Evening journal., 1922-07-10

rather than reason, turned his fao'
to the south. and plodded YEARLY
and mechanically forward. He hac
no clear idea OF whittier he was go
ing, or of whittier he should so. Al
that imported at the moment was to
put as great distance as possible
between Gavrillac and himself.
Midway across the vast common
20 the north OF Guignen he came 10
a halt. Beyond loomed a tall
building which he knew to 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
a warm couch on 30 cold a night. He
cleared a trough for his body ana
lying down in II, covered himself 10
the neck with the hay he had re-
moved. Within five minutes he was
soundly asleep.
When next he awakened, the sun
was already high in the heavens
Then to his awakening senses came
a drone OF voices close at hand, to
which AZ first he paid little heed.
"Oh, 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.
mo. no, Clmene; you are mis-
taken. There is no one coming. We
are quite safe. Why do you start at
shadows2'
More was not needed to reassure
Andre-Louis. He had overheard
enough TO know that this was but
the case OF a pair Of lovers VINO, with
less TO fear OF life, were yet--arter
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 ooth
Young. The man was a well-set-up
comely fellow, with a fine head OF
chestnut hair tied in a queue oy
broad bow OF black satin. He was
dressed with certain tawdry at
tempts at ostentatous embelnsh-
ments, which did not prepossess one
nj frst glance in his favor.
The child-she was not more than |
that perhaps twenty at the most
nossessed. in addition 10 the allure
ments of face and shape that went
very near perfection, sparkling VI
vaclty and a grace of movement
the like OF which Andre-Louis did
not remember ever before to nave
beheld assem- bled in one person.
He could not have told you why'
but he was conscious that It ag-
grieved him to find her so Intimate
with this pretty young fellow VINO
was partly clad, as II appeared IN
the cast-offs of a nobleman. He
could not guess her station, but the
speech that reached him was cul-
tured in tone and word. He strain
ed to listen.
.'That is what my heart desires,
Ieandre, but 1 am beset by fears
lest your stratagem should be too
late. 1 am 10 marry this horrible
MARQUIS of Sbrufadelll this very
tay. He arrives by noon. He comes
10 sign the contract-to make me
he Marchioness OF sbrufadelll. OH"
Il was a cry Of pain from that ten
Ter young heart. Save me, Lean
ire. Save mel You are my only
nope"
So her father was marrying her TO
/ marquisl That implied birth on
Ter side. And yet she was content
o pair off with this duh young ad-
'enturer in the tarnished lacel
1T shall never bel" NJ. Leandre
vas storming passionately. 'Neverl
swear 81" And he shook his puny
lst at the blue vault OF heaven
Ajax defying Jupiter. "Ah, but here
omes our subtle friend. He will
ring us news, l know"
Andre-Louis looked also in the d.
ection of the gap. Through It
a lean, slight man in a
usty cloak and a three-cornered hat
worm well down over his nose so as
o shade his face.
Monsieur" said he, with the air
4 a conspirator. the time for ac-
ion has arrived, and so has the
darquis. That is why"
Tell me, tell mel Speak," Cli-
meme implored him. holding out her
lands in a supplication no man OF
ensibility could have resisted. And
hen on the instant she caught her
'reath on a faint scream. MY
athery she exclaimed, turning dis
ractedly from one TO the other Of
hose two. He is comingl We are
ost!"