Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 49, Number 39, Jasper, Dubois County, 14 June 1907 — Page 7

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CHAPTER X. Continued, ed at in this manner the ghastwas vividly suggested. The df the two heads together 'formed the eye of the death -maalc; m itaohe of the father made the eyebrows; and the brow and the eye boy prince formed the nose and And more horrible than the i ih itself was a wound in the in which flowed a streak of Mood wound." I asked, shuddering, rely coincidence The look the staring eyea la that to be a menace, a threat of a rioli Di dentis" rotl doubt it?" demanded I replaetaf the envelope care- (,!", n his pocketbook. "That deathI , I. carded by a largo portion nand'a dUsattefiod subjects as v sign.' That little stamp, i to say. is a death-knell for f rid II introduces Into Hul- : tics an awful and solemn note " !,. i.'!i!y sign?'" I asked, shudiderlng again. "But he tili Uvea?" V .it present he Is in Paria. I mi he Is safe there. Rut when I to his capital at Sofia " And the woman this Counteea Barahoff, la she one of the revolutionrafttrf that stamp as a ilgaf You told me tbat uppOMcl to be the friend of Prince Ferdinand." ! Hut Is she? She Is a worn tery, Is she really In earnlaf to entrap Sir Mortimer Inj England to stand be- ! irta in her Invasion of Turk ! 1 ed mtaf Is she Ignorant of the . or at least the significance Of itampt Or. posing as a friend i rid. having ready access to I -. hour, will hers be the dagingad Into his breast at the fatal hour? Perhapa Sir Mortimer la anlleMea victim we think him t., Perhaps the king's messenger

not have two sets of dispatches presented at his discretion. Pertils death mask Is a ghastly ae-

and not a menace. Perhapa ICoun total Sarahoff, alias Sophie do 'i der, la a lamb of Innocence. Per1 Hut. my dear chap, don't trust tbat I't-rhapa." " Lacl e roae and pulled on hla glovee. 1 at hint in sudden cornprehonit ! rstand now. You had more ' ihject In coming to see me th; morning;" I said, aoherly. He I t cigarette, looking down aj Bh ; thought. In America the game of politic la a 1 nie and above board. We arda; they are on the tabic a world to see. The very Of our methods puzzles the ' of Europe. Here in Europe tl managed differently. There ire wheela within wheela. No pawn i I (leant to be mad? use of. a d may be a simple citisen, vi n i t owlet M I h k the hand he held toward I Mined It. bewildered. thai is absurd on the face of II what poaalble way could I be ol to 'his Countess Sarahoff?" Iirmrged his shoulders care1' and blew a ring of smoke with ; n at the chandelier. Ing Is quite absurd." he re I 'illy. "Two days ago I read : fortunate accident of a felI : j man and an old college aci In' nice. To-day I am aurpriaed to I countryman of mine on ex- ' terms with a woman whom I ' . reason to believe Is a dani Uenturess. 'I come to aee I v countryman, to offer him pathy. 1 remain to warn Mm ' vhy?" I demanded, still skepacre are three facta that should ci think, Haddon. First of "u have made the acquaintance B mother and the sister of Sir mar Brett Secondly, Countess T ha made your acquaintance. Thirdly contradict ma If I am wrong lias already Interested you. lian that. I venture to say that ive made an appointment with her " looked at me keenly. I was silent. Mi my dear Haddon. are slm- ' K ts. Perhapa there Is no relaw n them. Again I say, 'per Hut don't let the mysterious machinery of intrigue catch you in H mesheak Its wheels may crush v You have had enough . üble, ,:' 1' U out for Countess Sarahoff." ball tr to remember your adI -.aid. struggling to control my ".tit. and placed his visitingin my pocket. "Yes; I shall see kgail before I leave Lucerne." suit yourself about that." said 1 i coldly. until afterwards did It occur to 1 that t had treated him rather i- -'n.ced. laid myself open Melon b' my silence.

A life for a life, Mehna had said Hut Is not honor sometimes dearer

than lite Itself? At least the honor

of a loved brother. That I could exert any Influence over the mind and actions of a man as famous in affairs as Sir Mortimer Rvatt was absurd. Even had that been possible Helena would have been the last to Intrust his honor In my hands. And yet. as lAkn had said, what If I were a pawn In the game of Countess Sarahoff? Then why not be an Intelligent pawn, to be moved if you will, carelessly here and there In the game of Intrigue, but to moved with my eyes open? "No pawn Is too Inalgnlflcent to be made use of;" those were Iocke's words. He had believed that she would attempt to make use of me. Heaven grant it, I thought, with a thrill of hope. t We should then see what we should see. Yes; I would look out for Countess Sarahoff. Ilut scarcely In the manner Locke had suggested. Early In the afternoon a message came from her. as I had felt ooafMtBt K would. A cousin was with her; they wer to leave Lucerne that evening, en mute to a little village in the Hernes AI j.-. whrrt she had taken a chateau for Chi sumznr. She would

I rr- tfci hrd awake to-morrow we

iiiuat be oCT up, up, up the mountains my chateau. It will break m hc;ut if we are delayed." ' Yoiii chateau has great attraction for you," 1 said, smiling. She came toward me Impulsively, her hands clasped. 'Ok, you would like my chateau, monsieur. It is atrong and rugged, and so high that to aee its towers

through the branches of the pine trees, as you climb the hillside, It seems a dream, a fantasy. And below, very far below, there is the noisy little river that rushes around its base, and an adorable village that crouches dose to It for protection. And within, there, are great shadowy rooma with gleaming bare floors and tapestries Oh, yes, and there is my beloved piano. When the thunder rolls terribly over the lonely mountains, and the atorm beats against the curtained windows, and the fire of huge logs in the hearth does not reach the somber cornera oh, it Is then that 1 live. 1 am Inspired. In the night the passionate soul of Chopin speaks to me. And iu the morning when the aim la shining again, and the little river is gay and turbulent, there are my flowers and my books and my oor. And there is peace. My castle Is a Castle or Indo lence. and It Is a Castle of Ha-piness." "That is the castle we are all looking for," I said wistfully. She moved restlessly to the piano. She struck the opening chords of that prelude of Chopin which is at once a suggestion of a fuueral march and a procession in a cathedral. I watched her, fascinated, though I had sworn I would not be fascinated by her. She stopped abruptly in the midst of a phrase. Her white arms dropped to her lap. She looked over toward me. Then she leamtl her elbows on the keya; she nodded to me. half in entreaty, half in command. I stood opposite her, leaning toward her, across the piano. "Hut sometimes I am lonely In my

.i " ' "

The Dinner at the Hotel Nationale.

CHAPTER XI. "taee Saranoff Gives an Invitation. I stood quite Rtlll after Locke hnd OW lost lu thousht.

be charaied If 1 would dine with them In her apartment at the Hotel Nationale And would I pardon the absurd hour of 6: HO? I was to come In my morning clothes, since neither she nor her cousin expected to dress. I accepted the invitation with alacrity. That meant privacy -a certain intimacy A cotisin was to bo there, it was true Ilut the presence of the cousin was. of course, a Bop carelessly thrown at Mrs. Orundy. The cousin had not arrived when 1 presented myself that evening. I shuggled against a sense of shame. I was accepting her hospitality, and I had come to spy on her. Put I reassured myself with the conviction that it was to be a game of tit for tat. The apartment de luxe Into which I was ushered was dimly lighted, and the air waa heavy with the perfume of flowers. In the center of the room

the white damask and sliver of a table MM for dinner gleamed tinder the soft light of candles. In some vague way. this room, one of a hundred others in the hotel, had lost something of its slid formalism. It had charm. Charm! That was the word that best described this mysterious woman Well. I must steel myself against that charm. She had been beautiful the evening before; this evening she was radiant Her eyea burned with a Are that at once dl.-concerted and excited AM was the Incarnation of what one calla the Joy of living. Never for an Instant was she still. Now It -was to glance critically at the ndmirahly set table; now to rearrange the flowers. Presently she moved to the Window, and drew bnek the heavy brocade hanging, looking nt me over her sh der - A ..

"Why does my cousin ni w she demand :. petulantly. "At 11 to I night we go tu Vltznau by the boat.

chateau." she said In a low voice. "Come with Dr. Starva and myself, lie our guest, Mr. Haddon." I started. Aman! I had not counted on that. I had known this was to be an evening of surprises. I had schooled myself to meet them without wonder. Put this invitation, so strangely and so unexpectedly given, completely astonished me. Who was this convenient cousin, this Dr. Starva? The chance I had expected had come. To accept such an Invitation as a matter of course, however, would lie too absurd. "You give invitations to all the world?" 1 asked ungraciously. No. monsieur, only to those who Interest me, avid who " Are of a-e to you?" I asked Indiscreetly. She looked nt me with cool, level eyes, still playing. "Absolument." "And In what way do I happen to be of use to you. Madame de Varnier?" She smiled mysteriously, shaking her head. "That Is a secret." I detests secrets." I said Irritably. "Hut lf the secret were a condition r Then I should probably refuse. 1 do not accept Invitations when there are condition" attached to them." "Then If 1 say that N Is because I like you?" I should not believe yon ." "Then perhaps I am sorry for you. You nre unhnpi 1 will take ou to my chateau to find happiness." Come. Madame de Varnier. let ns stop fencing. Why did you apeak to me last night? Why do you pretend to be Interested In me so Interested that you ask me. an utter stranger, to visit your chateau" I poo remember my story of yesterday" Am I to think, do you wlah mo to think'' She looked at uic in - u'ly, very pale.

Her Mpa w-u tiefnbllng. and yet she srriklea a smile mysterious, trail pltlfal. "Monsieur I am not a Jeune fill. I a.n a MaaaM of the world. Wate has calb-u to me. I must follow; 1 must meet my destiny; sometimes I must walk in the dark places. The world, voir world, let it think what it will! Hah. It la not my concern what it thlnka of me. Perhapa last night, this morning. I wished you to fall In love with me. Perhaps now I am asking you to give me a little respect, a very little, monsieur. But what does It matter"" I looked at this strange woman In astonishment. It was a curious plea Perhaps she had wished to make ma fall iu love with her! She made tha frank confession with a childish naivete And In the same breath sh asked for my respect! "Yon speak in riddles," I exclaimed petulantly. "Tell me your purpose." She looked up at me swiftly, half In defiance. "Tell me yours." "My purpose!" I cried. "I have none." A moment she scanned my face keenly Apparently she was satisfied that I sjKike the truth. Hut that she should have even a glimmer of a sus plain was startling "!ok, my friend. I speak no more In riddles, but very frankly. Come to my chateau because there you can do me a service, a great service. Vofla, I have told you everything." Not quite everything." I replied quietly. "You have not told me. for instance, the nature of the Bervice that you ask of the first stranger you meet." "When you arc my guest I shall tell you." she promised alrly. She plunced into a stormy mazurka to drown my protestations. I watched her, irritated and yet half yielding, as she played with the brilliancy and elan of a virtuoso. Then I walked to the window. To reach it I passed a pier glass paneled tn the wall. A man's face waa dimly re(lTted there. Though I did not look. I knew that he must be standing behind a door leading Into another apartment. He had been listening, tit course. I did not betray my surprise. I stepped out on the balcony, looking down on the street below. This Incident banished my last shred of reluctance. These adventurers aplad on me; It was equally fair that I play their game. Yes; I determined to meet them with their own weapons. The music reached a stormy climax. There was silence. 1 did not go back Into fhe roc. m. I waited curiously. Would she again insist? lf so, I determined to no longer refuse. The heavy curtains at the window were parted. She stood beside me. Again 1 noticed the feverish light In her eyea; her bosom rose and fell tumultuously ; her color came and went. "Then you have no liking for an adventure?" she demanded In a spirit of desperate gayety. "Even whvn that adventure is to be shared with a woman -yes, a beautiful woman?" Not when adventures are thrust on me." I replied coldly. Her emotion repelled me. "Ah, you persist In being ungracious. Then say this adventure brings happiness for yourself ." "I should require proof of that." She saw that I was not to be won over by coquetry. 8he became ser'ous, almost anxious. Instinctively I felt that she was about to play In r last card. Had she known it, I was already decided. Hut she was ignorant of that, and risked everything to gain her purpose. "You have set yourself a task Whnt If I can help you fulfill it"" "Again you speak in riddles, madam." "If I sHd I were listening last night!" I frowned on her. furious, but I did not answer. She felt no shame in making this confession. One hand rested on her hip. with the other she snapped finger and thumb. "My dear monsieur, you an' not attractive when you look like that. Lven I have heard the Kngllsh proverb. 'All is fair In love and in war.' " "And since this Is not love, you wish me to Infer that it is war? And you ask the enemy deliberately Into tho camp?" "It is neither love nor war. It Is a truce. I)H's that satisfy you?" "Cntll ou laO me the aervlce I am to do yon. it must be an armed truce." I interposal cautiously. I emphasized the adjective. ' Hten! At AHcrboffen you shall know all. Then it will be for you to b eide if we are to be allies." Very well." 1 assenti d hi iskls "I will go to your chateau with you. When do we start?" Now that I had made my decision she grasped the railing of the balcony, exhausted. Presently I noticed that her lips were moving, and as I looked at her In wonder. I saw her furtnely make the sign of the cross. When she spoke again. It was languidly, as with an effort. Dr. Starva nnd myself nre tn go tonight to Vltznau. a little tov n M Lake Lucerno, an hour's Journey from here. Tomorrow morning at the dawn we drive en diligence to AltcrhoffeaV "la it necessary that I go to Vitalin u?" Yes." she said hesitatingly, averting her eyea. "The last boat leaves Lucerne at 11 Your luggage, cau it t.e reads then"' I nodded absently. (TO UK i-OVTMCED.) He may hope for the beat tat'a pre I d for tha Vorst.

VIRGINIA'S LESSON

By Hilda Richmond

"It Isn't tbat Herbert is a bad boy," Mra. Castle was saying, with a worried look ou her motherly face, "or that Virginia Is disobedient. They are simply too ailly for anything. 'Mushy,' the boys call them, and the word tits very well. Instead of having a good time with the crowd as they always did, they prefer to sit around by themselves at parties ai.d Virginia is getting so dreamy that you have to ftpaoJl two or three times before she realizes she ia on earth." ' Oh. welL" said her sister, consol Ingly. "all girls have those spells. I remember bow Hob Lane and I used to think our folks cruel and unsympathetic because they ruthleaaly spoiled our cherished plans by sending us away to school. Virginia will get over her foolishness In good time and be able to laugh at herself. Don't take it to heart so." "It's all very well for you to take that view, for your girls are too small to give you any trouble yet; but Just wait a few years. Virginia's health and lessons suffer w hlle she Is moping around, and I really have to force her to eat when she and Herbert have had a little tiff. 1 wlr.h they would fall out and scratch each other's faces as they did years Fgo. Then maybe this nonsense wonli come to an end. I always think of Hditha when I see her, for she moped just like that when she was Virginiu's age."

"Edltha! The very person! Send fat her to come and spend a month ; with you, and if that doesn't bring I Virginia to her senses nothing will. It will mean a lot of hard work, but pea will be repaid for that, I am

sure." In less than a week Mrs. Castle wa able to announce .carelessly at 0M dinner table that Cousin Kditha and her family would visit them next week. Mrs. Randolph narrowly watched Virginia without seeming to do so, and saw just what she expected In the pretty face of her niece. "Cousin Kditha!" said Virginia, with a pleased look. "I haven't seen her since the day I was flower girl at her wedding. She was Just 17 then as old as I am now and I was ten. Do you remember, mamma, how perfectly beautiful he looked?" "Yes, she was a lovely bride." said Mrs. Castle. "I'nless you eat more supper. Virginia I cannot allow you to go to the lecture this evening." "How many children has she?" asked Mr Castle. "Three or four?" "Three," answered his wife. "Two boys and a baby girl." The whole family had been instructed as to behavior and thse plotters against Virginia determined to do or die during the weeks to follow. Kven Hob promised to tear himself from the delights of baseball. If by so doing Virginia could be made to act with a little common sense," as he expressed It. A few days later Cousin Edltha and her family made their appearance. "Give me the baby, Ede," said a young man who had conducted two small boys In dirty linen suits down the car steps. "The brakeman will carry your luggage " "Ede!" Virginia looked in disgust at the innocent young man, but her disgust changed to astonishno nt a

minute later when her mother kissed the pale young woman with her hat on one side of her head and told her how delighted they were to see them all. Waa It possible that this was the beautiful bride of seven years ago" The long train, exquisite veil and white flowers with which Cousin Edltha lad always been Invested in Virginia'! memory faded away before this tire I. thin woman and her little family. "And hl3 Is Virginia"'' said Cousin Edltha, as soon as the boys had been packed in the surrey and the baby on Mra. Csstle'a lap. "You're quite a young lady, Virginia, and a pretty one.

too. Nc. Carlos, mustn t whip the

horsle' Jack, stop pulling at the lines

Thse children were clean when we ; started, auntie, but only for a few j minutes. 1 suppose I'll have to take i the baby She's cutting teeth and feir fully cress. Yes, mamma is well as usual, but she always seems tired, j She helps me a little with the chll-j dren and Jnck! I have spoken to you j for the Ust time! If you touch these ; lines again I'll spank you as soon as we get to auntie's." Virginia sat silent during the short ride. Cousin Edltha'a husband had

walked with Hob, leaving the surrey for the ladies and chlldres, so Mrs. Hace had the whole care of the lively Infants. Mrs. Castle sat wth her in the back seat and Virginia had the two boyd with her In froat, so there waa little chanco for her joining in the conversation If she had wished to. Her cousin's sharp, tired voire grated unpleasant on her ears aa she. remembered the ao. low tones that had responded bo mualcally to the momen tons questions the day she had been the flowr girl. Mo hasn't been very well lately, hut I think the rest will do her stood." Mr. Pare waa saying to Mrs. Randolph when they drove up to the Krrh l ve not to harry back to the rlty to attend to some business, bat I'm glad l. ave the babies in such good hands." Virginia hastened to her room to

uniine the extent of tha damage

(Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.

her dainty white dress, but her mother aoon called her down to wheel -.be baby "while Cousin Edltha rests a 'em minutes." The few minutea provec to be two hours, for the tired mother waa not well, and the long car ride had made her worse than usual. She came down to dinner in a white wrapper that made her paler than ever, so Virginia devoted herself to the noisy boys till bedtime. "A picnic for me? It's very nice of you. dear, but I couldn't go," said Cousin Edltha when Virginia spoke of the plan she and her mother bad made. "I couldn't be easy a minute a way from Haby, and taking her along is out of the question. You go nnd have a good time Virginia, and don't worry about me. If I can wear a rir of slippers and an old wrapper, that is all I care for thee days. When the children grow up I'll go to picnics again, but, I'm afraid, not before." "Hut we want to do something pleasant for you." said Virginia. "How about a party? That wouldn't be taking you far from the baby." ' Kde always says parties begin toe late for her." laughed Mr. Race. "She., has acquired the habit of going to bed at eight every evening." "it always shocks Virginia to have you say 'Ede'. but I tell her we haven't time for long names." said Mrs. Race. "If she had three children

f1-: Ml

WWW

Wheeled the Baby. crying at once he would bood learn to save time every way aha could. Yes. I do go to bed at eight when I'm

home, for I'm always tired out. You'll find out what good times you're having now, my child, when they are all past. 1 feel old enough to be a grandmother sometimes, and I'm only 24." "That's true," said Mr. Race, with a little laugh. "Whenever I see Virginia and Herbert reading Tennyson together 1 think how I used to sit by the hammock and recite 'Lucille' by the hour for you. Editha. I'll try to remember the old name for Virglnia'a benefit. I don't believe I could call to mind three lines now to save my life." "I heard you quoting this the other day when we had to wait so long at the hotel for dinner," said Mrs. Race. "Ilut that was only two lines: 'H" mfty live without love what t paslen but pining? But wti-re Is tli man that can II vs without din ins'.'" We never paid attention to those lines In the old days, did we?" asked Mr. Rsce, who had reached the perfect gooil coniradcsMp with his young wife which few early marriages ever show, but which Virginia thought horrible "I remember we used to weep copiously that la, you did over certain fictitious heroines, and the satue pn.i-'t now would only cause you to Bniile."

s! -;ung couple sitting in the midst of

playthings, lit tie garments and crumbs, fur a good hard think In her own room. Cousin Editha's islt came to an end before the lively children wore every one out, and when at last they went home Virginia gave an Impromptu little party to celebrate the event. The yonng people who had shunned tho Castles since the house had to ie perfectly quiet after seven o'clock every evening, came trooping hack, and once more the big house rang with laughter and fun. Virginia waa the gayest of tho gay, and once when Herbert ptessed her hand undercover of the portiere, she only laughed Joyously and said, "Don't be a goose, Hert"

Where Periods Are Dropped. "The one thing in American print that puzzled me most waiea I first bepan to reed New York pepers was the punctuation." said a man from Hull. "I was especially confused by the multitude of periods used In abbreviating tltlca. In our papers at homo most of those dots are omitted In that connection Here soch abbreviations as Dr.. Mr.. Mra. and Ror., for example, are finished off with a dot over there we almply write I Jr Smith, Mr Jonea. Mra Brown and Rev Mr Orecn. Naturally, tho difference la the appearance of a whole pnse of

printed matter In wtch these vorda

wo pairs of duaty aUoea had done to 1 frequently racur la striking."