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Show I- ; 0 A Novel of the American Spirit I i fl 'V't 1-J S Of ill "4" By Emerson Hough 31 oopyrigl,tl3Q31iym.0B,McCrmco. mJ-K J Ui J.' lllL I Author of "Tho Mississippi Bubble" Jg .CHAPTER XIV. H Tho Other Woman, H The world Is. tho book of women. M Rosscau. H I needed not to bo advised that pres- 1 ently there would be a mooting- of Home 1 of the leading men of the Hudson -Bay H company nt the little gray stone, dor- 1 mer-windowod building on Notre Damo 1 street. For myself, it was. out of the H question to gain admittance. In thos?o days nil Montreal was Iron-shuttered Iron-shuttered after nightfall, resembling a series of jails: and tonight it seemed H doubly screened and guarded. None the less, late In tho evening, I allowed socm-ins socm-ins accident to lead mo in a certain direction. Passing as ofton as I might B up and down Notre Damo street wltu- out attracting attention. 1 saw more than one llgure In the seml-dnrkness enter the low chateau door. Occasionally a tiny gleam showed at tho edge of a shutter or at tho top of some little window not fully screened. As to what went on within I could only guess. I passed tho chateau, up and down,1 at dlfferont times from 9 o'clock until j midnight. Tho streots of Montreal at H that time made bravo pretense of Hght- 1 Ing by virtue of tho new gas works; lit H certain intervals flickering and wholly 1 incompelcnt lights serving to make the B gloom mora visible. Nona tho less, as 1 I passed for tho last time, I plainly saw a shaft of light fall upon the half dark- ncss from a Ilttlo sido door. 'lhorc emerged upon tho street the figure. of a J woman. I do not know what led mo to cast a second glance, for certainly my business was not with ladles, any more than I would have supposed ladies had J business there; hut, victim of somo Im- pulso of curiosity, I walked a stop or J two In tho same direction as that taken by tho cloaked figure, n Careless as I endeavored to make my movements, tho veiled lady seemed to take suspicion or fright. She quickened 1 her steps. Accident favored me. Even as she tied, she caught her skirt on some object which lay hidden in the shadows and fell almost at full length. This I conceived to bo opportunity wnr-1 wnr-1 ranting niv approach. 1 -raised my hat and assured her that her flight was needless. . . She mnde no direct reply to me. but fl as she rose gave utterance to' an exprcs- sion of anno-Anre. "Mon DIeu!" 1 heard I stood l.T a moment tryhig to recall where I had heard this same voice! Sho turned her face In such a way that tho light Illuminated it. Then indeed sur-prise sur-prise smote me. "Mndamo Baroness.' said T, laughing, "It Is wholly Impossiblo for you to be fl here, yet you are here! Never again will I say there Is no such thing as chance, no such think as fate, no such thing as mlracloi" ... She looked at me one -brief moment; then her courage Teturncd. "Ah, then, my idiot." she said, "sinco it is to bo our fortune always to moot of dark nights and in impossible ways, give me your arm." I laughed. "We may as well mako treaty. If you run again. I shall only follow you." I "Then I am again your prisoner "Madam. I again am yours!" "At least, you Improve: said she. "Then come." . ' , , . "Shall I not call a caleche? tho night Is dark." "Xo, no!" hurriedly. , We began a midnight course that took us quite across tho old French quarter of Montreal. At last she turned Into a small, dark street of modest one-story residences. Iron-shuttered, dark nnd cheerless. Here sho paused In front of a narrow Iron gate. "Madam." I said, "you represent to me ono of vthe problems of my life. Why docs your taste run to such quarters quar-ters as these? This might bo that same back street In Washington!" She chuckled to herself, at length laughed aloud. "But wait! If you entered en-tered my abode once," she said, ' why not again? Come." Her hand was at the heavy knocker as sho spoke. In a moment the door slowly opened, just as It had done that night before in Washington. My companion com-panion passed before me swiftly. As she entered I saw standing at tho opening the same brown and wrinkled old damo wno had served that night before in Washington! For an instant the light dazzled my eyes. hut. determined now to see this adventure ad-venture through. I stepped within. Then, Indeed. I found It difficult to stifle the exclamation of surprise, which camo to my Hps. Believe it- or not. us you like, we wero again In Washington! ' I sav that I was confronted by the Identical arrangement, the identical objects ob-jects of furnishing, which had marked the luxurious boudoir of Helena von llllz in Washington! The tables were the same, the chairs, the mirrors, the coiir soles. On the mantel stood the same girandoles with glittering crystals. The pictures upon the walls, so far. as I could remember their themes, did not deviate In any particular of detail or ar-ranccnymt. ar-ranccnymt. The oal-backcd chairs wore duplicates of those. I had seen that other night at midnight Beyond these same amber satin curtains stood the tall bed with Its canopy, as I could see: and here at the right was the same low Napoleon bed with its rolled ends. The ilgurcs of the carpets wero the samo. tholr deop-plled deop-plled richness, soft under foot, the same. The flowered cups of the sconces were identical with those 1 had seen before. "You nro good enbugh to admire my nioflest place," said a laughing voice at my shoulder. I turned to her then, pulling myself together to-gether as best I could. Yes. -she, too. was the same, although In this case costumed somewhat differently. The wide ball gown of satin was gono, and In Its place was a less pretentious robing of some darker silk. No pole blue fires shone at her white throat?, and her hands were ringless. But tho light firm poise of her figure .could not be changed; tho mockery of her glance remained the same, half laughing and half wistful. In some way which T did not pause to analyze, I felt perfectly sure that this strange woman would. If she cared to do eo, tell me some of the things I ought J to know. Sho might bo-hore on some errand Identical with my own. -Calhoun had sent for hor once before. Whose agent was site now? I found chairs for us both. An .instant later, summoned in what TOy,,I do not know, the old servlng-wo- man again appeared. "Wine, Troika," said the baroness; "service for two you may use this Ilttlo table. Monsieur." sho added, turning to mo, "I am most hnppv to mako even somo slight rcturh for the very gracious entertainment offered of-fered mo that morning by Mr. Calhoun at his residence. Such a droll man! Oh, hi! la!" "Aro you his friend, Madam?" I asked bluntly. "Why should I not. bo?" J could frame neither offensive nor defensive de-fensive art with hor. Sho mocked me. In a fow moments tho wensuned old woman was back with cold fowl, wine, napery. silver. . "Will Monsieur carvo? At her nod the old woman filled' my glass, after my hostess had tastod of .her own. Wo had seated ourselves at the tablo as sho spoke. "I did not expect you would come to Montreal." , . , , . , , "Then you know but of courso. I told J"f-Iavo you. then, no question?" sho wont on at last. Hor glass stood half full; her wrists rested gently on tho tablo edge, as she leaned back, looking nt me with that on her face which he lmd needed to bo wiser than myself, who could have read. "May I, then?" "Yes, now you may go on. "I thank you. First. of course, for what reason do you carry the secrets of my government Into the stronghold of another govornmont? Aro you tho friend of America, or arc you a spy upon America? Ameri-ca? Aro you my friend, or are we to be ennmies tonight?" i..i,,i Sho flung back hor head and laughed delightedly. "That Is a good beginning, she commented. "You must, at a guess havo come up bv way of tho lakes, and by battcau from La Prairie?" 1 ventured. She nodded again. "Of course. I have been hero six days." unA mn "Indeed? you havo badly beaten mo In. our little race." i., Sho flashed on mo a sudden Bianco. "Why do you not ask me outright n "Well, then. 1 do! I do ask you that. I ask you how you got access to that meeting tonight for I doubt not ou were there?" , Sho gazed at mo dollboratcly asain. parting hor red Hps, again sm"lr.5 at rue. "What would you have given to have been there yourself?" , lfa "All the treasures those vaults ccr h"So much? What will you give mo. then, to tell you what I know? .,., "More than all that treasure, Madana, A "AhiV'place in tho heart of a people !' I prefer a locality moro restricted. "In my own heart, then; yes, of course She helped herself daintily to a portion por-tion of the white meat of the fow . "Yes," she wont on, as though speaking to herself, "on the whole. I rather like him. (Yct what a fool! Ah. such a droll lfU"How so. madam?" I expostulated. "I thought I was doing very well. "Yet you can not guess how to per-suado per-suado me?" ..,,, "No; how could that be? ' "Always one gams u ,,,,. equivalent, value for value espcciall with women, monsieur." Sho went on as thpugh to herself. "Come. now. I fancy him! Ho is handsome, hand-some, he Is discroot, he has courage, ho Is not usual, he is not curious; but ah, mon DIeu. what a fool!" "Admit me to be a fool, madam, sl ice It is true; hut tell me in my folly what equivalent I can offer ono who has everything in tho world wealth, tasto. culture, education, wit. learning, beauty?" beau-ty?" "Co on! Excellent!" "Who has everything as against m nothing! What value, madam?' "Why. gentle idiot, to get an answer ask a question, always." "I havevasked It." , "But yon cannot guess thnt I might ask one? So. then, ono answer for another, an-other, wo might do what you Americans Ameri-cans call some business eh? Will you answer my question?" "Ask it then." , , , 1 "Were you married that other night? Fo. then, sho was woman after all, and curious! I pulled myself Into control con-trol and looked her fair In tho face. "Madam," I said, "look at my faceand read your own answer." She looked, searching me, while every nerve of me tingled: but at last she shook her head. "No," sho sighed. "I cannot yet say." , , I raised mv kerchief over my head. ''A truce, then, Madam! Let us leave the one question against tho other for a time." "Excellent! I shall got my answer first, in that case, and for nothing." "How so?" "I shall only watch you. As wo are here now, I were a fool. wors,c than yon. if I could not tell whether or not you are married. None mo less, I commend com-mend vou. I admire you, because you do not tell me. If you are not, you are disappointed. dis-appointed. If you arc. you are eager! "I am In any case delighted that I -can IntercsL Madam." "Ah, but you do! I have not been Interested for so long! Ah. the great heavens, how fat was Mr. Pakonham, how thin was Mr. Calhoun! But you come, Monsieur, tho night is long. Tell mo of yourself. I have never before known a savage." "Value for value only. Madam! Will you toll me In turn of yoursolf?" 1 saw her dark eyes study mo once more. At last she spoko again. "At least," she said, "it would be rather vulgar vul-gar if I did not explain somo of the things which become your right to know when I ask you to come Into this home, as into my other home In Washington." "In Heaven's name, how many of these homes have you, then? Arc they all allkc7" "Five only, now," she replied, in the most matteiP-of-fact manner In the world, "and. of course, all quite alike.'' "Where else?" "In Paris, in Vienna, in London," she answered. "You sec this one, you see them all. They servo, they suffice. This little scheme It has pleased me to reproduce repro-duce In somo of the capitals of tho, world. It 'Is at least as well chosen as the taste of the Prince of Orleans, son of Louis Philippe, mould advise." This with no change of expression. I drew a long breath. She went on as though I had spoken. ".My friend." sho said, "do not dcsplso mo too early. There is abundant time. Before you Judge, lot the testimony bo heard." "I am not your judgo, Madam, but It will bo long before I shall think a harsh thought of you. Toll nio what a woman may. Do not Lull mo what a secret agent may not. I ask no promlsos and mako none. You are very beautiful. You havo wealth. 1 call you 'Madam.' You aro married?" "I was married at fifteen." "At ilftcon! And your husband died?" "He disappeared." "Your own country was Austria?" "Call mo anything but Austrian! I loft my country becauso I saw thbro only oppression mid lnck of hope. No, I am Hungarian?" "1 should guess then perhaps you wont to Paris?" - "Of course." she said, "of course! of courso! In tlmo reasons existed why I should not return to my home, I had some Utile fortune, Homo singular ox-porlcnces. ox-porlcnces. some ambitions of my own. What I did, I did. At least, I saw the best and worst of Europe." "I havo heard vaguely of some such things, Mndam," I said. "I know that In Europe they have still tho light which wo sought, to sottlc when wo left that country for this one." Sho nodded. "So then, at last," sho went on. "still young, having learned something and having now those means of carrying on my studies which 1 required. re-quired. I camo to this last of tho countries, coun-tries, America, whoro, If anywhoro, hope for mankind remains. Washington has Impressed me moro than any capital of tho world." "How long havo ycu boon In Washington?" Wash-ington?" I asked. . "Now you begin to question now you show at last curlosllyl Well, th6n, I shall answer. For more than one year; porhups moro than two, perhaps moro than thrco!" "Impossiblo!" I shook my hoad. "A woman like you could not bo concealed not If sho owned a hundred hidden places such as this." "Oh, I was known," sho said. "You havo heard of mo, you know of mo?" 1 still shook my head. "No," said I, "I havo been far In tho west for several sev-eral years, and havo come to Washington Washing-ton but rarely. Bear mo out. I hud not been thcro my third day before I found you!" Wo sat silent for somo moments, fixedly fix-edly rogardlng each other. "It was rumored in diplomatic. circles, of courso, that yon wero m toiifh with tho ministry of England," I ventured. "I myself saw that much." "Naturally. Of Mexico also! At least, as you saw in our Ilttlo carriage raeo. Mexico was desirous enough to establish es-tablish somo sort of communication with my humblo self!" "Calhoun was rlghtl" I exclaimed. "IIo was entirely right madam. In Insisting In-sisting that I should bring you to him that morning, whethor or not you wished to go. Sho ohuckled at tho memory. "How did ho rccclvo you, madam?" I asked. "I never knew." "Whv. took my hand In both his. and bowed as though I indeed wero queen, ho a king." "Then you got on well? "Truly; for he was wiser than his agent, monsieur. IIo found answers by asking questions." "For instance, ho asked " "What had been my ball gown that night who was thercs how 1 enjoyed myself! In a moment mo were talking as though we had been friends for years. Tho Grand Vizier brought in two mugs of elder, In ench a toasted apple. Monsieur, Mon-sieur, I havo not seen diplomacy such as this. Naturally, I was helpless." "You told him somewhat of yourself? "He did not allow mo to do that. Monsieur." Mon-sieur." "But ho told you somewhat of this country?' , , "Ah, yes. yes! So then I saw what held him up in his work, what kept him alive. I saw somothlng I havo not often seen a purpose, a principle. In a public man. His love for his own land touched oven me, how or why I scarcely know. Yes. we spoke of tho poor, the oppressed, of the wenry and the heavy laden." "Did ho usk you what you knew of Mexico and England?" "Rather what I know of tho poor In Europe. I told him some tilings I know of that hopeless land, that prlost-ridden, king-ridden country my own land. Then ho went on to toll mo of America and its hope of a free democracy of tho. people. Bollcvo me. I listened to Mr. Calhoun. Never mind what we said of Mr. Van Zandt and Sir Richard Pakcnham. At least, as you know,r I paid off a little score with Sir Richard that noxt morning. morn-ing. What was strangest to mo was the fact that 1 forgot tho strangeness of my errand thither. It was as though only our minds talked, ono with the other. I wus sorry when at last came the Grand Vizier James to take Mr. Calhoun's order or-der for his own carriage, that brought me home my second and moro peaceful arrival there that night." "Then I did not fall as messenger, after alll You told Mr. Calhoun what he desired to know?" "In part at least But como now, was I not bound In somo sort of honor to my great and good friend. Sir Richard? Was It not treachery enough to rebuke him for his attentions to tho Dona Lncrczia? "But you promised to tell Mr. Calhoun more at a later time,?" "On certain conditions I did," she assented. as-sented. . "I do not know that I may ask those? "You would bo surprised If I told you tho truth? What I required of Mr. Calhoun Cal-houn was permission nnd aid still further fur-ther to study his extraordinary country, its, extraordinary ways, Its extraordinary lgilorance of Itself. I havo told yo.u that I needed to tavel. to .study, to abscrvo mankind and thoso governments Invented In-vented or tolerated by mankind." "Since then, madam." I concluded, stopping to assist her with hor chair, as she signified her completion of our repast, re-past, "since you do not feel now Inclined to bo speclllc. I feel that I ought to make my adlcux. for tho time at least. It grows late. I shall romember this little evening all my life. I own my defeat. I do not . know why you aro licre, or for whom." "At what hotel do you stop?" "The little placo of Jacques Bcrtllllon, a square or so beyond the Place d'Armes." "In that case," she said, "believe me, It would bo more discreet for you to remain unseen In Montreal. No matter which flag Is mine, I may say that much for a friend and comrado in tho service." serv-ice." "But what else?" Sho looked about her. "Be my guest tonight!" sho said suddenly. "Thcro is danger " "For me?" T laughed. i-'At my hotel? On the streets?" "No. for mo." "Whoro?" "Here." "And of what, madam?" r "Of a man; for tho llrst tlmo I am afraid, In splto of all." I looked nt her straight. "Arc you not afraid of me?" I asked. She looked at me fairly, hor color coming com-ing "With the fear which draws a woman to a man." sho said. "Whereas, mlno Is tho fear Which causes a man to flee from hlmselfl" "But you will remain for my protection? protec-tion? I should reel safer. Besides, In that case I should know tho answer." "How do you mean?" "I should know whethor or not you wore married!" CHAPTER XV. With Madam the Baroness, It Is not for good women that mon have fought battles, given their lives and staked their souls. Mrs. W. K, Clifford. "But, Mndam " I began. She answered mo In her own way. "Monsieur hcstltates ho Is lost!" she said. "But see. I am weary. I have been much engaged today. I have made It my plan never to fatigue myself. It is my hour now for my bath, my exercise, my bed. If you please. I fear I must bid you good night, one way or the other. You will be wclcomo hero none the leas, if you care to remain. I trust you did not find our Ilttlo repast tonight unplvasing? Believe Be-lieve mo, our breakfast shall he as good Thrclku Is expert In omelets, and our cof- foo Is such as porhaps you may not find general In those provinces." Was thcro tho sllghteat mocking sneer In her words? Did she desplBe mo as a faint-heart? I could not toll, but did not like tho thought. "Bcllevo mo. Madam," I answorcd, hotly, "you havo courage, at loast. Let mo match it. Nor do I deny that this asks courage on my part, too. If you please, In these circumstances, 1 shall remain." re-main." "You arc armed?" uho asked simply. T Inserted a finger in oach waistcoat pocket and showed her the butts of two derringers; and at tho hack of my nock to her smiling amusoment at our heathen fashion I dlspluyod Just the tin of tho haft of a short bowlo-knlfo, which went Into a loathor enso under tho collar of my coat. And again I drew around tho belt which I woro bo that she could see the barrel of a good pistol, which had been suspended under cover of tho bell skirt of my coat. She laughed. I saw that Bho was not unused to weapons. I should havo guessed hor tho daughter of a soldier or acquainted with arms In some way. "Of course," she snld, "there might bo ncod of theso, although I think not. And In any case, If trouble can bo doforred until un-til tomorrow, why concern oneself over It? You interest me. 1 begin yot more to approve of you." "Then, as to that breakfast a la four-chotte four-chotte with madam; If I remain, will you agree to tell mo what Is your business horoV" She laughed at mo gaily. "I might." she said, "provided that meantime I had learned whetlvcr or not you were married that night." I do not profess that I read all that was In her tnee as sho stopped back toward to-ward the satin curtains and swept me tho most gmcoful courtesy I had cVor scon In all my life. I foit like reaching out a hand a restrain her. Then I rocalled my mission; and I remembered what Mr. Calhoun and Doctor Ward had said. I was not a man; I was a government agent. Sho was not a woman; sho was my opponent. Yes, but then Slowly I turned to the opposite side of this long central room. Thoro wore curtains here also. 1 drew them, but as I did so I glancod back. Again, as on that earlier night, I saw her faco framed In the amber folds a face laughing, mocking. With an exclamation exclama-tion of discontent, I threw down my heavy pistol on tho floor, cast my coat across tho foot of the bed to prcvont the delicate covering from being soiled by my boots, and so rested without further disrobing. In the opposite npartmcnt I could hoar her moving about, humming to herself somo air as unconcernedly as though no such bolng ns mysolf oxlstcd in the world. I heard her presently accost her servant, who entered through some passage pas-sage not visible frdm the central apartments. apart-ments. Thou without concealment there seemed to go forward the ordinary routine rou-tine of madam's toilet for tho evening. At last sho called out to me: "Monsieur!" "Mon-sieur!" I was at my curtains at once, but hers romuincd tight folded, although I heard her volco close behind them. "Eh blcn?" I answered. "It is nothing, except I would say that If Monsieur feels especially grave nnd reverent, he will find a very comfortable com-fortable prle-dlou at tho foot of the bed." "I thank you," I replied as gravely as I could. "And thcro Is a very cxcellont rosary and crucifix on tho tablo Just beyond!" "I thank you," I replied as steadily as I could. "And thero Is an English Book of Common Prayer upon the stand not far from the head 01 the bed, upon this side!" "A thousand thanks, my very good friend." I heard a smothered laugh beyond the amber curtains. Presently sho spoke again, yawning, as I fancied, rathor contentedly. con-tentedly. V "A la bonne heuro, monsieur!' "A la bonne hourc, madamc!" CHAPTER XVI. DcJouner a La Fourchette. Woman Is a crcaturo between man and tho angels. Honore de Balzac A government agent, it seems, may also in pnrt bo llttie moro than a man, after all. In thesotslngular surroundings I found myself not wholly tranquil. . . . At last toward morning, I must have slept It was some time after daybreak when I folt a hand upon my shoulder ns I lay, still partly clad. Awakened suddenly. sud-denly. I arose, and almost overthrew old Thrclka. who stood regarding mo with no expression whatever upon her brown .and wrinkled countenance. Sho did no moro than point tho way to a door, where prosontly l found a bathroom, nnd so refreshed myself and mado the best toilet possible under the circumstances. My' hostess I found awaiting me Jn the central room of tho apartments, Sho was clad now in a girdled peignoir of rich roso-coldr, the sleeves, wide and full, falling fall-ing back from her round nrms. Her dark hair was colled and piled high on hor head this morning, regardless of current cur-rent mode, nnd confined In a heavy twist by a tall golden comb; so that her whlto neck was loft uncovered. The Ilttlo tablo In tho center of the room was already spread. Madam filled my cup from the steaming urn with not the slightest awkwardness, as she noddod for mo to bo seated. We looked at each other, and, as I may swear, wo both broko Into saving laughter. "I was saying," she remnrked presently, pres-ently, "that I would not havo you think thnt I do not appreciate the suffering In which you were plunged by tho haste you found nocestary In the wedding of your Jeuno fllle." . But I was on my guard. "At least. I may thank you for your sympathy, Madam!" I replied. "Yot In time," sho wont on. gono reflective re-flective tho noxt Instant, "you will see how very unimportant is all this turmoil of lovo . nnd marriage. That torch of llfo!" sho mused. "Seol It was only that which you wore so eager to pass on to another generation! That was why you wero 00 mad to hasten to tho side of that woman. Whereas," sho mused still, "It woro so much grander and so much nobler to pass on tho torch of a principle as well!" "Do not philosophize with me," I said. "I am already distracted by the puzzlo you offer me. You arc so young and beautiful, so fair in your Judgment, so kind" "In turn, I ask you not to follow that," she remarked coldly. "Lot us talk of what you call, I think, business." "My dear , lady." I began, "my relation to the affairs of tho American republic Is a veil' humblo one. I am no minister of state, and I know you deal with ministers min-isters direct. How, then, shall I gain your friendship for my country? You aro dangerous to have for an onemv. Are you too high-priced to havo for a friend for a friend to our Union a friend of the principle of democracy? Come now, you enjoy largo questions. Tell mo. what does this council mean regarding Oregon? Is it true that England plans now to concentrate concen-trate all her traders, all her troops, and forco them west up the Saskatchewan and Into Oregon this coming season? Come, now. madam. Is It to ho war?" , Hor curved lips broko Into n smile that showed again hcf smnll .whito teeth. "Were you, then, married?" sho said, I only went on, impatient. "Any moment mo-ment may mean overylhlng to us. , I should not ask these qudstlons If I did not know that you wore close to Mr. Calhoun." Cal-houn." , Sho looked mo square Inrthc eye and nodded her head slowly. " 1 may say this much. Monsieur, that it has pleased me to gain a little furlhor Information." "You will give my government that Information?" In-formation?" "Why should I?" "Yot you spoke of othors who might como here. What others? Who aro they? The representatives of Mexico? Some attache at-tache of the British embassy at Washington? Washing-ton? Somo minister from England Itsolf, sunt here direct?" Sho smiled at me again. "I told you not to go back to your hotel, did I not?" I got no furthor with her, It soemcd. "You Interest me sometimes," she went on Hlowly. at last, "yot you seom lo havo eo Ilttlo bruin! Now, In your employ ment, I should think that brain would bo somewhat useful at times." "1 do not deny that suggestion, Madam." "But you are unable to analyze. TIiuh, In tho matter of yourself. I suppose If you wero told of It. you would only say that you forgot to look In tho toe of the slipper you had." 'Thus far, Baroness," I said noborly, "I have asked no special privilege, at loast Now, if it affords you any pleasure, I beg you, I lmploro you, to tell mo what you mean!" "Did you credit the attache of Mexico with being nothing moro than a drunken rowdy, to follow mo across town with a little shoo In his carriage?" 'But you said he was In wine." "True. But would that be a reason? Continually you show your lack of brain m accepting as conclusive results which could not possibly havo occurred. Granted he was In wlno, granted ho followed me, granted ho had my shoe in his possession posses-sion what then? Dpos it follow that at the ball at tho White house ho could have removed that shoo? Docs Monsieur think that I, too, was In wine?" "I agree that I havo no brain! I can not guess what you mean. I can only beg once moro that you explain." "Now listen. In your most youthful and charming Innocence I presume yoti do not know much of the capabilities for concealment offered by a lndy's apparel! ap-parel! Now, suppose I had a message whoro do you think I could hide It; grunted, of course, the conditions obtaining ob-taining at a ball in tho- Whlto houso?" "Then you did havo a mcssngo? It came to you there, at that time?" Sho nodded. "Certainly. Mr. Van Zandt had almost no other opportunity to moot mc or get word to inc." "Van Znndt! Madam, are you Indeed In tho camp of all these difTorent interests? inter-ests? So, what Pakcnham said was true! Van Zandt Is tho attache or Texas. Van Zandt Is pleading with Mr. Calhoun Cal-houn that ho shall tako up the secretaryship. secretary-ship. Van Zandt promises us tho friendship friend-ship of Tcxns If we will stand out for tho annexation of Texas. Van Zandt promises us ovory effort. In his power against England. Van Zandt promises us tho sternest of fronts against treacherous treach-erous Mexico. Van Zandt Is known to bo Interested In this fair Dona Lucrezia, Just as Polk is. Now. then, comes Van Zandt with his secret messago slipped Into tho hand of Madam at the Ambassador's Ambassa-dor's ball Madam, tho friend of England! Eng-land! Tho attache of Mexico Is curious-furious curious-furious to know what Texas Is saving to England! And that message must be concenled. And Madam conceals It In She smiled at me brilliantly. "You come on," sho said. "Should your head bo opened and analyzed, yes, 1 think a trace of brain might bo discovered by good chomlstry," I resumed Impatiently. "You put his message In your slipper?" She nodded. "Yes. sho said, "in the too of it. Thcro was barely chanco to do that You sec, our skirls arc full and wldo; there are curtains in tho cast room; there was wine by this time; thoro was music; so I effected that much. But when you look tho slipper, you took Van Zaridt's note! You had It. It was true, what I told Pakcnham before the president I did not then havo that noto! You had It At least, I thought you had It. till I' found It crumpled on the table tho next day! It must havo fallen thcro from the shoo whon wo mado our Ilttlo exchange that night. Ah, you hurried rno. I scarce knew whether I was clad or shod, until tho next afternoon nftcr I loft you at tho White Houso grounds. So you hastily depnrtod to your wedding?" "So small a shoo could not have held an extended epistle, madam," I said ignoring ig-noring hor question. ''No. hut tho little roll of paper caused mo ODgulsh. After I had danced I was on tho point of fainting. I hastened to the cover of tho nearest curtain, where 1 might not bo noticed. Sonor Yturrlo of Mexico was somewhat vigilant He wished to know what Texas planned with England. He has long made lovo to me by threats, and Jewels. As' I stood behind the curtain 1 saw his face, J fled; but one shoe tho empty one-was one-was not well fastened, and It fell. I could not walk. I reached down, removed re-moved the other shoe with Its note, hid It In my handkerchief thank Provldenco for tho fashion of so much laco and so, not In wine, monslour, as you may behove, be-hove, and somewhat anxious, as you may also bcllevo. expecting to hear at onco of an encounter between Van Zandt and tho Mexican minister, Senor Almonte, or his attache, Yturrlo, or between one of them and somo one cIbo, I mado my adleux 1 will warrant tho only woman In hor stocking feet who bowed for Mr. Tyler at tho ball that night!" "Yes, so far as I know, Madam, you aro tho only lady who ever loft tho east room precisely so clad. And bo you got Into your own carriage alone after a while? And so, when you wore there you put on tho shoo which was left? And so Yturrlo of Mexico got the other one and found nothing In It! And so, ho wanted this one!" "You como on." she said. "You have something more than a trace of brain." "And that other shoe, which I got that night?" Without a word she smoothed out a bit of papor which she removed from a noar-by d03k, and handed It to me. "This was yours! As I said, In my confusion I supposed you had It. You said I should go In a sack. I suppose I did! I sup-poso sup-poso I lost my head, somewhere! But certainly I thought you had found the note and given It 'Mr. Calhoun; else I should havo driven, harder terms with him! I would drive harder terms with you. now. wero I not In such haste to learn the answer to my question! Tell mo, wero you married?" "Is that answer worth more than Van Zandt?" I smiled. "Yes." she answerod. also smiling. I spread the page upon the cloth he-fore he-fore me; my eyes raced down the lines, I did not make further reply to her. "Madam," wont on the communication, communica-tion, "say to your august friend Sir Richard that we have reached the end of our endurance of tlK'.sc late delays. The promises of tho United States mean nothing. Wo can trust neither Whig nor Democrat any longer. There Is no one party In power, nor will there be. There Is no nation, and Texas knows not where to go. Wo havo offered to Mr. Tyler to Join the union If tho union will allow us to Join. Wo intend to reserve our own lands and reserve tho right to organize later Into four or more states, If our peo-plo peo-plo shall so doslrc. But as a great state wo will Join tho union If the union will accept us. That must ho seen. "England now hesocches us not to enter en-ter tho union, but to stand apart, cither for independence or for alliance with Mexico and England. The proposition has been mado to us to divide into two governments, one free and one slavo, England has proposed to us to advance us moneys to pay all our debts If we will agree to this. Settled by bold men from our mother country, the republic, Texas has boon averse to this. But now our own mother repudiates us. not once, but many times. Wo get no decision. This then, dear madam, is from Texas to England by your hand, and wo know you will cniTv It safe and secret. We shall accept this proposal of England, and avail ourselves of tho richness of her generosity. "If within thirty days action Is not taken in Washington for tho annexation of Texas, Texas will never in tho hla-ory hla-ory of tho world be ono of the United States. Moreover, If tW 5f shall loso Texas, also the 9i and all of Oregon. Cari W I am persuaded that.lt 4 i. to that gentleman whoi you have; and hellovo n i dear madam, with resnort i x yn'wy.?ur3' fot" 1110 states & Zandt." . ) htf I drew a deep breath a Jtf proof of double play, on U W representative of the r Kit southwest '"They aro tn S claimed. "But thero rati something must bo done a not wait; I must go! It 'Jit at loast. to Mr. Calhoun.!? Jt Sho laughed now, Joyous! y whlto hands together, "a, You aro a man. after all; grow brains." j JL "Have I been fair wlth "5 sho ask.cd at length. v ''More than fair. T asked this of you. n ,ai 'Sip learned the news of years! not nlso tell me what Js 2 Chateau Ramezay? Then'- j go homo feeling I bad ,di "Si for my chlof." . 1 "Monsieur. I can not d ! not tell me that other nev l "Of what?" f "Of your nuptials I" '-: if "Madam, I can not do ft you. much as I owe you i to wring your nock. I -w0i 1? your arms in my hands a j until " rfT "Until what?" Her fac t I saw a hand raised to fa df "Until you told mo a g said L , i& I saw her armH move Jl (i hor body incline. She, g steadily, somberly. Thchi mi "Ah. God! how I lmtoi V said; "you and her. You & after all! Yes. It can hoj woman may love ono mar1 he could give her only'a!, And a man may lovo asSj ono woman! I had not'J-tf "Monsieur, adlou!" ahejjf& I bent and kissed her In 7 an reolr " t yjj "No. adieu! Go!" f, W (To bo contlml S? |