CHAPTER XXVIII. A VISIT TO THE RUE DE BLANC.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 187, 15 January 1887, Page 3

CHAPTER XXVIII. A VISIT TO THE RUE DE BLANC.

" ANNETTE, can you keep a secret ?" " Oui, oui, mademoiselle, I betray never."

•' You are sure that I may trust you ?" " Mafois ; ou', mademoiselle." " I have something very important, Annette, that I wish to consult you about, but if you should betray me you would do me an irreparablo injury." " Mademoiselle has done me much kindnees. I shall forget it never ; try me, dear lady, my heart is yours," said the girl, earnestly, while tears sprang to her dark eyes and rolled ove- her cheeks, which, even yet, had not regained their usual rounded .contour after her long illness. "I believe I will try you, Annette," Margaret returned, gravely; "but first, are you very courageous, and have you strength to do something very dieagroeablo for me?" <4 Oui, mademoiselle, lam strong, I am well ; new life there is in me since the bad illness. A good heart, too— courago you call Ifc — X will do anything for mademoiselle." Margaret Bmiled, more at the girl's eagerface and manner than at her earnest words, which, however, had the ring of truth and real affection in them. She had returned to her duties in the family nearly a week previous, and was, to all appearance, entirely recovered. She seemed very devoted, appearing to feel as if she could not do enough to show her appreciation of all the kindness she had received from Mrs Houghton and herdaughter during her illness. It was three days since the fete and the Houghtons' visit to Arthur Aspinwall, and Margaret had been very busy during that time laying plans for future action. The very next morning after the fete she had gone out by herself and ordered two keys to be made from the impressiona that she had taken of those in Arthur's writing-desk. To day she had been out again to get them, and half the world's possessions would not have purchased those two precious bits !of qteel from her. She had already planned a bold course of action for the coming evening, if she could only secure Annette's cooperation, " Does mademoiselle still fear to trust ? Ah, no !" timidly pleaded the girl, after waiting several minutes for Margaret to go on, during which she had been carefully brushing the abundant hair which fell in waves of sunshine over the maiden's graceful shoulders. Margaret started. She had fallen into a reverie, and almost forgotten that she had spoken at all.

" No ; I told you I would try you, Annette," she said, adding : " I want you to go out with me alone- to-night." " Alone, mademoiselle ?" " Yes." "It is not etiquette for young ladies to go out in the evening unattended by a gentleman." 4< We must ignore etiquette for once." " Where will mademoiselle go?" "To the Rue de Blanc." " Rue de Blanc !" repeated the girl, astonished. , " Yes ; but do not question me further now. I shall go with you to the door of your home and leave you there for a while ; you will go in and make a visit to your mother, and at the end of an hour you will come out again ; you will find me waiting for you, or if you do not, wait a little for me. No* this is all that I can explain to you at present ; if you do as I request, and say nothing, I shall reward you generously ; but if you have not the courage or inclination to go with me, say so frankly, and forget that I have made the proposition." " Is mademoiselle's heart set upon goii.g to the Kue de Blanc this evening ?" Annette questioned. "It is absolutely necessary that I go." "Then I will go also ; and mademoiselle may trust me tully. I will not betray her." " Thank you, Annette. I shall never forget it. if you stand by me faithfully in this. Attire yourself very plainly," Margaret continued after a moment, "io dark clothing, just as soon as you have I finished dressing mamma for Madam Dupre's reception, and then when she and papa have gone we will steal out, without letting any of the servants know that we are going." "1 will be ready," paid Annette, and then hearing her mistress's bell she withdrew. Margaret had also received an invitation to Mrs Dupre's reception, but had framed some excuse for not attending:. Still, she urged her parents to accept, contending that for all three to absent themselves would be ap* to give offence. Shortly after eight o'clock Mr and Mre Houghton left the house. Margaret accompanied them to the door, watched them get into the carriage and drive away, then hastened to her own room to prepare for her adventure. Fifteen minutes later Annette entered her young mistress's room, and found Margaret all ready, and waiting her. She had arrayed herself in a simple dreßS of dark brown, with plain linen collar and cuffs ; drawn her hair smoothly back from her forehead and put on a simple felt hat. Her form was somewhat concealed by a dark cloth mantle, and there were a pair of coarse walking shoes on her pmall feet ; in fact ehe had endeavoured to make herself look as nearly like an humble servant as possible. She was clad even more simply than Annette, but there was nevertheless an indescribable air about her that gave the lie to her disguise, while the beauty of her face alone shone forth even more prominent in contrast with her coarse apparel. "Mademoiselle must wear a veil," said Annette, remarking it. " I dislike a veil so much, Annette." " But mademoiselle's face will surely betray her ; there are no waiting-maids in France with face? like that," and the girl pointed at the reflection of her figure in the glass near which they were standing. Margaret glanced at herself aud smiled slightly. Her face was like some rare pearl, and all the more conspicuous from its sombre, all but ugly surroundings. i "The night is dark," she said, the thought of a veil still distasteful to her. "Oui, but Paris is like a ball-room, with its thousands of lights. Mademoiselle will at least tie the veil about her hat, and she can draw it down or leave it up as she may have need," the maid poraipted. Margaret submitted to this arrangement, though she obaerved that she thought her companion was over particular " Pretty girls, unattended in the streets, should mask," Annette replied sentontiously. "Now the gloves," she added, her cautious eye^ remarking the young girl's delicate hands. "I hove them here ; but stay ! I have {a pair of dark silk mittens — they will do even better." "Oui -but the diamond— the beautiful ring ! Take it off," said Annette, catching the flash of the brilliant stone. " No, no !" Margaret cried, in a voice of pain, " I could not do that, and no one will see it with my hands covered," and she hastily drew on the mittens as she spoke. The very thought of removing her ring, that precious pledge of love that Louie himself had put upon her finger, was like a knife in her heart. With it still there she somehow felt as if she was yet linked to him ; to take it off would seem as if she was voluntarily separating herself from him " Now I am ready," she said, and the two girls stole softly out of the room, sped swiftly down stairs, and were soon in the street. Here Margaretnt once realised the wisdom of Annette's caution regarding the veil, for there were many people abroad, and the streets were almost as bright as day. Annette chose by-streeta as much as possible, for she was very nervous and anxious upon her young mistress's account ; she was only too conscious of the wickednees that lurks everywhere at night in gay, but corrupt Paris But thoy went safely on their way, no one appearing to heed them, awd at length turned into the Rue de Blanc. " We are nearly there," the faithful girl whispered, as she came into the familiar loealifrw, She had no fear now, because ehe was »>oi«* t * tat home. "Ofa,h«v dark it is !" cried Margaret, under rt«- breath, her heart beating like a frightened b fd's, for there was only now and then a light to relieve the intense darkness, and the street was lonely and almost deserted. " Oui, it is dark ; mademoiselle is iuaane to come here at this hour." " But I had to come, Annette — I had to come. You are so good as to come with me, Annette, I will tell you a little more. I have a suspicion— something that I must discover ; no one else must know — I must find it out for myeelf. If there is nothing in it, no harm will be done— no harm or injustice ; but if what I believe prove true — if I succeed, then justice shall fall where it ia merited." Margaret spoke in a low, excited tone, and her companion could feel that she was trembling in every limb. "Is it — the suspicion — connected with the —unfortunate monsieur ?" she asked, gently. " Yes," and a sob accompanied the assent. "Ah! But tell me— l will do anything for- you, mademoiselle— what has it to do with this lonely, wretched street ?" " It was here that I discovered something one day, while you were sick," Margaret explained, craving sympathy, now that the supreme hour of her trial had come. "Oui, oui; I begin to comprehend I" ?aid the girl, with sudden animation. " The buildings here are empty, deserted ; > no one comet) to them only to Btore or hi'le

something. Mademoiselle .is keen. But how will she enter ?" " I have keys to one of them." " How will ehe ccc ?" " I have a candle and matches." •'Mademoiselle will be careful about fira !" said Annette, anxiously. **Oh, yes. But this is the place where I mupt go," Margaret said,stopping as they drew near the alley before mentioned; "jt is very near your home. Go, Annette, and make your call. Do not say or do anything to arouse the suspicion of any one. Stay one hour, then come out, and I will meet you here." •* Mademoiselle, I shall go with you," ! the girl asserted in a voice of decision. •• I dare not let you go into that dark, dreadful place alone." Margaret hesitated a moment. The temptation to take her, both for company and protection, was very strong, almost irresistible, for it was a terrible undertaking—a fearful ordeal for a delicate girl like her to face alone. But she did not know just how far she could trust Annette, notwithstanding her protestations of gratitude and fidelity. "No, Annette." she replied to the girl's entreaty ; "I think it will be better for me to go by myself. Now, adieu, and be very guarded in what you do and any " Annette hesitatingly obeyed, and crossed the street, calling upon the saints to watch over her young mistress, and guard her from ail danger. (To be Continued.)