Newspapers / Jackson County Journal (Sylva, … / April 6, 1923, edition 1 / Page 6
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THE By SIDNEY GOWING Copyiigtt 1922 by adne? Gowinf Illustrations by ELLSWORTH YOUNG ^~"^~~^^~^-^*,^*^^^,>?*?<^^TOOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOCCOOQQOOOOOOOOQOOQOOOOOOOP DE JUSSAC SYNOPSIS.? Disliking the pros pect of a month's visit to her aus tere aunt. Lady Erythea Lambe, at Jervaulx abbey, and her cousin, Alexander La rube, Aimee, vivacious daughter of the Very Reverend Viscount Scroope, meets a young man who laughingly introduces himself as "Billy," American. The two ride on his motorcycle, the "Flying Sphinx," and part. With Georgina Berners, her cousin, Almee sets out for Jervaulx. She forces Georgina to Impersonate her at Jervaulx, and she goes on a holi day. Aimee again meets Billy. He tells her his name is Spencer, and she gives hers as Amy Snookes. at present "out of a Job." Billy offers to take her into partnership in sell ing the Sphinx. In a spirit of mad cap adventure, she accepts. The two proceed to the town of Stan hoe, taking separate lodgings In Ivy cottage. While Almee is se cretly visiting Georgina at Jer vaulx, the place is burglarized, and the famous Lam be emeralds are stolen. Aimee escapes. Police de cide the thieves are "Jack the Climber" and "Calamity Kate," who travel on a motorcycle. Billy, who has sriadowed Aimee to Jer vaulx, follows the thieves. He is knocked out, but emerges from the fight with the Lam be emeralds. He meets Aimee. with the police In pursuit. In a secure hiding place, a cave among the crag pits, Aimee tells him the whole story. He urges her tl4t she make a frank confes sion to her father, but on reflec tion both realize Almee's good name has been compromised. As suring Aimee he has a plan to save her, Billy leaves her in the cave and, proceeding to Jervaulx, re stores the emeralds to the astound ed Lady Erythea. Billy tells a story that satisfies the police, re fuses a reward and accepts a chauffeur's job from Lady Erythea. Almee gets the place of parlor maid at Jervaulx. Alexander thinks he recognizes Almee as "Calamity Kate." Georgina divulges Almee's Identity. Hearing her story, Alex ander consents to keep the secret. Alexander finds himself very much In love with Georgina. Alexander's sister, I-ady Diana, arrives. An other visitor is the Vicomte de Jufisac, her suitor. Diana reel) nixes Aimee and threatens to n ounce her. Aimee confides in De Jussac. te de J recbg^ 1 to de-Si CHAPTER XIX? Continued. ? 9 ? "What does this menn?" he said sternly. "Diana's found me out, and she's going to tell Aunt, first thing in the morning," said Aimee, with the calm of despair. "And I've told Monsieur de Jussac. I simply had to tell some body. And everybody will know to morrow." "Bather a delicate position, Mon eieur Ie Cure ? eli?" said Bertrand dryly, and not without satisfaction. Alexander flushed tovthe ears and hong his head. He looked so ashamed and wretched that Alraee felt a pang of remorse. "For myself," he said unsteadily, '1 will face the exposure and the pen alty ? for I have deserved it. It is you, Aimee, that I should have wished to save. I would sacrifice myself to do it now, if there were any way, but I see none. You ? and Georglna. That is all that matters." "Tlens! The true ring!" cried de Jussac enthusiastically. ' He seized Al exander's hand and shook it with heartfelt warmth. "Never reproach yourself, mon ami. From first to last, you have acted en galant homme!" "You've been a brick, Alexander. And you'd better go; and not hear any more ? I'll keep you out of it if I can," said Aimee quickly. Alexander looked at his cousin. "I will go, then," he said, "on con dition that you return to your room immediately, Aimee." "All right, I will." "Assuredly ? she shall go at once ! Till the morning then. Monsieur 1' Abbe, and have no fear. The danger *ahall dissipate itself," said Bertrand, and almost forcibly he shepherded the bewildered Alexander out of the room. Bertrand darted back, and caught Aimee by the hands. "He Is bon enfant, the parson i" he cried, "all shall yet be well. But it Is Impossible to require deceit from him. Leave that to me! Mademoi selle, I am a magnificent Mar!" He smote himself proudly on the breast. "You shall see how my talent ? " "But?!" . "Not a word ! I shall consider It an honor ? a privilege. It Is the one situation in which prevarication be comes a virtue! 'Retire, then, made moiselle, and sleep soundly. A way shall be found out of this Impasse, I pledge myself to it ? fol de chevalier! The morning shall bring, not disaster, but happiness!" Aimee was whirled out of the room, hardly less bewildered than Alexander. When she had gone upstairs. Monsieur De Jussac returned to the dining room. He paced the room with long strides, developing a series of plans that flashed through his brain. Some caased him to laugh aloud, others evoked a sigh. "In this country of Puritans, schemes that elsewhere would glow like a golden mist, become Impos sible !** he miised regretfully. Since the coldness of Lady Diana was the main difficulty, Bertrand's -thoughts concentrated naturally upon her, and it is to be feared that Aimee's predicament faded into a secondary place. Allowances must be made for those swayed by the grand passion. Suddenly de Jussac halted among the suits of mail. , "Tiens! the armor," he said, bright ening, "the same of which Diana should have told me the history, but declined.. She shall come to it yet! She approves armor ? she adores the days of chivalry long dead. "Lived we ' in those days," cried Bertrand with rising fervor, "I would hack my way to her favor though a hundred spears barred the path," He struck the nearest breastplate with his fist. "You Sir Knight! If you 3? mpr "What Does This Mean7" He Said t Sternly. did not pay swift homage to my lady," said Berttand, grinding his teeth, "my lance should crash into your midrift! Scrognon-non-non-non-non !" He turned to inspect the pectoral of another suit, beautffully engraved and chased with gold. "Of French workmanship, surely ? never of this country. The English are a great nation, but severe ? severe." He passetf his hands over the breastplate. It detached quite easily from the stand. With a sud den Impulse Bertrand fitted it to his broad chest, passing his arm through the thongs that had held It to the stand. He laughed as he caught sight of his reflection in a mirror. "It becomes me a merveille! Name of a name! Let me envisage myself the conqueror of my Diana !" He strapped on the greaves and cuisses over his dress trousers, donned the gorget and, lifting down the big helmet, placed it over his head, abrad ing his nose in the process. The suit ? it was the same which had fallen during the night of the burglary ? had certainly been made for a knight of great stature ? it fitted de Jussac very well. "Magnifique!" said Bertrand. "And, who knows ? it may be the very suit of my ancestor! The?" Hfc turned slowly, aware of someone approaching. A tall,, spectral figure, white and ethereal, stood in the door way. ^ - It was Lady Diana, In a long girdled wrap trimmed with white fur. In her hand was a rolled up paper that might have been a piece of music; It trem bled visibly. Her fnce, as she gazed at the armored figure, was as white as her garments. She controlled her nerves with a mighty efTort. If It was a spirit, it was Indeed a splendid one. To her, of all people, this manifestation of 1(he Infinite was vouchsafed. For some moments she gazed, In a thrilled s|ence. Then she actually advanced a few steps, faltering. "Speak!" she said, In a voice that quavered slightly. "Are you he? Speak to me. I am of the elect. I am n-n-n-not afraid." De Jussac grasped the situation. He searched his mind swlfty for the mot Juste ? the speech of the Fourteenth century. "Moult puissante dame ? " he began, dropping reverently on one knee. Diana, the moment the unmistak able voice smote upon her ear, gave a piercing shriek, and clasped her hands to her head She swayed as If about to fall. Bertrand rush? I forward, and caught her just In time. "B-B-B-Bertrand !" she gasped faint 'y- ?;! ?( ' The name, wrung from her by stress, was such music In the Vlcomte's ears that he tore off his helmet and kissed her rapturously. "Angel !" he crlefc. "Adored Diana ! Say It again !" ^He made It somewhat difficult for her to say anything. "Say It? whisper It? 'Bertrand !' Ah, hap piest of men!" Diana struggled. "How dare yon!" she said wildly. "How dare you? pretend to be a ghort!" "But I did not ! I thought you were pretending to be one I Let me bear the blame. I love you ? I was in despair ? and put on this mail that for on? mo ment I might imagine myself ap proved. Dear lady of Romance, I am no ghost ? I own It !" He proved It with a kiss that was by no means ghostly. "Oh !" said Diana faintly. The mailed arms encircled her tightly. "Sweetest of all earth's treasures!" exclaimed Bertrand. "You love me? You tremble ? your heart beats. Say it ! You love me !" Suddenly she hid her face against his breastplate. "I-I-I-I do," she whispered, hardly audible, "and ? I should never have dared to let you tell me so." "Thrice blessed accident ! To my un happy ancestor I owe my happiness ! Ah, day of days! Diana, you will marry me, beloved?" "I suppose so. I can't help It, now. Oh ? Bertrand !" "I said that armor was of no avail. But it has conquered!" She glanced up at him shyly. "I shall wear It for evermore!" said De Jussac rapturously. "It shall never be doffed, save at your orders. Diana n," \ ' : ? ? \ 1 "But my aunt !" exclaimed Diana suddenly, her blushes changing to pal lor. "If?" "She will giye us her blessing. In the morning ? " 'But if she found out how tt hap pened !" said Diana in a panic. "And the time ? you do not know how terri ble Aunt can be ? " "She will not know ! I will put my self In order ? I will propose to you again in the morning. We will an nounce It with all formalities." Ber trand was Alarmed to And her almost collapsing; he led her to the table and raised a goblet to her Hps. "A little wine, my angel! It will revive you!" "No. no!" "But yes! You are agitated. Just one sip !" It was impossible to deny anything to the cdnquerlng Bertrand. Lady Di ana permitted herself to Imbibe a little of thp wine ; It restored the color to her checks. "And now," said the Vicomte ten derly, "light of my soul ? " A piercing shriek from Diana jarred painfully on his nerves. Bertrand started and spun around. In the doorway stood the unspeak able purlor maid, capless, her bronze hair flowing over her shoulders. Wick ed laughter convulsed her,* her eyes shone with triumph. "Bless you, ray children !" said Almee. "You've made enough row about it !** ? De Jussac started hastily towards her. Aimee sprang back and closed the door in his face; the key turned with a click. Lady Diana had sunk inert Into a chair. "Stop her ? make her be quiet !" panted Diana trembling. "Bertrand ? If my aunt ? " "Open !" hissed Bertrand, rattling the handle. , - "Leave the door alone !" said Aimee's voice, muffled through the panel. "You can't get out ? either of you. Can you hear me?" "Yes, yes! Mademoiselle ? " "Listen! Within three feet of me is a burglar alarm," said the voice, dia bolically. "I'm going to start it. Be fore you can turn yourselves round, the I whole household will be down on you" ? from Aunt Erythea to the pageboy. Especially Aunt. I'm going to count j three. When ? " "Misericorde !" gasped Bertrand. "Mademoiselle, I Implore you! This is to return evil for good How have we deserved ? " "I have no quarrel with you, VI comte. You're all right. But I've got you both. You'll accept my terms ? " "Anything!" panted Bertrand dis tractedly. "Anything ? " "Stand away from the door, then. Get right back." "Yes, yes!" Aimee applied her eye to the key hole to insure that her orders were obeyed. She opened the door cau tiously, and regarded the distressed pair with intense satisfaction. "Let me be the first to congratulate you !" she said. "Vicomte, I don't grudge my cousin to you. You are welcome. Di !" continued Aimee, fixing Diana with a glittering eye, "I don't want your explanation ? you can ex plain the masquerade to Aunt. But I shall hold my tongue about you ? and. you'll hold yours about me ! I require your word of honor. For you daren't break it!" "Yes!" gasped Diana feebly. "Don't ? don't speak so loud, Aimee ? ** Aimee looked at her, and exploded with laughter. "Every happiness, dear people!" she said, and vanished. "Bertrand !" panted Diana, rising unsteadily. "Did you know anything of this? Do- you understand ? ? She Is not the parlor maid ? she is my cousin. 1 cannot explain; you must say nothing about It. Neither will she! Oh? let me go !" * He caught her In his arms before she could escape. "My angel ! In the morning, our love scene all over again. I have your promise !" "Yes !H she said, wildly. "Oh, let me go!" Lady Diaaa fled from the room and scuttled upstairs like an agitated rab bit The Vicomte, following, blew her an Impassioned kiss as she passed out of sight Returning to the ball, he tore off his armor in a delirium of joy, and replaced it on the stand. . CHAPTER XX Two Pair. Lady Erythea beamed. It seems an impossible term to apply to fbat aus tere countenance. But It was so. When Georgina entered the drawing room at noon ? after nearly twenty four hou^s exile in her bedroom ? she found herSUIeged aunt as near to beaming asTher features permitted. "I am glad you have recovered from your temporary indisposition, my dear Aimee," she said amiably. "During your absence an event has occurred, both romantic and desirable. How sel dom the two things go together!^ "Indeed! What is it?" "Your cousin Diana and Monsieur de Jussac are about to contract an alli ance. They became engaged this morn ing." ( "How perfectly delightful !" breathed Georgina, after a pause of dramatic as tonishment. "I am sure you are pleased ? Aunt?" "Indeed I am. I have not concealed from you my desire that this very thing should come about. It Is the more satisfactory, because only last night I quite despaired of It, and came to regard It as hopeless. But Monsieur de Jussac's suit has prospered amaz ingly; it appears that Diana, as I sus pected, has for some time since been far from indifferent to him. I am de lighted that I gave tliejp the oppor tunity. Only two hours after break fast the Vicomte, with his customary Impetuousness, brought Diana to me and begged for my consent. I need not say that I gave it glRdly." Georgina escaped into the garden. It is possible that Aimee was right when she said that all women are natural actresses in time of need. Georgina's assumption of astonishment at hearing Lady Erythea's news was wholly assumed, and not assumed badly. The announcement was, In fact, no news at all to her. Having on excellent seuse of direc tion, Georgina soon discovered Mr. Al exander Lambe walking on the shel tered paths of the old yew garden be yond the chapel-at-ease. He looked quite as relieved as Georgina. And his eyes lit up wonderfully when he saw her. He hurried forward to meet her. "Mr. Lambe ? !" exclaimed Georgina. Mr. Lambe halted, 'and looked deeply pained. "Have I offended you?" he said al most wistfully. "I thought you gave me permission ? " , "Alexander," murmured Georgina, flushing very attractively. "That Is better," said Mr. Lambe, regarding her with grateful eyes. ."Have you seen your cousin?" "Yes," said Georgina pathetically. "Aimee came into my room veirr early Wicked Laughter Convulsed Her. this morning ; sfte told me the dreadfal thing that had happened ? that your sister had discovered her and was going to tell Lady Erytbea ? and then, when I was nearly frantic with terror, Almee explained that it was all right, and Lady Diana wouldn't say a word about it. Oh, wRat a relief it was!" "She told you that!" cried Alexan der, amazed. "How could she hare known? It was not till an hour or two ago Diana Informed me that De Jussac had Just proposed to her, and she was so happy ? she felt she could not get Almee Into trouble!" Georglna stammered In confusion. She had ttearly made a serious blan der? Almee had told no one but her self about the encounter with the ghost "She mnct have felt confident, I sup pose, of Diana's g-g-goodnew ^of heart 1" faltered Georglna. "Are you pleased about 'the engagement? I do hope yon are. I was afraid ? " Alexander paused. "I am not displeased," he said. "De Jussac Is a good fellow. I did not al ways think so. But ? I have come to see that he la a very good fellow In deed. The l&ve of a good woman la Just what he needs." "I hope they will be very happy," said Georglna softly. Alexander was looking at her with an expression that made her heart beat. "Isn't it splendid," she said quickly, "that Almee won't be suddenly be trayed! She'll have a cffance now. She?" "Aimee!" Mr. Lambe almost explod ed. "It 1s nothing but Aimee! It is you I am concerned about, Georglna ? not Aimee! It wrings my heart, the position you are placed in ? through no fault whatever of your own. It cannot go on ? it is bound to be known very soon now. And when thrft happens ? " "Yes," said Georgina, forlornly. "It will be dreadful. I shall have to face It. They won'< defend me." Alexander took her hands quickly in his. "Give me the right!" he said. Georgina caught her breath. She looked up at him. There was a won derful tenderness in his eyes ; bis face was the face of a man inspired. "Georgina, you have known me only a little while. But I love you. You are the only woman in the world for me. I love you! Do you think you could care for me? just a little?" Georgina tried to free herself. "It is impossible !" she said, turning her face away. | "Why? Do you not care for me?" "Oh ? it is cruel!" gasped Georgina, brokenly. "I am not Aimee. I am here under false pretenses. How can you? I am ? " i "You are the woman I love!" "Oh, let me go!" she said wildly. "You are not yourself ? you have no right to say this to me," sobbed Geor gina, "you believe that a priest in or ders may not marry!" "I never held any such belief ! Of my order, there are some who hold the view. I am not with them. I am cell bate, only because I have never loved till now. Look at me, Georgina!" he said almost sternly, "Do you believe that any human passion would cause me to do what was against my faith?" Georgina looked at him through her tears. "No," she whispered, "I know that you would not." "Come to me, then, Georgina." he said, gently. "What good there is for us to do in the world, let us do It hand m hand. I will make the years won derful for you. Just tell me that you care." He took her masterfully in his arms. "I do love you !" sobbed Georgina. "I love you." Alexander raised her 1 face and kissed her. "I never hoped to hear you say it," he said. She felt his heart beating strongly. "You love me!" "I have loved you," said Georgina, her voice stifled in his coat, "from the first day I saw you." There was a long pause. "It is greater happiness than I dreamed of," said Alexander, humbly. "I have not deserved it." Suddenly he released her and held her at arm's length. "One thing neither of us shall en dure. No subterfuge ? no secrecy about this. It is too sacred. We shall make ,It known at once. It Is you I am think ing of. Our betrothal must be an nounced," said Alexander decisively, "and then ? " . Before there was any time for re flection, Fate was upon him In the shape of Lady Erythea, walking ma jestically along the path with her lit tle Highland terrier at her heels. Al exander halted. "Aunt !" he exclaimed. "Georgina ? I ? we?" He stopped short. "What on earth is the matter with you?" said Lady Erythea, raising her ear-trumpet. For once Alexander was at a loss. He had turned very pale. Georgina came nobly to his rescue. "Alexander," she said faintly, yet articulately, "has asked me to be his wife." And, with desperate confusion, she added ? "may I?" . The ear-trumpet clattered on the gravel. Lady Erythea gathered Geor gina into a triumphant embrace. "My dear child," she exclaimed, kissing Georgina warmly on both cheeks, "I am delighted!" Lady Ery thea released her and kissed Alexan der. "You have made me very, very happy. The match is in every way ideal. Alexander, you will have just such a wife as I should have chosen for you ? and I never thought you would have the sense to choose one at ail. My dear Almee, your excellent father, I am sure, will be as pleased about this as I am." Georgina felt ner knees giving way. She stooped and recovered the ear trumpet. "W-would you mind not telling any body for just a day or two?" she said desperately. "We have told you, but we ? I ? feel ? " Lady Erythea smiled. < 'Foolish, romantic child!" she said, patting Georgina'* cheek. "Well, well ?we sliall see." She turned and disappeared towards the house. The betrothed cottqle looked at each other. Alexander squared bis big shoulders. "What on earth will happen n'owT* said Georgina faintly. Alexander's reply was practical. He lifted her suddenly off her feet and kisaed her. 1 don't care what happens P an nonnced Alexander. And be kissed again. <\ .j,j CHAPTER XXI r"*"" A New Partnership. "It rains all the time in this cuan. try," said Billy, discontentedly, "except when yon want It to." He addressed the remark to the dry and unresponsive soil. Billy's aUi'iuto at the moment whb unusual. He * !s close to the footpath along which he had wheeled the Sphinx, after t!i?* en. counter with the motorcycle thieves <>n the night of the burglary. That event was now many days old, yet no rain had fallen in the meant im? and here and there the track of ihe Sphinx's tires was faintly visible in the dried mud? to anyone who had oo UBually good e^es. "If they've got a Scotland Y:jrd sharp down here now," reflected Hilly, "and he goes over the ground, it's possible he might see what that f. >ol iuspector at Stanhoe never tumbled to. That there were two motorcycles and not one, at the place where Jack the Climber got ditched. If they wer. to track up the Sphinx now It woulii mighty awkward. They'd soon con nect her with Aimee and me. L<(it I guess it's an outside chance." The slight impression of a tire murk, a little to the right of the path, caught his eya It had passed over a >. ft mole hill, and was clearly defined. Billy paused, and inspected it with a hew interest. The fashion of his countenance changed ; he went down on hands and knees, and looked very closely indeed. "Snakes !" exclaimed Billy. He rose, and quartered the ground carefully for a considerable distance in either di rection. The grqund was too hard to show any continuous track. But mole hills were plentiful, and some way far ther on he found another one, also showing the print of a tire. ."It's the same. And not the Sphinx's tire, by a mile !" said Billy, knitting his brow. "This one was steel-studded." With growing perplexity he made a close examination of the soil, and pre* He Kissed Her Again. ently discovered other traces. There were a few footprints and, faint though they were, they bore some very marked characteristics. Billy stood up straight and gave a liquid whistle. The furrows in his brow deepened. He carried his inves tigations still farther afield, but to ward the healthy common the soil was ?light, wind-blown sand that shifted with every fresh breeze. There were no tracks left. The seeker was at a loss. Billy stopped ahd reflected rapidly. "It came this way, whatever it was," he said. "But why on earth did It? and how? Let's start from the begin* ning." He struck across country and, break ing through a hedge, came out into the blind lane where Jack the Climber's machine had crashed on the fateful night; the spot where he had recov ered the emeralds, and made acquaint ance with Calamity Kate's resource fulness. The muddy lane still ?howed slight traces, very much mixed up and tram pled, of the place where the thieved machine had fallen ; the ruts were now dried and hard. Billy also recognized what were evidently the hoof marks ol the Stanhoe police. "A herd of steers wouldn't have made more mess," said Billy. "And Panke found nothing after all, or he'd have ? Well, I can't blow much, either. I've been here twice since, but never got wise to it till now." He turned back down the lane to ward the highway, his eyes noting t!'# smallest details of the ground. "Here's my track; pretty n"*f washed out. And here's the other':-. That cycle was a big Indian, by what little I saw of it. And likely It whs half crippled when it got away. Arid here It got on the high road, and head ed straight on past Jervaulx again That's mighty queer. I always reck oned they'd have jonp the other way. Something must bftte turned them." "I can't let you go!" said Billy, wildly. ?You're the dar ling of the wnrldl" (TO BE CONTINUED.) Obedience Is tfcfc price of ^Iritual knowledge
Jackson County Journal (Sylva, N.C.)
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April 6, 1923, edition 1
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