t

CwrtBht. M18. by *

•HUM C*

SYNOPSIS an orphan, half French, half Azu-rlcan. ataitlnc for America ' “ vlth an uncla meets Count At croaetrvg to secure mules for France.

woman hater, Boberta adopts man's attlm.

Her uncle. General Carrathera. Informs his supposed nephew that he needs his knowledge of French to stralrhien out a deal for pro Tiding mules for France. The roramor's honor Is Inrolred In the mule dsaL Roberta pledges her aid and Is introduced to Governor Faulkner and to his private secretary. Burn Olendecnlng. Kra. Jeff 'Whitworth Is deep In the mule scheme with her husband and endeavoring to get the governor's signature to the The governor gives a dinner to Roberta, who has been mads private secretary pro tern. She matches her wits against Mrs Whlrwcrtfc. Roberta examines spedflcaliona of the proposed deal. Bra. Whitworth tries to pump Roberta and makes love to ter. Roberta accompanies the governor to the state prison, where he wishes to sas a murderer. The Utter attack* the governor, and Roberta deflects the blow. Roberta discovers that the murderer has killed hie man In defending a woman. She secures a statement from the woman. She takes the statement to the governor, who gives her a letter announcing the Imminent arrival of Count de Bourdon

The count arrives. He Is In the plot with the Whitworths to defraud tbs French government In the mule dee] Roberta goes with the governor to a mountain district from whence news baa coma that a Frenchman ts detained In captivity. The captured man U Count de I-ceeellaa, Who recognises Roberta through her dl»gulse to her embsrrmaameiii *n0 the governor's astonishment The count denounce* Count de Bourdon, and tbs governor tells him he had not signed the papers for the fraudulent mule deal. Roberta, abashed at the expneurs of her sex, makes her way to h»r Is's house alone. She robes herself In woman’s attire. Tbs governor finds her ar-i declares hie love. Roberta's uncle and liuxx appear to witness the engagement. The game of the plotters Is foiled, and Roberta's uncle gives assent tn her engagement to the governor.

CHAPTER XVI. -You Ara-Mysolfl- ^ A N r / ns i bad plainted I then accomplished. 1 diwuvcrod that 1 Ug lit foot at pasinrv. and 1 - gnickly bad placed the saddle upon blm and bad curued bim down tbs mountain to < bouse a safe pat'i for both blmsrlf and uu 1 did pot look kpeu tbuss iradlra of fragrant I •ought tn which the boy Uolw-rt bad lain al rest beside bis great friend. I bo <iouvemeur Faulkner, from whom ho bad stolen faith and affection. •'Why did not j«u ab-o »ionl bis pockrtbook as be lay asleep beside you. Roberta, ninruulee of tire* and Byef 1 questioned mj»oif, w lib aeon and torture, bs gieal I.l*j: ' out t-rnr'.ed down from that (^ttup iie»vt - i*u , .oe

dark sight.

And on we rode, the la mu horse with the woman upon liK back, for lung night, through fragrant thicket* that caught nl my riding breeches with rose t'.ndrtl Augers and under thick forests of building trees, through whose branchea of tendi wise old stan hxiked down upon my bitter weeping with nothing of comfort, perhaiw because they had grown of a hardmws of heart from Imving aeeu so many tears of women drop In the silence of a lonely night. Then came a dawn and a noon and a twilight, through which 1 pushed forward the large horse with great cruelty, only pauring ’■••side • trariuis j to allow Unit he drink of the suiter | and also to throw nivself down on my | face and lap the cwl refreshment like j MM** w

an. and a gnat sobbing came from my heart as I threw myself Into my cherry. after giving a supper to good Mghtfoot. and fled down the long road to the distant city of Hayesrllle that lay away In the valley like a great neat of glowworma In a glade of the leave* of da rimes*. And among those glowworm* I knew that more than a hundred friend* to me were beginning to go Into sleep with deep affection In their beam for that Robert Carruthrra whom wicked Roberta, marqulae of 6m end Bye. was about to steal from them. 1 wept as I turned my cherry through the back street and Into the garage of my uncle, the General Robert. Then 1 paused. All was-*-julet In the house, and no light burned in the apartments of my beloved protector and relative. From the watch at my wrist I ascertained the hour to be half after 10 o'clock, and I knew that he was safely In caflos at that club of Old Hickory, whose lists now bore the added one of another Robert Oarratbera. man of honor and descendant oT Its founders. Also there was no light In the rear of the house In the apartment of that kind Kterle. In whose affections I bad made a large plate. A dim light burned In the ball, and I knew that there : would find my faithful chocolate Bonbon sitting upon a ' hair by the great door asleep. “It is hello there, good Bonbon.” 1 greeted him. "Howdy, Mr. Robert." be answered me by a very large amlle, with very white teeth act In his face of extreme blackness. “The geui said to call him on the fome as soon as you come." “That 1 will attend to from my apartment.” 1 answered him and then as- < v«jded the wide dark stairway with feet which were as a weight to my

ankles.

Very Blowly I entered that apartment and turned on the bright light. All was In readiness for me. and on the small table under the glass case that contained that bed owe red robe of state of the dead Grandmamma Can-others stood a vase of very fresh and Innocent young roses. “I would that I could remain and fulfill the dc*Uny of a woman of your bouse. Madam Grandmamma." I whispered to ber lovely and smiling portrait on the wall opposite. ”1 am the last of the ladles Carruther*. but 1 have a forfeit of that destiny, and I must go out In the night again In man's attire to a death that will tear asunder the tender flesh that you have borne. Ooodby!” Then I made a commemvinent of uty rapid pac-kinr:—In one of thoi bugs which 1 had purchased from the kind gentleman In the city of New York—of what raiment I knew would he suitable for a inau In very hurried traveling. 1 put Into It the two aulta »f clothing for wear In the daytime, but 1 discarded all of my clothing for the pursuit* of pleasure. "You must make a great hurry. Thief Roberta, for P draws near midnight, and that I* the hour that the train depart* to the north,” 1 cautioned my weeping aelf. "At that hour yon go forth Into the world alone.” And then what eu*ued? Very Kuddenly I heard the noise of a car l>elng draw n to the curb In front of the house and the rapid atei>a of a man's progress along the parings of brick to the front door, at which he made a loud ringing. In not a moment was the good Bonbon at my door with a knocking. "The governor I* here to aee you. Mr. Robert.'' he Informed me. "What ahall you do, Roberta, marquise of Grvr and Bye r” I asked of myself. "How la It that you can l*e able to aupport the cold reproaches de will give to you while requiring thmt you stay to bring dishonor to your uncle, the General Robert? You are caught hi a trap aa la an animal.” And then, a* 1 covered there In my agony, very suddenly that terrible daredevil ro*c within me and gave to me a very at range counsel. As R was •peaking to me my gaxe was hied upon Hie rotw of slate of the beautiful grand mamma. t en well. then, that great Gouveriuur Knulkuer can glte hi* ebastiae ment and lay bla command* upon the la'auUf'il and wicked Robert*, mar qui*e of tJrex and Bye. In proper pir*on *i j not i,a»e the privilege of again addie-lug his faithful and de votid coOi'adr Roliert. who la dead. 1. tho Maiuulae Roberta of Gres and Bye. will accord to him an Interview, a’id. .n the language of thl* l ulled i mate* It will be *ome' Interview:". With which remitr I turned to make nn answer jo the fallhrui Bonbon at i

the door

"Where aw alia bia excellency the Gout erneur Kaulkuerr 1 quratlotted "in the ball at the bottom of »*- »tep»." he liiude reply to tue Atttmd him Into the iar«e

CKPIMAYCOm room lor * waiting and make all of the lights to burn. Say to him thkt I will descend In a very small apace ef time," I commanded. “Ye*, sir." be made reply and de-

parted.

Anil then In my wickedness ! totmac to commit a desecration on thsj ory of my )>eaurifu] and bd Grandmamma I'arratbera. I walked to that glass case In which that gown of the beautiful allk and took It therefrom and laid It upon a chair above the soiled riding breeches of corduroy I bad *o > Lately discarded. I opened the carved wooden box on the table underneath, and took from It the silver sllpis-ra and the stockings of silk, also the lace fan and the allver band for the hair. There upon I walked to my mirror and cotu-meuK-d to make a toilet of great oare. but of a great rapidity. My first action was to taka dvwa that lovelock and with the oil of roat* to lay It In Us accustomed place upon my cheek, which burned with a beautiful rose of shame and at the name moment with some other emotion that I did not understand, which emotion also made my eyes as bright as the night stars out in that Camp Heaven, n* sliver band held closely the rest of my mop and gave It the api>earanee of (ha very close coiffure ^hlch la the fashion of this day. and one very sweet young rose I put Into it Just aber# the curl with an effect of great and wicked beauty. * The coiffure having been accomjthahed. the rest of the toilet, from the slippers of the cloth of silver to the «4ge of fine old lace, now the color of rich cream, that rested upon my white arms and shoulders, waa only a matter of a few momenta, and then I stood away from my mirror and beheld my•*lf therein. “You are as beautiful aa you are wicked. Roberta, marquise of Gres and Bye. but you go to your ddath In a manner befitting a grande dame of your ancient house of France, whose daughter* once showed the rabble how to approach a guillotine costumed In magnificence. Descend for that cold knife to your heart!" And. ao speaking, 1 picked up my fan and made my way through the hall to the halfway of the wide steps. At that point a commotion occurred, "Lordee! It's the old lady come to ha'nt!” exclaimed my good Bonbon, and with a groan he fled Into the dark tteas In the back regions of the house. And It happened that hie lord cry brought a response which came to me before I was quite In readiness for It Aa 1 reached the last step of the wide staircase under the bright light I raised my eyes. and. behold, the Oouvemeur Faulkner to whom I had descended for the purpose of mortal combat stood be-

fore me!

And wan it that cruel and wicked and cold Gouverueur Faulkner who w»s to scourge me and keep me In the house of my uncle, the General Roberta. for a dishonor? It wa* not Before me stood a tall man wlr, was of a great paleness and a terrible fatigue also, covered with the dust of a long, bard ride, with eyes that were full of a fear, who stood and looked at me with not a word of any kind. Suddenly I bowed my bead jand stretched out my bare arms, the one of which bore the red scar from the wound suffered for him. and, thu» suppliant. 1 waited to receive the re proachea that were due to me from my j gouvertlcur. And for a long minute I waited and then again fo- another long period ol time, and no word came to me. Ther 1 raised my bead. For all v.omen now in the world who have the love of a man in tfceb heart* and for those unborn who wil come Into that poKKesslun I pray that they may t«e given the oppoiumUy U plant In the hearts of those men ol their desire the seed of a fine loyalty and service and comradeship and that they may some day look Into hla eye* and see that seed slowly exiaud into a great white flor-er of route lore aa 1 beheld bloom for me In the eyes of my beloved Gourerneur Faulkner Long we stood there and looked Into the soul

of («ch other and 'et the flower grow, dduktag ftMuaeur beans and the veins of our bMtat until at lari It wa* fully open, and then I went with a love cry Into hla arms held out to me and preasad the heart of my body cIo.l- again** hit own. *T think my heart hf* always known though my nHtul's eyes were blind. God. If I had I oat you Into that bell of war, you daredevil!" be whispered, ami I tasted the salt of hla tears on my

tlpa.

“I am a Iter' I whispered back tc

him.

“Yau are — myself." be laughed through a sob, and then, while with his large warm hard be held my tbi oat aa a person does the stem of a flower, be prcaiwd hla Ups Into mine until they reached to the heart within me: In a moment with my hands I held him back from me. “I mast go. my beloved, even aa 1 •have said!" I cried to him. “I cannot stay to my dishonor and to the rage and unhappiness my uncle the Gen-

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seal Robert, will experience when he discovers that a girl haa cheated him In hla great affection and generosity to her.” “It la go tag to ha bard on the general to have hla gran4mo_ber coma to Ufa c-„ hla bands like this." laughed my Gouverueur Faulkner, beading and placing upon the creamy lacs of my grandir «mma a kiss which waa warm to my heart through the beflowersd allk. “Let roe die In those trenches eo that ha will never know," I pleaded. “No. sweetheart; that woald ha too eaay. You are going to stay right bars and face the old forty-two centimeter," he made a reply to my pleading request as»he bent and laid hla cheek upon the lovelock. “That curl ought Vj have opened my eyes when I aat and watched you open yours day before yesterday morning." waa the remark be added to hla cruel command that I stay and face my very dreadful and ao very much beloved uncle, the General Robert. “I am afraid," I answered as I clung to him with a trembling. “Yea; I know you are afraid of him or anything.” laughed my beloved Gouverueur Faulkner, with a abaks ol my shoulders under hla great strong hands. “But perhaps these papers 1 have In my pocket from Captain Laaaetlea. who U at the mansion gatUng rid of dust, will help you out after the first explosion, which you will hava tc stand In a very few minutes from now If that hall dock is oerreet sad I know the general's habits aa I think I do." "Oh. let me ascend and get onc« again Into my trouser*!" I exclaimed a* I sought to leave the anna that again held me close. "Never!" aald my Gouverueur Faulk ner after another kiss upon the chetfv nearest to him. “Youil Just wear this ball gown until you can get aomt dimity, madam, and don't yon evei even maution to ms"— CHAPTER XVII. Hama at Last. B UT Just here an Interruption arrived, and 1 sprang from the arm* of my Gonvcrneur Faulkner only In time to avoid being discovered therein. My beloved uncle the General Robert, vntensl the dooi In a great hurry, with that muci frightened Bonbon following <Ioaa al hla heel*. "What's all this that fool ulggai phoned about ghoala walking aad"Theu hr aloud very still In the spot upon which bla feet were placed and regarded me a* 1 turuud from tb< arm* of my Gouverneur Faulkner and faced him. “Heaven*, governor, what has bap pencil to my boy?" he naked, and hb flue old face wu* of a grout wMtenea* and trembling "bam nays he's dead and the ghost”— And thru cam* an other pause In which all of the iwraonr present held for a long minute theh breath . Did I make excusao and explanation* and plead mgs to my beloved uncle, the Gsoernl Robert. In Such suffering oret the doaib of that Robert? 1 did not 1 opened my alrun. roung arm* aid* and look him luto then, with a tender bees of such great force that It would af a necessity go Into his very heart. “1 am a wicked girl who has comt to you In He* aa a buy. my Unci* Rob art. but 1 have a lova that 1* so great tor you that 1 will b* In death If you do not accept of It from me." I salfl aa 1 pressed my cheek tu Us tearagalunv hla. Aud for atUl auolhi-r long minute all of the peraouv prvaent waited again, and I force.! to remain in luy throat a *ob, while my beloved Gouverueur Fa-xlkuer laid oar of hi* baud* on (b* of uiv uucl*. tue General Rob

Ari Umn did route that explosion! “You young Mjixb of yao!

could shake the life out of you If I didn't prefer a live.girl to A dead boy. I knew Just such a thing aa this woald happen to me In my old age foe a long life of cusaedness. And. what's mote. HI wager I'll never be able to glvv a great husky thing like you away. Taa coat aa much to feed aa a man Whsfd want you!"' Rut even aa ha atonnad at me I felt hi* from their tremblings and ciaap ma with a very rough tcnrteraaaa “I do. general" said my Got Fauitner as he attempted to take Ota from that very rough embrace of my uncle, the General Robert. “ITl t ber off yaur hands." “No, air; I never aak personal dkt of my friends." answered my ue the Genera) Robert, as ha held away from the anna rf the Oouvemeur Faulkner with a very great datenatna-

don.

“General Canrutherm," then aald my beloved Gouverneur Faulkner aa ha drew hi* beautiful body to all the height that waa possible to him and looked Into the eyes of my beloved Uncle Robert with hi* own. which ora stars of the dawn, ao that all of hla heart and soul and honor abona theca from In a radiance, “the Marqulae of Gres and Bye went a three days’ Journey Into the wild* of the Harpeth mountain* with me to rescue my honor and for the welfare uf this great state and of France. And because we thought not of ourselves, but of the welfare of Harpeth and of Franca, and did but what waa necessary aa tw» comrade*. God has revealed to n* Wa gift of gifts—love. Aa you aee, aha la returned to you radiant and unharmed. Have 1 your consent to try to win ber band In marriage?" For no more than a long minute my uncle, the General Robert, gased straight Into the eyes of my beloved Gouverneur Taulkner. and then a very besuilfui smile did break from under thore wldte ■wordu crooned above hla lip* a* he spoke with a great urgency: “Would you like to take the baggage along with you tonight, governor? Don't Icnve her here. I don't want a woman about my bonne. I can wake up the county court clerk fora license." ha *aid. with a flue twinkle of the eye. “Ob. b-.it all friends must forgive me my deceptlou. And then must not a courtship of great decorum be made from jpy Gouverneur Faulkner for the hand of the lady whom be wdtald make bin wife?" I atiked with an uncertainty aa I looked from my nncle, the General Roliert. to my Gouverneur Faulk-

ner.

“I’m sorry. "Ir. but I think the marquise la right, and under the dreamstance* I’ll have to make a very pibllc courtship, which out of consideration for you I'll make aa ardant and rapid as possible. Only we three know th* wonderful truth, and weil keep it to ouraelve*." And aa be apoke that great Gouverneur F-.ulkner bent and laid a kiss of great ceremony upon the band of Roliert a. marqulae of Ores and

Bye.

“Very well, air; I'll keep ber for a few day* and have her fitted out in a lot of folderol* for you, but only for a abort jieriod. mind you—a very short period!" answer* J my uncle, the General Robert, with a smile that showed much (fellgbt In me. I flew to blm and gave to him an embrace with my anna and also laid my cheek against hla. “I am for always your moat humble and oliedlent girl, my Uncle Robert.* I whlajiered to him “Humble and obedient—no woman would knew those wotds 1( she met them tn her own drawing room." be answered tc me, with a great acorn, but he also gave to me a shake that wa* of a seeming great (terrenes*, but that 1 knew to tie a caress. And Into that isrt«* came also another Interruption of great buiry. My Buxx entereJ the door with a rapidity and this exclamation: “What's the trouble, general? 1 Just got your phone and"-- Then he. too. stood in a great and sudden stlllaaaa. regarding me as I stood from the shelter of the arm* of my uncle, the General Robert, and looked Into his eyes of great fright. “My Hoxx." 1 said to him softly. “Groat heaven*!" he exclaimed, with terror In hi* eye*, aa he backed away from me "I haven't had hut one glass of dmfi lievr. general T' “It's all right. Buxx." answered my very wl*e Gouverueur Faulkner In a voice of great soothing •Till* Is Just -Ju*t Roliert In a—a”— “Not much Hobby that." ausweeod my Buss a* fie backed fartl er toward the door. "I think I'll step outside in the cool air I haven't felt well all day. I"— Aud with which remark my good Burs form*) himself Into the arm* of the lovely Mile Rue. entering the dour. Tm tired of waiting out thara In that car, Busx. and"- Aud again came an awful |>au»e of terror Bat is It nut that women have a wit that la very much mere rapid than 1* that of men? I think It U so. “You know, 1 thought Bobby wa* a queer kind of xiau. and be L a perfectly lovely girl." she aald a* she came toward me with a laugh and Uqr lovely tr.ua outstretched “1 road about two French girl* who got Into Germany In German uniform* Just last night In n magazine You are euiue kind Fronvh spy about thiae dreadful mules, aren't you. Bobby, dear?" And aa asked that qucutiou of me luy losely Sue gave to me a *l*a upon uiy Ups that 1 valued with a groat gratitude. "Please make It that my buu also unde inland- " I pleaded to her within

and be maato* to"- vm* a meocament to say to hkm. “That srlfl do, L'Algiea." l***W*" my Bam with a great hast* end i glance In the direction of lovely Bn* ■Forget It! It la aa awful*' *"

that Fraoch popinjay and the WMti? DM fM beer what ftD wa* about, at her ta*

“Madam Pat haa got 'em an «p et the dub, plotting In a comer •» the little dinner dance we got up when tn* Ugh and mlghtlnaa* refneed the rural expedition as soon as they beard yeo were not to go, governor," eald my Boss, with a great anxiety In hla face. “I'd Hke to aee anybody put out'Mrs. Pat's light when she Is once tit " "It* aU right Bus*, and don't worry. Something baa arrived to atop tt all If* np at th* mansion now and la

Gouvernenr Faulkner, with a great soothing. And after that remark ther* were many very long explanations that made a beginning about the crooked back of the we* Wore, which. In a letter come to my nncle, the General Robert, that day. wa* declared by that gretf Dr. Burns to be of a eeetalatj straight within tb# year and that owded In the library where my uncle, the General Robert, and my Gonvernacr Faulkner, with good Boas, road and read yet again the papers that my groat Capitalne the Count de Leteellea had signed for an honest delivery of the many mules to Franc* I go rot know all that my beloved Gooverognr Faulkner aald to my nncle. the GenCal Robert, for I remained tc the hall with my Rue tn a discussion about the telling without offense of the depar tore of Robert Carruthars to my BeHc and other loved ones. And to ns noon returned my Boss of fret, car*salty. "There Is no humbleaeaa that I will not perform for their forgiven***, my Btui and mr Boa.” I aald to tham. “Reek that they grant U to ms." "Oh, It will be ao ex citing and up to data with It* spy and war flavor that everybody will forgive yon. You an a lovely darting, and ther*!! all be glad you are a girt—all the boys especially," eald to me my 8oe. with a defiance at my Bust. “Bore. Bebbyette, I'll aee that you're no wallflower." be made answer to her In the person of me. whh e return «f

It was a very fanny thing to see that Bdxx with a great awkwarduews bend and kiss my band at a laugh from my flue as they left me. It we* not ter many moments that I stood alone In the hall after the departure of my Sue and-my Boas before there entered my beloved unde, the General Robert, and also my beloved Gouverneur Faulk; cr. who cam* to stand one upen the one aid* of me and on# upon the other. "Bore you wouhlj’t Hke to take her aloeg with you tonight. governorT again asked my uncle, th* Ganeral Robert, with a groat flercenro*. but also a twinkling of the eye. “Only ae far a* your garden for a few minute*, general," answered my Gouvernenr Faulkner, whh that laugh of a boy 1 had remarked once be for* up In Iboee mountain* of Old Harpeth. and he took my hand In hi* as If to lead me through one of the tall win dowa out Into the fragrant night. "All right; take her. and don't re turn her until you have to," remarked my uncle, the General Robert, as he

“Brace up. Buxx. and lie nice to Bob by. even 1! hv 1* a girl. Jiut when did you begin not to like girlu. I'd like to know?" questioned my flue of him

wllb a great -uphauls

“You aee why it la that 1 ‘.T-ret gs

handed me In the direction «f my Gouverneur Faulkner atu* Immediate ly took hi* departure up ths • Cairo. And It was under the light of the oM moon tn th* garden of thorn grand* dame* Camithere that Kolwrta. mar qulae of Ores and Bye, who la th* leal of i heir 11ns. walked with th* great gentleman who wae a»d la her lover 1* It that thore beautiful dred grand , mamma* each planted her flowosa In | her own groat happlureo ao the! they would give forth a very tender per I fume In which to lufuid the w^ong. 1 of their daughters thru not com* Into , the world? 1 think U la an and I w«a ‘ thua enwrapped In tbrtr fragrance a* 1 ' wa* in the anna of that groat Gvj-

v erneur Paulkasr

“Now 1 am a truth that 1 dt lev* you." | mad* answer to a -j-irrii teat waa prreami upon my lip*. "Ht* woman la God # gm of troth de a man." were the Horda that ware heard by thore 1'ataalng flower* and Roberta, marqulas of Gres and Byo, who from a wortd at war bad care#