstairs, after stufing the
tin box deep into his pocket. Before
he slit the envelope he knew that
Sprouse was the writer. The message
was brief:
"After due consideration, 1 feel that
1t would be a mistake for you to aban-
don your present duties at this time.
It might be misunderstood. Stick to
the company until something better
turns up. With this thought in view l
withdraw the two days limit men
toned recently to you, and extend the
time to one week. Yours very truly,
az. II. WILSON"
"Gad, the fellow thinks of every
thing" said Barnes to himself. "He
is positively uncanny."
He read between the lines, and saw
there a distinct warning. 1t had not
occurred to him that his plan to leave
for New York that day with Miss Cam
eron might be attended by disastrous
results.
But the jewels? What of them? He
could not go gallivanting about the
country with a half million dollars
worth Of precious stones in his posses
sion.
He spent the early part Of the fore
noon in wandering nervOusly about
the hotel-upstairs and down. The
jewels were locked in his pack up
stairs. He went up to his room half
a dozen times and almost instantly
walked down again, after satisfying
himself that the pack had not been
rified.
For the next three days and nights
rehearsals were in full swing, with
scarcely a moments let-up. And so
the time crept by, up to the night Of
the performance. Miss Cameron re-
manned in ignorance of the close prox-
Unity of the jewels, and the police of
CrOwndale remained in even denser
ignorance as to the whereabouts of
the man who robbed Mr.. Hasselwein
of all his spare cash and an excellent
gold watch.
No time was lost by the countess in
getting word to her compatriots in
New York. Barnes posted a dozen let
tiers for her; each contained the It'd
ings of her safety and the assurance
that she would soon follow in person.
Those three days and nights were
full Of joy and enchantment for
Barnes. He actually debased himself
by wishing that the Rusheroft COM
pany might find it imperative to go on
rehearsing for weeks in that dim, en-
chanted temple.
He sat for hours in one of the most
uncomfortable seats he had ever
known, devouring with hungry eyes
the shadOwy, interested face so close
to bis Own-and never tired.
On the afternoon of the dress re.
hearsal he led her, after an hour of
almost insupportable repression, to
the rear of the auditorium. Dropping
into the seat beside her he blurted
out, almost in anguish:
II can't stand it any lnger. I can
not be near you without-why, IL
well, It is more than / can struggle
against, that's all. You've either got
to send me away altogether or-or-
let me love you without restraint. ]
tell you I can't go on as 1 am now.
You know love you, don't you? You
Know worship you. Don't be fright
ened. I just had to tell you today.
should have gone mad if had tried
to keep it up any longer" He waited
breathlessly for her to speak. She sat
silent and rigid, looking straight be-
fore her. 'Ts it hopeless?" he went
m at last, huskily. "Must I ask your
forgiveness for my presumption and
and go away from you"
She turned to him and laid her hand
upon his arm.
sam not like other women? Why
should forgive you for loving me?
Doesn't every woman want to be
loved? No, no, my friend! Wait
A moment ago I was so weak and
trembly that l thought Lob, 1 was
afraid for myself. Now I am quite
calm and sensible. See how well
have myself in hand? / do not
tremble, I am strong. We may now
discuss ourselves calmly, sensibIy.
OhI What are you doing?"
II too am strong" he whispered. ~
am sure of my ground now, and am
not afraid"
he had clasped the hand that rest
cd on his sleeve and, as he pressed 1t
% his heart, his other arm stole over
Der shoulders and drew her close to
his triumphant body. For an instant