Evening star., 1921-06-20
THE AVENCER
BY Z. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
A Tale of Political Intrigue and Private
Revenge
By 4 Co)
Copyright, by Little. Brown 4 Co.

sea. The full summer heat was
scarcely yet in the air. but already a
faint blue haze was rising from the
lowlands. Up on the plateau, where
they were sitting, slight breeze
stirred among the trees: NJ. Jules had
indeed some ground for his pride in
, TINS tiny sylvan paradise.
Il think. he said. that for one day
! we VIII forget all this tangle of
secrets and unaccountable doings
what do you say. Louise?" he whis-
percd. taking her Inresisting hand in
ms. MAY l tell NJ. Jules to serve
: breakfast for two in the arbor there -
She laughed softly into his face.
There was the look in her eyes which
ne loved to see. half wistful, half
content. almost happy.
put you are never satisfied" she
whole precious day out of my valu-
They belong TO me, all of them
h" daclar. d. bending over her till his lips
touched her cheek. Some day l am
very sure that / shall take Them ali
/. into my charge"
She disengaGcd herself from his
, embrace with a sudden start. Wray-
son tanned his head. within yard
or two of them Nine de Melbain had
paused in the center of the little plot
of grass. She was looking at them
from underneath her lace parasol,
with family uplifted eyebrows. and
the dawn of a smile upon her beauti-
full lips. Louise sprang to her feet.
! and Wrayson followed her example.
Mne: de Melbaln lowered her parasol
as though to shut out the sight of
/ the two.
May 1 come on" she asked. IL
. want to speak to Louise. although !
am afraid ! am shockinsly de trop"
Wrayson had an idea. and acted
upon it promptly.
Mime. de Melbain." he said. Il be-
lieve tina, you have some influence
! with Louise. l am sure that you are
one of those who sympathize with
the unfortunate. Can't bespeak
your good Offices"
She lowered her parasoI to the
! ground. and leaned a little forward
upon it. Her eyes were fixed steadily
upon Wrayson.
Go on" she said. briefly
Il love Louise" Wrayson said. land
believe SHE cares for me- Never
thalcss. she refuses to marry me. and
will give no in;clligible reason. My
I first meeting with her was of an
t extraordinary nature. / assisted heY
! to leave house in which a murder
! had been committed. since which time
; ! think we have both run a risk OF
! trouble with the authorities. Louise
! lives always in the shadow of some
/ mystery. and when l. who surely have
: the right to know her secrets beg
| for her confidence. she refuses it,"
| And what is i: that you wish mo tc
do?" Nine. de Melbain asked, softly.
: To use your influence with Louise
+ WraySon pleaded. Let her give ms
: her confidence. and let her accept
/, from me the shelter of my name"
! Nine. de Melbain was silent for sew.
! thinking. Louise's face was express.
! ionlesS. She had made one attempt
, to check Wrayson. but recognizing
i its futility. she at once abandoned it
! From below in the valley came the
| faint whir of the reaping machines
! bees. But between the two womer
and the man there was silence
silence which lasted SO long THAT NJ
Jules. who was watching from a win.
i dow. called softly upon all the saint:
of his acquaintance 10 explain TO hin
of what nature was this mystery
which seemed TO be developing, as il
were. under his own surveillance.
| At last Nine. de Melbain appeared
+! to come to decision. She movet
few feet of him. Then she raised
her, eyes to his and looked him Ions
and earnestly in the face.
You look" she said. half under
her breath. like man who nigh
be trusted. 1 will trust you. viii
7
will tell you all that you want tt
know. But when have told you. yo,
will have in your keeping the honor
of an unfortunate woman whose nam,
| alone is great"
, Mrayson locked her for a moment
| in the eyes. Then he bowed low.
Madame" he said. that trust will
be to me my most sacred possission.
= She smiled at him family, noddine
her head as though to keep pace
with her thoughts.
! "I believe you. Mr.. Wrayson." she
said YES ! believe you! Let nj
tell you this. then. 1 count 1t among
my misfortunes that my own trouble!
have become in SO large a mannel
the troubles of my friends. You will
! appreciate that the more. perhaps
when 1 tell you that Nine. de Mel
balm is not the name by which I an
generally known. l am that unfor
tunate woman. the Queen of Mex
onia"
/