Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-11-06
Getaid laughed scornfuiIy.

/
replied.
Gerald leaned back 10 his chair and
laughed long and heartily.
Our little Wild rose" be said. ia
like a thousand others-a pretty faca.
fascinating age, confdIng manners.
In twenfy-four hours she would have
taught you all that she could know
OF love and life She Is as much
yokel intellectually as this eiFI Il a
mystery. Are there any queens or
royal Drincesses wandering aboux fne
world nowadays, Chris7 / swear that
she looks as though she had stsuped
down from throne. Thank heavens.
here comes Carruthers r.
A young man who had been star
ing in at the doorway recognized Ger.
aid and came across TO them.
NO. go. old thing" he conllded.
leaning down. ''They are registered
here as Madame and Afademolselle
de Poniere-aunt and niece. The OLD
Dufrer downstairs. however. admitted
that he believed that to be an as
suned name"
Couldn't you bribe him. or some
thinRT Gerald asked eagerly.
"Old Johnny fairly cornered me-
carruthers explained. The two Ia.
dies, he told me. had declared their
desire TO remain incognIto. II was
not therefore. the business Of 4
gentleman TO be inqulsitive. Where
upon ! came away with my tail be
tween my legs. All the same. don't
believe be has the least idea who they
are.n
Gerald sighed.
Il shall know her sooner or later
he muttered but it's such a waste Of
precious time"
you won't forget that we promised
TO go and see MYRTLE earlyf" Chris
TOPPER reminded him.
Gerald stared at his friend.
'Myrtllef Who the devil Why,
the child from the violet farm. Of
coursel I'd forgotten all about her"
MYRTLE came flying to the door.
Christopher saw her eyes travel over
his shoulder. he saw the sudden cloud
upon her face A queer little stab Of
pain startled him by Its very poignHncy.
Monsieur Gerald. he Is not with Il
your she asked disconsolately.
Christopher shook his head. &
He was up late last night" he ex- q
planned. Il went to his room but he i
was fast asleep. dare say be viii d
come on presently lii
IL vrrvra4aor4 - - hr~, ~ Il
she said. "Has he spoken Of met o
Has he said anything about sending y
me back r. d
Nothing" Christopher assured her.
~Do you still feel that you don't want v
to go backT q
She stood quite still in the middle ~
Df the little apartment and looked at u
him. Something about her was al h
Tered. II seemed almost as though she Il
lad passed from girlho0d to woman Al
hood In the night.
II will not go back" she declared
iercely. ''It Is not that mind poverty n
,r hard work. 1t Is Pierre Leschamps.
could not bear him near me- He
hall never come near me. otherwise :,
shall die. Even you. Monsieur !,
Christopher, you do not wish me to i
lie" -
Her eyes were swimming with tears. :.
she leaned a little towards him and =
patted her encouragingly. Il
Her lips were very close to his. fresh -
md sweet and oulvering. christopher. l.
conscious of a rare and almost over 4
Mastering temptation. turned away n
lrusquely. n,
"Come outside" he invited. II Will n
AXE you on the terrace. and we will
II In the sunshine" n
She clapped her hands, herself again r.
lmost Immediately. ne
They wandered down from the fash ~
enable part Of the promenade to the tn
,ebbly beach and along the sands OF
fyrtlle was never tired of the wonder Ia
I II all. Often. however. she cast an fe
nxious look backwards. IN
'You do not think Monsieur Gerald
yill be searching for usT' she asked u
mildly.
Christopher WAS conscious OF curl
us sense OF annoyance which he could
ot altogether explain He led the ~
ray up the steps and on to the ter y
ace. 4.
ave viii take seat here" he sug- =
ested. I'VE can see the hotel and
he turning to your lodgings. and you +,
an watch for him." 4,
she acQutesced willingly, and for :, =
he next half hour she divided her al