Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-07-14
CONTINUED from Last Issue)

through the mask of blood and dust
that smeared it, was yet familiar
And then the man spoke, and in
stantly she knew the voice for thal
of the Marquis de La Tour dAzyr
I'm danger?" Almost he seemed
silently TO laugh at the unnecessary
question. "If | were to show myself
openly in the streets just now, l
might with luck contrive to live for
five minutes"
He peeled off the shaggy great
coat. and casting it from him STEP
ped forth in the black satin that had
been the general livery of the hun
dred knights who had rallied in the
Tuileries thai morning to the de-
Tense of their king.
His coat was rent across the back.
his neckcloth and the ruffles at his
wrists were orr and bloodstatned;
with his smeared face and dis"r-
dered headdress he was terrible TO
behold.
my dear Therese. unless you car
ry charitablenegs to the length "f
giving me to drink, you will see me
perish of thirst under your eyes be-
fore ever the canaile has a chance
to finish me-
She started. IT should have
thought of it," she cried in self-re-
proach, and she turned quickly
"Aline,' she begged, tell Jacques
.Aline!' he echoed, interrupting.
and swinging round in his turn.
Then, as Aline rose into view. de-
taching from her background, and
he at last perceived her, he leaved
himself abruptly to his weary legs
again, and stood there stiffly, bow
ing to her across the space of e cam
ing floor. "Mademoiselle, | had hot
suspected your presence he said,
and he seemed extraordinarily HAT
ease, a mar startled, as If caught in
an Illicit act.
II perceive it, monsieur" she an
swered, as she advanced to do ma
DANES commission. She paused De-
fore him. From my heart, monsie"r,
I grieve that we should meet agalh
in circumstances so very painful.
Not since the day of his duel with
Andre Louis-the day which had
seen the death and burial of his last
hope of winning her-had they stood
face to face.
But sit. monsieur, I beg. You
are fatigued."
you are gracious to observe it.
With your permission, then Ana
he resumed his seat She continued
on her way to the door and passed
out upon her errand.
M. de La Tour d'AZyr at last plead
ed WEAKNESS and withdrew that ne
might endeavor to take some rest.
When he had gone, madame per-
suaded Aline to go and lie down.
Left alone, madame Law down on
o couch in the salon itself, 20 be
ready for any emergency.
The timepiece on the overmantei
chimed the hour of ten. and then
startling In the suddenness with
which it broke the immediate silence
another sound vibrated through the
house, and brought madame To her
feet in a breathless mingling of nope
and dread, Someone was knocking
on the door below. Follow
ed moments of agonized suspense.
eliminating in the abrupt invasion
Of the room by the footman Jacques.
He looked round, NOT seeing his mis-
tress at first.
MADAME, Madame," he panted.
out of breath. There is a man be-
low. He is demanding to see you at
once"
She was perfectly composed. Con
duct him to me. and then beg "lle.
de Kercadiou to join me If she ia
!. 3 awake"
The door opened again. and
JACQUES reappeared, after him, step
ping briskly past him, came a slight
MANN a wide hrimmed hat, adorned
by a tricolor cockade. And the
waist of an olive green riding coat
he wore a broad tricolor sash; a
sword hung at his side.
ANDRE Louis" she exclaimed.
CHAPTER MI
That gift of laughter of his
seemed utterly extinguished.
"Rougane could not return" he
informed her shortly. AT NJ, de
K~ercadiou's request came instead,
you! You are sent to rescue us!'
The note of amazement in her voice
was stronger than that of her re-
lief.
THAT. and to make your acquain-
lance. madame"
ITO make my acquaintance? But
what do you NEAR Andre Louis
"This letter from NJ. de Kercadiou
will tell you"
Intrigued by his odd words and
odder hammer she took the folded
sheet. She broke the seal with shak-
ing hands, and with shaking hands
approached the written page to the
light.
And so you know. my child ?" Her
voice was stifed to a whisper.
II know, madame my mother"
She took one or two falterinS
steps toward him, hesitating. Then
she opened her arms. Sobs %suffocat-
ed her voice.
won't you come to me. Andre
LOUISE"
A moment vet he stood hesitating
startled by that appeal, angered al
most by his hearts response 10 it,
reason and sentiment at grips in his
soul. This was not real, his reason
expostulated; this poignant emotion
that she displayed and that he eX-
perieneed was fantastic. Yet he
went. Her arms EMBODIED him; her
wet cheek was pressed hard against
his own; her frame, which the years
had not vet succeeded in robbtng OF
its grace. was shaken by the pas
sionate storm within her.
"Oh. Andre Louis. my child. If
you knew how l have hungercd TO
hold you so! If you knew how. in
denying myself this. I have atoned
and suffered. Kercadiou should not
have told you-not even now. 1t
was wrong-most wrong, perhaps.
TO you. And yet-come what may
of this-to be able TO hold you so. to
be able to acknowledge you, to hear
you call me mother-oh! Andre
Louis, l cannot now regret it. l can
not ..I cannot wish it otherwise"
She sprang away from him with a
startled cry. Beyond him in the
by the door a pale figure
ershimmered ghostly.
So you heard. Aline?" madame ex-
le,Ia;-aA