Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-20
CHAPTER i.
THE CITY OF ENCOUNTERS.

The CITY. fOF ENCOUNTERS.
On the old bridge across the sleepy
river that threaded the sleepy French
town, the two. Americans paused 10
look at each other. \
How do you do !" the gill opened.
with a graceful self-possession gay as
her laughing (eyes. You do not re-
member me, Mr.. Jack Rupert, but We
met at Mrs. Gerard's house, last Gear.
You had just won an altogether as
tonishing Taotor-race against an
Insisted on shaking hands in our en-
thusiasm. And you looked quite as
annoyed as the heroes in novelist
Her small, wiry compatriot
shrugged, with q Ngrimace crossing a
face dark as an Italians, and accept
ed the offered hand.
II afn't supposing I'm specially
vain" he returned. with aadrawl as
definitely of New York as every line
Of his crisp attire. But I was near
er ready to be run into a garage and
hosed off. than to meet flock Of
ladies. That was a cr0ss-country
race, and the aeroplane took a course
over the fields just after plonEhins--
followed. II won't deny 1 think the
country is a mistage Inc a waste of
room. But I don't remember forget
ting you, Miss Warren.'4
. Delight Warren smiled at him,
opening her parasol. She was of that
type which seems so fragile to the
more heavily built Europeans; tail,
slender, with the transparent COM
plexion that accompanies. such cop
per-bronze hair ras that massed under
her small hat. 81
Il am astonished to find you so far
from Broadway" she declared
Il amt calm about it, myself"
was the disconnected admission. "But
I had a smash, and Mr.. Gerard fig
u.red out that i Twas duelto rest for a
few laps before going back to the
track. So I'm going to a name on
the map written Montenegro, to get
the contract for building some auto
mobile stages for the government.
Not that our company wants to build
the stages, but we want the advertise
ment." N Z
/ Montenegro" the girl exclaimed;
bright color tinted her face, Why
I am to be married to a gentleman
from there! That is why / am in
Tours. with my uncle and aunt
They regarded each other with the
new sympathy of an interest in COM
mon.
Well, I came across on the boat
with tho men who registered from
that district" unused the racing
driver. "1n fact, 1 guess no bulletins
were issued in America about buses
icing needed there, but MI. Gerard
heard of it through these two friends
of his. They belonged to what he
called. the diplomatic set. II liked
Who were they?" she asked, a lit
tie oddly. lit was at Mrs. Ger
ards 1 met Lieutenant Balsic."
This one was called Balsic, only
he used a. title instead of Lieuten-
ant" was the reply. HI wasn't en-
tered in my, CLASS, but he had a cou-
}sin with him: we got fairly acquaint-
ed. He was an army officer: I guess
he wasn't planning to fly %onA-cross-
country races for amusement. He had
three lessons; he only needs about
six months more practice"
Delight Warren's flush had gone as
swiftly as it had come.
Lieutenant Balsic has been in
Europe for the last three months
she said hurriedly. Count stefan
Balsic. do not know. But I am
keeping you, and o seemed in
haste. Perhaps, iif you are not leav-
ing Tours at once. We shall see each
other again"
If he felt surprise at the abrupt
ness. he made no sign, turning indif.
%ferent black eyes upon a fisherman
WHO leaned on the bridges rail.
Thanks; from what I see of this
town, anyone would get arrested FOL
disturbing the peace who tried to dc
two things in n day, and 1 just got
here this morning. I'll drive on in
%forty-eight hours. If L live. T AIM
supposing ] need to say it would be
a pleasure to meet you first, Miss
Warren"
Drive on? You have brought
your car, them"
He brought the black eyes back te
her face in sincere curiosity.
Were you guessing / looked for
ward to walking to Montenegro"
"Oh! But, there are trains.'' 9
There are,'' be agreed briefy
Sometimes I have to use boats, blu,
so far I've been able to sit up ait
drive a Ear any place a<train can gos
ut is poor driving, they say, where
INN her hand in farewell. IT am on.
ly on my way to the little convent
across the BRIDGE she added. divin.
ing his intended speech. 80 / shall
do very well alone, that far. Good
by"
He replied AYtrifle absently. and die
not at once continue his walk. Unit
she had left the bridge. he remained
~unobtrusively watching the youns
4 girl. -
Delight vas sufficiently American
Ito feel quite at ase alone, even In
IforeiKn city. She walked on, quietl.
dreaming of h two years She has
passed in the gray convent beyond
and OF the new years that were t.
come. To the gladness Of the be
Itrothed about to become. the wife. sh
added an element OF happiness pos
sible only to one who i & generous
The parents she had lost in child
hood had. left her rich, and he
ness almost maternal, she delighte
in the thought Of giving Michael al
he had been obliged TO forego; a
1.-THE agreeable superfuities Of lne
And she meant to give with bot
hands, not meanly, gift by gift
place all she possessed in her hua
bands control, and ask no account.
1t had meant practices defiance o
Eher guardians, this marriage. An,
Delight had waited the three. month
Ithey exacted al a test OF affection
HERS had bsen a whirlwindGg5 court
a ship,s all glamour and young hassio,
Z land romance. She had accepted MI
rIchael Baisic ten days after their frs
Injecting. Two weeks later, militar
duty had sent him back to his owl
country. He had little incom
than his of1icef's pay;he could no
anord disobedience.
Delight fwould have gone with hin
then. but for her family. They ha,
lbegged for. enough delay I prov
laiboth lovers sineertty. Now tn