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F t I i I k H filE C BANC 09 ham fi i tl L j M m Co CHAPTER XIII The Princess Suite A housemaid some time later that tha night n moved noiselessly over o th the hea rugs In the boudoir of the princess sUite suit next ext to armory hall on the thc second stor story of house Glancing nervO about her from time to time tine the woman woma trimmed a candle here and set another there then lifted with t ponderous d s brass bras tp da tongs a few coals and placed la them so o on In the smoldering bed In the delicately tinted tinte fireplace fireplace- After which she stood before it in the attitude of ot one who is waiting waltin though not with stolid and undisturbed patience ItA clock ticked loudly on the mantel mante ens at It around her at the shadows shadows shadows shad shad- of ot two beautiful marbles on pedestals pedestal of malachite Moving into the tho bedroom beyond she took from a wardrobe of ot old ok French workmanship a rose dressing dressin gown this and a pair of ot slippers of or lik like color she brought out and placed near nea the fire As she did so she started straightened suddenly then her expression expression sion slon changed the voice of Lord Rons Rons- dale without was followed by that o of Jocelyn Wray Never fear They'll get the fellow y yet t my lord had said Jocelyn answered mechanically th the door opened the maid caught a glimpse glimps of face of the cold eyes that tha looked the least bit annoyed t I Although it was most moat bungling on their part to have permitted him to get away he went on I hope however this little unexpected episode wont won't disturb your you rest An Instant the steely eyes seemed to to contemplate her closer Many gOing goin away tomorrow he asked as 1 if to di divert di- di vert ert her thoughts ts from the exciting experience experience ex ex- of ot the evening before leaving her ber Only Captain Forsythe and and Mr Steele Did he be notice the slightest hesitation on her r part before speaking P t the l last las name My lords lord's eyes fell an n odd ld ex expression ex- ex appeared on his face tace He murmured murmured mur mur- inured a few last perfunctory words Ithen then then- get him yet et He cant can't get away he repeated The words had hac a sibilant sound he bowed deferentially and strode off not toward his own chamber however but toward the great stairway leading down to the first story As the door closed behind her young ward mistress Did the e elk y you maid lk learn came anything quickly l y ym m more for for- Miss Iss Jocelyn if I may be so bold as to ask from the police agent Who Vho the criminal was or orThe orex or- or The police iC agent only said h he was an art ex sg- sg convict ex-convict no ordinary I one who a ha had escaped from London and was making for tor the sea They got word he be was at the village and followed him there but h he h managed to elude them and th they y tr traced ced him to house park where he had taken refuge The police did not acQuaint acquaint acquaint ac- ac quaint Sir Charles Lord or any anyone anyone lone one with their purpose thinking not to I alarm warm us needlessly beforehand And And I I believe that Is all 13 4 moment the woman waited I shall I shall The girl looked bet before ore her tiny flames I from the grate heightened the the sheen on I her gown they threw passing lights on Ithe the somewhat tired proud face I shall shallOt Inot lot Ot need you rou Dobson she said You Imay may go A moment The woman who I had bad turned half-turned waited Jocelyn's glance had lowered to the fire In its reflection I her slim delicate fingers were rosy She unclasped them smoothed the brocade absently absently ab- ab with one hand One or two are leaving early tomorrow You will see see see- you will give instructions that everything every every- thing Is provided for their comfort The X e maid responded and left lett the room Jocelyn stood as if wrapped in reverie reverie fAt At length she stirred suddenly and extinguishing ex ex- all but one dim light sank back Into a chair hair Her I eyes half halt closed then Ithen then shut entirely One might have hav thought her sleeping except that her breathing was not deep enough the goldI gold- gold I remained motionless against the I soft pink of ot the dressing gown the hand that dropped limply from the white wrist lover over the arm of the chair did n not t stir Around Amend all was stillness time passed then a faint shout from somewhere Inthe in inthe the gardens far off orr aroused her The girl looked around but Immediately si- si sl-I sl lines fence again reigned she got up Leaning against the shaft holding one I orthe marbles she regarded without seeing seeing see see- ing log a chaste youthful Canova and beyond beyond be be- yond painted on boards and set against satin a Botticelli face spiritual sphinx sphinx- like Her brows were slightly drawn she breathed deeply now as If there were something In the place Its quiescence Immobility of ot the lovely but ghostlike semblance of faces with which it was peopled that oppressed her She seemed tobe to be thinking or questioning herself herselt when suddenly her attention was at attracted attracted attracted at- at again by a sound of a different kind or was it only fancy tancy She looked toward a large Flemish tapestry covering one entire end of the room behind the antique landscape in green threads she knew there was a disused door leading into armory hall hail Drawing back the heavy folds she stepped a little behind them the door was locked and bolted moreover more more- oyer over several severa heavy nails naUs had fastened It completely Isolating Isolating- her suite as it were from that spacious general apartment Again the sound This time she placed laced It the it-the the creaking of or the giant branch of ot ivy that ran up and around her ber own balcony The girl paused Irresolutely irresolutely her hand on the hea heavy ancient hanging Leaning forward she waited but the noise stopped she heard d nothing h tr more told herself it was a. a nothing and was about to move out again when her gaze was suddenly held by something that passed like a shadow shadow shadow-a a mans man's arm arm on on the other aide of the nearest window between between between be be- tween the modern French curtains not quite drawn together SIn In that inconsiderable space between the silk fringes she was sure she j I had seen it and anything suggestive of ot dolce far niente disappeared from the girl girls girl's s blue eyes The window opened wider noiselessly but quickly then a hand strong shapely pushed the curtain aside Had the Intruder first satisfied himself that the room was vacant He Tie acted as one certain of his ground now drawing window the draperies quickly together behind behind behind be be- hind him as if seeking to escape observation observation observation tion from any anyone one below he stepped out Into the room Something he saw seemed to surprise him a low exclamation fell from his lips his eyes searching in the dim light his surroundings swiftly passed from the rich furnishings the artistic decorations bright colored robe the little slippers slippers slippers slip slip- pers before the fire Here they lingered but out only for a moment Did the Intruder hear a sound a quick breath His ISis gaze swerved to the opposite end of the room where It saw a living presence For a moment they looked at at each other theman's theman's the theman's mans man's face turned very pae his hand touched the back of ot a chair he steadied himself hall hall did did thought thought to to enter armory not Dot know your rooms were here he managed to say in a low tone at at this cO corner r of S house se fd She lh did not answer s so they stood silently absurdly Her face was was like paper her hair in contrast most bright her tier eyes expressed only Incomprehension The man had to speak first he pulled himself together The bad fortune that had ha dogged him so long that he had fought against so hard now found its culmination It had cast him of ot all places hither at her feet ISo So be he It well destiny now could harm him little more His eyes gleamed a reckless light shone out a a. daredevil luster lus- lus ter ter He continued to look at her ber then threw back his head liI I I had hoped you would never know but TUt the gods It seems he could even laugh have ordained otherwise Fata Still that startled uncomprehending bending hending look on the girls girl's white face tace He went on more quickly like a man driven toy to You do not understand you are credulous take people for what they seem seem not not for what they are or have been He lIe stopped a suggestion of pain creeping creep creep- ing Into her expression as if It if behind won wonderment she was conscious of Something something Some thing being rudely torn wrenched in her Innermost being held him His face tace grew set Bet the nails of his closed fingers cut cuthi hi his hia palms But the laugh returned to his Ups Up the luster to his eyes mS r Or r have been I he repeated A good many n people e h have t their pasts Can you Imagine what it ith mine e may nave have be been But ABut she scarcely followed his words she did not think she could not she seemed to stand in a hateful dream Looking at him the him the torn evening i 1 i I Ia a 1 l J w fri 1 ri 4 I 4 I Had Hoped You Would Never Know clothes his clothes his face tace pale different ListenIng Listening Listen- Listen Ing ng to him to him to what what- A convict said the man Yes that's hats what I was Had been in jails jails jaBs ails And was sent out of the country years rears ago transported But time went by and the convict thought he might safely come back with boldly boldly with impunity The Che years and and had alered altered altered al- al ered him wrought him wrought great changes He felt compelled to return why return why is of no moment moment believed believed himself secure in so soloing doing and loing and was was until until chance led him out of his accustomed way way way-to to new walks walls new new faces where faces where lay the danger the danger the abush into which he who thought himself himself him- him self elf strong like a weak fool walked walked walked-or or was led led blind led blindly He caught himself up with a laugh But what is this to you Enough the convict found himself him him- self elf recognized his Identity thoroughly established He waited still she was silent the lIttle littIe lIt lIt- tIe tle le hands clasped tightly the heavy drapery drapery drapery dra dra- pery that moved as if it she were putting part of ot her weight on it TIer Her expression showed still that she had not yet had time Ime to comprehend that for her what he said remained even now but words confused inexplicable A strange sequel to o a strange night a night that had begun begun beun be- be gun un with such gayety and that had lad been interrupted after atter he had left ift her lier ler by the shouting and rough ol voices i from rom the garden She seem seemed d to hear them hem anew and afterward the explanation tion lon of that odd little person the police poUce agent gent his apologies for breaking in upon the he cotillion But he had said said sald- The blue eyes bent like stars now on this Ms man in her room standing before her ler with bold mocking face as If If it his his his' dark ark eyes read understood every thought that pass passed d through her brain You then You then it was you you John John Steele Steele- that they they they- The convict they tried to arrest Yes Tes You I dont don't Her voice was al almost almost almost al- al most childlike I will help you to to understand to-understand Stand tand An Anshen ashen shen shade came over his face but it passed quickly his voice sounded brusque For months since a fatal evening all alJ tight light brilliancy beauty the beauty the convict has been een trying to hold back the inevitable but ut the net whose first meshes were then woven has since been drawing closer loser closer In the world two forces are re ever at work the pursuers and the pursued pursued In this instance the former harshlY were unusually clever lie He struggled hard to keep up the deception until he could complete a defense worthy of f the name But to no avail avaU He felt the le end near did not expect it so soon however this night night this very night night- The man paused there was a strange gleam learn In the dark eyes that lingered on her ler its light was succeeded by another a fiercer expression For the first time she le moved shrank back slightly Im afraid I used a few tew of them roughly he ha e said with look derisory There was waso no o time for tor soft talk it was cut and run gIve give leg bail ball as the thieves say Did id he purposely relapse into coarser words to clench home the whole damning detestable truth Her fine soft lips Ups quivered quivered ered red it may be she felt herself awaken- awaken slowly ing-slowly ng slowly one hand pressed now at her breast In the grate the fire sank although al- al though a few licking flames still thrust their heir fiery tongues between black lumps of f coal But it was a a. close call out there Inthe in inthe the he garden They were before the convict con con- viet vict ct in the woods he must needs double back ack to the shadow of the house At the bottom ottom of ot a moat he looked up to a balcony bal bal- cony ony overhead small as Juliet's though Juliet's though I swear he thought It led to armory hall not ot here had he known the truth he would have stayed there first and and and- But as s It was he heard voices voice around the corner orner afar atar men approaching The IVY at house is almost as old as the ie house itself the main branches branches- larger arger than a man mans man's s arm It was not difficult to get here though I wish now now- ow he dared smile bitterly they bitterly they had lad come on me first The breeze at the window slightly shook hook the curtain it waved in and out the ie tassels struck faint taps on the sill But wh why why why- the he he began at length then hen stopped as If the question were gone jone almost a as soon as It suggested It- It self ser ld I 1 return here here enter enter re-enter Stra- Stra thorn lorn house he completed it for tor her i i I Because there seemed nothing else to todo todo todo do it was probably only temporizing with the inevitable Inevitable but but one always tem tern She moved slowly out into the room his face tace was half averted all the light that come from the grate rested now on hers At that instant she seemed like a shadow beautiful but a shadow goIng go go- Ing toward him as through no volition of ot other her own The thick texture on the floor drowned the sound of h her steps c 1 i rfd t paused with her fingers s on the Sill gilded n frame of a settee He did not t turn n. n al although although al- al though h he must et hl have 1 known 0 she was i near with his back toward her he gazed down at t the s soft bright hues u of the rug Ah 3 ih I Ilace and o on it a white it thing a tiny bit of lace a handkerchief that some time before before before be be- fore had fluttered to the floor and had been left lying there But But she spoke spore now you now you you who seemed all that was was was-I I cant can't believe believe it it is impossible inconceivable impossible-inconceivable- inconceivable His features twitched the nerves seemed moving beneath the skin but hut buthe buthe he answered in a hard tone I 1 have told you the truth because the words broke from him I had to Must I I. I despite de do- spite himself there was an accent of acutest pain in his voice repeat it No said the girl Oh no You gu guessed L was going away I was going so do that you might never 1 lOam learn arn what you know now I guessed I guessed you were going Ah to tonight to- to night on night on the balcony Did he divine what her words recalled could not but bring to mind A |