"A TRIUMPH OF LOVE"

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 35, 11 February 1929, Page 18

"A TRIUMPH OF LOVE"

CHAPTER XVIII. Leon Durochat, ho\vcv?r, warned by Gremont and acting in concert with him, sent Leopold to master the mbel. She agreed and, according to Biseau. Jacques Duroehat also on his side had bowed to circumstances, or to his father. On the following day at lunch. Luce, who had come back from a visit to her brother in the Rue Spontini, told Madeleine that they would both go to Sevres that afternon to meet M. Jacques Duroehat. He was to be there on the stroke of four o'clock, at the entrance to the park. '•Good," said Madeleine, sulkily, "but why this journey. M. Duroehat could just rfs well speak to me here." "I proposed the place myself," said Luce, "and 1 promise that it will please you. There is nothing so pretty around Paris." As a matter of fact. Luce had been induced to kill two birds with one stone. When she left Daniel Sarosch last night, he pressed her so tenderly that she promised to see him again to-day toward tea time at the Blue Pavilion at St. Cloud. And now this morning Jules Gremont had ordered his sister to arrange an interview for Madeleine and Jacques at about the same moment, when she was expecting to listen to the sweet nothings of the impressive Daniel. Although she had hitherto been very, simple-minded, Luce conceived her plan on this occasion with the lightning rapidity which distinguished great captains and clever ladies. She declared that one could not choose for a meeting of two young people who were about to be engaged a better milieu than the, wood at Sevres, decorated as it was at the beginning of June with the. most charming verdure. For Luce knew well that the road is short which leads along the river bank from Sevres to the Blue Pavilion. Let others decide whether Luce Forest, an honest widow, was compromising herself a little, or more than a little, in agreeing to take tea in the Blue Pavilion with" her beautiful Hospodar. Let them condemn her if they will. For ourselves, we would as soon think of blaming a lamb. As it was necessary to go to Sevres, Madame Forest explained that one could take the train either at the lnvalides <>r Montpa masse, or go by tramway from the Louvre. '"No, thank you," declared Madeleine, pushing back her plate. "No doubt."' -aid Madame Forest, calmly, "a motor ear would take us there more quickly and comfortably right up to Sevres." "I want to go by boat."' said Made- ■ leine, angrily. A little later they embarked, at the Tuileries. As the steamer started out. Luce said: "Thank goodness, my little Mado. you are not one of those'young girls who have t«y be watched all the time. You can talk very well with M. Jacques Duroehat without my spying on you all the while." "An excellent idea," said Madeleine, rather surprised. When they reached the landing ttage. Luce remarked: "You know there is a very interesting porcelain factory at Sevres. ] have always wanted to see it." "You will have plenty of time to-dav " said the girl. "Oh, more than 1 shall need. T will go for a walk afterwards. - '

By PIERRE BILLOTEY

After a silence Luce added, as if by sudden inspiration: -Wliat about j;oiiig back by St. Cloud this evening?" Madeleine made no difficulties and they agreed that the two should meet at six o'clock on the river bank. Hand- behind his buck and his head thrust forward, .laeipies walked up and down in the park. He did not lioti.-e Madeleine and Luce until tliev were within a few steps of him. Then, rai-»-injr his head, lie approached them and. in the tone of voice in which one expresses o!ie"s condolences after a funeral service, asked if the ladies were well. Madame Forest announced almost at once, that she was jroing- to see the factory, and vent gaily away. The two yoiui" people walked along silently. They had both rehearsed their speeches, and neither knew how to commence. "Shall we turn down here?" said Jacques, pointing to a slope. '"This is a [ quiet road. A road," he added, with j simibrc irony, •"that leads to the Devil's Bridge." Without reply, Madeleine followed him. Jacques went on with an effort: '"It was my intention, mademoiselle, after what we have heard, not to trouble you any more. There are, however, obligations which 7 cannot escape." He stopped and, turning to Madeleine, said very quickly: "Will you tell me, mademoiselle, if I have your permission to ask your uncle, M. Leopold Biseau, for your hand?" "M. Jacques Duroehat," sighed Madeleine, "you are not ignorant that family reasons compel me to agree. Go, then, and make your request to M. Lenmn. whom you call my uncle. 1 permit you. since I cannot stop you." But Jacques, seizing Madeleine's wrist. said earnestly: "Yes, you can. Believe me, they have frightened you too much with these family reasons. They are not so powerful as all that. As far as I am concerned, I should consider myself a waster if 1 took advantage of them." Madeleine certainly did not understand, and Jacques proceeded to explain his interview with his father. It can be summarised in a single phrase. M. Leon Duroehat had staged for his son, too, the revolver scene.

Some hours after he had said good-bye to Madeleine in the Luxembourg, Jacques arrived at St. S . Although it was midnight, he found his father in liis oltice. M. Leon Durochat, with a benevolent attention, heard the young' man without interruption. When he had sufficiently repeated that Madeleine and he had no wish to marry and disapproved of the negotiations which had been carried on behind their hacks, the Mayor of St. S raised his voice: "Your decision is final?" he demanded, stressing the words. "Absolutely," Jacques assured him. Very calm and more of a noble Roman than ever, M. Durochat looked at his son and said: '"Very good, my child. In that <;)-<■ there is nothing for it but to put a bullet through my head." He opened the drawer. Then, continuing to handle the weapon, he oxplained that he was reduced to bankruptcy. The marriage of Jacques and Madeleine would have saved him. That

is why Leon had done his best to make it possible. '"We will talk no more about it," he added, "but I shall not surrender alive." Then he pointed the revolver towards hie temple. M. Duroehat, senior, was a strong man. Jacques was unable to disarm him, and in alarm, he cried: ''Stop! I will do anything you please, but put down, tliat pistol!" CHAPTER XIX. In making this ejaculation, Jacques was thinking only of gaining time. Leon jvostsibly susj>eeted this, but nevertheless lie replaced the pistol in the drawer. Then he declared with assurance that Msileleine would be very willing to marry Jacques as soon as her true situation was explained to her. She would indeed consider henself very lucky to Ims able to avoid the risk of scandal which threatened the names of her parents and would enter joyfully into a family so much respected ae that of the Durochat*. Moreover, there was nothing rn the arrangement about which Jacques need fear any unpleasantness. The simple announcement of his engagement with Madeleine would restore the tottering credit of M. Duroehat. There wan no doubt that M. Garain would give i-omc .signal mark, of his favour to the young couple and select them as the most worthy of hLs descendants to succeed to the greater part of his enormous estate The Mayor of St. S —, solidly founded henceforth in the eyee of all the world on one of the biggest fortunes in France, would be able to overcome his dilHiuiltiets. At the end of hit; recital, Jacques said: — "I believed as much of this as I wanted to and no more, but I pretended to bo convinced. Could I pay to my father: 'Very well, ehoot yourself?' That was obvously impossible, so 1 promised to ask for your hand and you are my witness, mademoiselle, and I have kept my word. Aβ far a* you are concerned, however, I can assure you that you remain entirely free. You have no concern with arguments and wrangling? at which you were not present. Refuse me. 1 should feel ashamed if you accepted me for such reasons."

"And if your father blows out hi* brains." said Madeleine, "will that be my fault t" "Krankiy, I don't suppose he will do anything of the kind. When 1 leave you I shall go to him and *av: "Mademoiselle Biseau will have nothing to do with me. You >ee how upset I am. You must get out of this trouble ae well as you can. If we are ruined, so much the worse, but there is no need to die of that unle-s we want to." "My d«'ar Monsieur Jacques," *aid Madeleine, smiling, "I can ree from your appearance that you are not at all ar= reassured a«5 you pretend to be. Please don't think for a moment that I suspect you now. Neither of u* i* responsible "for what has happened, but there i> one tiling certain. We cannot loveeach other to order. A* far as I am concerned —and you mubt forgive me for thU —-the more necensary thirs marriage appears, the more it displeases me. Dou't you feel the same':" "Absolutely." '"Wβ agree then. I said yesterday that I would agree to marry you. You have said the eame tiling under compulsion. There is no reason why we should not both have an idea in the back of our mind-'. Yon my consent in order that I might refuse it, and I intended to ;rive it to you, but only in appearance."' "In appearance?" repeated Jacques, not understanding. They had reached the Devil's Bridge and Medeleine. leaning against the ballustrade, went on: "If we persisted in refusing, we should L-aiiise at once a dwaeter, the ruin and perhaps »!ie death of your father, and a scandal, which would pain me very much. It can be, however, a matter of saving appearances, both on my side and on yours. That i* all that is needed. Let us give way, Jacques, but only in words. The news "of our engagement will be sufficient to save your father perhaps and to stop malicious goesip about my mother. Let us get engaged, then, and we will marry when it is necessary, if we can't get out of it. but. . . ." Here Madeleine blushed furiously and looked down at her ehoes. "1 understand," said Jacques. "You have found the solution." "What do you understand?" asked the young trirl in a low voice. "That our marriage will be in name only." "Yes. Jacques, that is what I mean. We will be two friend*, two very good friends, and when tne time comes that circumstance* no longer bind us, we can separate." Jacques was almost ready in pure admiration to kiss Madeleine after this, but he realised in time that an engagement of this order hardly justified such a cordial demonstration. (To be continued daily.) TO EASE A TICKLING COUGH. "Many thanks," writes a lady, "for the splendid help you sent me in Pulmonas; they eased my throat greatly. I suffer from a tickling cough at times, especially at nights. The Pulmonas I have taken have acted like a charm." I Pulmonas are invaluable night or day. They quickly relieve coughs, colds, 'flu, etc. 1/6 and 2/6.