The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-15

Iii Is the SdIe-COuuuCt- ldAo ass
monsieur. 1t is my arst and last
gift to you, and certainly the last
gift l should ever have thought OF
making you-the gift Of life. In a
sense it makes US quits. The irony.
sir, is not mine, but Fate's. Take 1t
monsieur. and go in peace"
NJ. de La Tour d'Azyr took it. His
eyes looked hungrily into the lean
face confronting him, so sternly set.
He thrust the paper in his bosom.
and then abruptly, convlusively.
, held out his hand. His sons eyes
asked a question.
Let there be peace between us.
In Gods name" said the Marquis
thickly.
Pity stirred at last in Andre
Louis. Some Of the sternness Lett
his face. He sighed. ''Goodby,
monsieur" he said.
He loosed his sons hand and
stepped back They bowed formally
to each other. And then M. de La
Tour d'Azyr bowed to Mile. de ker-.
cadiou in utter silence, a bow that
contained something Of utter renun-
citation, OF finality.
That done he turned and walked
stiffly out of the room. and so out
of all their lives. Months later they
we're to hear of him in the service
of the Emperor of Austria.
CHAPTER XIV.
Andre-Louis took the air next
morning on the torrance at Meu-
don. The hour was very early, and
the newly risen sun was transmit
ing into diamonds the dewdropS that
still fingered on the lawn.
To Andre-Louis, sauntering there
with hands clasped behind him and
head hunched between his Shout
ders-for life had never been rich
er in material for reflection-camc
presently Aline through one of the
glass doors from the library.
Have you decided what you are
going to do?" she asked him.
"Oh, something. Consider that IN
four years have been lawyer,
politician. swordsman, and buffoon
especially the latter. There is
always a place in the world for
Scaramouche."
Don't Andre." she begged him.
"You are insincere, you know"
"Of course l am. Do you expect
sincerity in man whom hypocrisy is
the very keynote of human nature.
; For two years have prosecuted by
every means in my power M.
de La Tour d'Azyr"
He paused before uttering the
name, paused as If hesitating how
|, to speak Of him.
And in those two years I have
deceived myself as to the motive
l that was squirting me. That even
3 had he not killed Philippe de Viii
: MORN, things would still have been
[ the same"
But why, AndreT'
e He stood still and looked at her
e Because he sought you, Aline.
l. Il fought him-a rat fighting /;
e lion-fought him relentlessly unit
y l saw that love had come to take in
Tour heart the place of ambition
: Then l desisted."
;. Until you saw that love ha.
! taken the place of ambition" Tear.
u had been gathering in her eye.
whilst he was speaking. Now
t amazement eliminated her emotion
:, But when did you see that
e When?"
/ Surely, Aline, that morning
when you came to beg me not t.
c keep my engagement with him ir
e the Bots, you were moved by con
d Germ for him."
4 For him, It was concern 70.
o you" she cried, without thinkin,
: what she said.
He saw light, dazzling, binding
l. and it scared him. And that wa;
S why you fainted?" he asked, in
it credulously.
: She looked at him without an
It swering. AS she began to realiz
/ how much she had been swept int,
h saying by her eagerness to max
3 him realize his error, a sudden fea
e came creeping into her eyes.
= He held out both hands to her.
IT "Aline. Aline!" His voice brok
" on the name.
NJ de kercadiou, emerging a mo
IS ment later from the library win
l. dow, beheld them holding hands an
IS staring each at the other. beatif,
ally, as if each saw Paradise In tn
T. others face.
IL THE END.