South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-26

10 a halt Beyond doomed a tall
building which he knew 20 be an
open barn, standing on the edge OF
a long stretch OF meadowland. II
was as big as a house. yet consisted
Of no more than a roof carried upon
half a dozen tall brick pillars. But
densely packed under that roof was
a great stack OF hay that promised
warm bed on so a cold a night He
cleared a trough Tor his body and
lying down in il. covered himself -
the neck with the hay he had re-
moved Within FIVE minutes he was
soundly asleep.
When next ne awakened. the sun
was already high in the heavens
Then TO his awakening sense came
a drone or voices close at hand, TO
which at first ne paid little heed.
ooh mon Dieu. Leandre let us
separate at once II it should be my
father ."
And upon this a mans voice broke
in. calm and reassuring:
NO, no. Clmene; you are mis-
. taken. There is no one coming. We
are quite safe. Why do you start at
shadows?"
More was not needed TO reassure
Andre-Louis. He had overheard
enough 10 know that this was but
the case of a pair of lovers who, with
less to fear Of life, were yet-after
the manner of their kind-more
timid of heart than he
In the space of cropped meadow
between the barn and the hedge
stood a man and a woman, both
young The man was a well-set-up,
comely fellow. with a fine head OF
chestnut hair tied in a queue by a
broad bow Of black satin. He was
dressed with certain tawdry at
tempts at ostentatious embellish-
ment, which did not progresses one
at first glance in his favor
The child-she was not more than
/ that, perhaps twenty at the most
| possessed. in addition 10 the allure
ments of face and shape that went
very near perfection, a sparkling Vi
vacity and grace of movement the
/ like Of which Andre-LOuis did not
!, remember ever before TO have be-
! held assembled in one person.
He could not have told you why,
( but he was conscious that it ag-
! grieved him 70 find her so intimate
with this pretty young fellow who
was partly clad. as it appeared. "
/ the cast offs of a nObleman He could
not guess her station. but the speech
/ that reached him was cultured in
/ tone and word. He strained to listen.
THAT is what my heart desires.
| Leandre, but l am beset by fears
/ lest your stratagem should be too
/ late l am TO marry this horrible
/ Marquis of Sbrufadelli this very day.
/ He arrives at noon. He comes to
! sign the contract-to make me the
/ Marchioness of SbrUfadelli. OH" 1t
/ was a cray of pain from that tender
young heart Save me. Leandre.
Save me! You are my only hope"
/ So her father was marrying her to
a marquis! That implied birth on
( her side. And yet she was content
TO pair off with this dull young ad-
venturer in the furnished lace.
1T shall never be-" M. Leandre
was storming passionately. Never.
1 / swear it," And he shook MS puny
fist at the blue vault OF heaven
Ajax defying Jupiter. "Ah. but here
comes our subtle friend. He will
bring us news. 1 know"
Andre-Louis looked also in the
direction OF the gap. Through it
! emerged a lean. slight man in a
rusty cloak and a three-cornered hat
worn we'll down over his nose so as
to shade his face.
Monsieur" said he. with the air
Of a cCnspirator. "the time for action
has arrived. and so has the Marquis
/ That is why.
Tell me, tell me. Speak" Climene
implored him, holding out her hands
in a supplicatiOn no man of sensi-
bility could have resisted. And then
on the instant she cought her
breath on a faint scream. My
father" she exclaimed, turning dis
tractedly from one of the other OF
those two. He is coming! We are
lost"