Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-21
CHAPTER XII

utE canoe ran dillohS lle iteuo'
L with its bow to the shore. Philips
astonishment still held him motion.
less.
"A little while ago you asked me If |
would tell you anything but-but--the
truth" he stammered, trying to find
words to express himself 'and
this"
"Is the truth" interrupted Jeanne,
q little coolly. why should tell you
an untruth. M'sieur?"
Philip had asked himself that same
question shortly after their first meet
ing on the cliff And now in the girls
question there was sounded a warning
for him to be more discreet
IT did not mean that" he cried.
quickly. please forgive me. Only-it
is so wonderful so almost impossible
to believe. Do you know what l
thought Of for three-quarters of the
night after I left you and Pierre on
the rock? 1t was of years-centuries
ago. / put you and Pierre back there.
II seemed as though you had come to
me from out OF another world, that
YOU had strayed from the chivalry and
beauty of some royal court, that
queens painter might have known and
made a picture of you, as I saw you
there, but that TO me you were only
the vision of a dream, and now you
say that you have always lived here! !"
He saw Jeanne's eyes glowing. She
had lifted herself from among the
bearskins and was leaning toward him.
Her. face was quivering with emotion;
, her whole being seemed concentrated
4, on his words.
s "M'sieur-Phlip-did we seem like
that?" she asked tremulously.
"Yes, or would not have not writ.
ten the letter" replied Philip. He
face was close to Jeanne's. Il had
Just passed over the place where men
and women OF century or two ago
were buried, and when l saw you and
Pierre I thought OF them, Of Mademoi.
selle D'Arcon, who left a prince TO
follow her lover to grave back there
at Churchill and l wondered If Gro
SELLER"
"Grosellier!" cried the girl.
She was breathing quickly, excitedly.
Suddenly she drew back with a little,
nervous laugh.
"I am glad you thought Of US like
that" she added. 1T was Grosellier,
We grand chevalier who first lived at
Fort O. Cod"
Philip could no longer restrain him.
self. He forgot that the canoe was
lying motionless among the reeds and
that they We're 10 go ashore. In
voice that trembled with his eagerness
TO be understood TO win her conf
dence, he told her fully OF what had
happened that night on the cliff He
repeated Pierre's instructions TO him,
described his terrible fear for her, and
in It all withheld but one thing-the
name of Lord Fitzhugh Lee. Jeanne
listened 10 him without a word. She
sat as erect as one of the slender
reeds among which the canoe was
hidden. Her dark eyes never left his
face. They seemed to have grown
darker when he finished.
MAY the great God reward YOU for
what you have done" she said, in
low voice, quivering with a suppressed
passion. You are brave Mseur
Philip-as brave as have dreamed OF
men being"
Philips heart throbbed with delight,
and yet he said quickly:
"It isn't that. I have done noth-
ing--nothing more than Pierre would
have done for me- But don't you
understand? If there is TO he re-
ward for the little have given-T
could ask for nothing greater than
your confidence and Pierre's, There
are reasons, and perhaps if told you
those YOU would understand"
1T do understand. without further
explanation" ansGered Jeanne. in the
same low. strained voice. You fought
for Pierre on the cliff, and YOU have
saved-me. We owe YOU everything
even our lives. I understand, Msieur
Philip" she said more softly. leaning
still nearer to him; but I can tell you
nothing"
"You prefer 10 leave that to Pierre
he said. a little hurt. Il beg your
pardon"
"No, no, I don't mean that" she
cried. quickly. You misunderstood
me. l mean that you know as much
Of this whole affair as l do, that you
know what l know, and perhaps
more"
The emotion which she had sup
pressed burst forth now in a choking
sob. She recovered herself in an in
stant. her eyes still upon Philip,
"It was only whim ot mine that
took us to Churchill" she went on.
before he could find words TO say. 1T
is Pierre's secret why we lived in our
own camp and went down into
Churchill but once-when the ship
came in. do not know the reason for
the attack. ! can only guess"
"And your guess"
Jeanne drew back. For a moment /
she did not speak. Then she said |
without a note of harshness in her |
voice. but with the finality of a queen:
Father may tell YOU that when we
reach Fort o. Godl"