CHAPTER XXXII. AN UNPLEASANT ADVENTURE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 189, 29 January 1887, Page 7

CHAPTER XXXII. AN UNPLEASANT ADVENTURE.

" Holy mother be praised, mademoiselle ! I have suffered the torments of purgatory for you !" the girl cried, as Margaret joined her. Did mademoiselle accomplish what she wiehed to-night ?" "Not fully. It will at least take one visit more. Are you brave enough to come with me again, Annette ? " " Oui ; if mademoiselle must come again, I snail come with her," was the unhesitating response. " Thanks ; and now I will tell you this much, Annette — if I succeed in my plans, without creating suspicion before they are accomplished, I shall once more be the happiest girl in all Paris." " Mon Dieu ! then monsieur must be safe — nothing else could make mademoiselle happy," returned the girl, shrewdly. Margaret laughed softly— such a s^eet, silvery laugh, and. a sound that had long been a stranger to her lips ; but her eorrow had flown, and hope was once more beating high within her heart. They had just come out from the Rue de Blanc to the broader, better lighted, and more frequented street beyond, and were about to cross it, when that sweet, happy laugh of Margaret's attracted the attention of two individuals who were crossing from the opposite side. Margaret, thinking only of her success, had forgotten to draw down her veil, and her beautiful face, all lighted with hope and love, waß exposed to the gaze of all whom she met. One of the men turned back after passing the girls. •• Ah 1 those were dulcet tones for a crizette ! and, Mon Dieu ! what a face ! Look —'tis the sweetest in the world 1" Margaret's heart sank with sudden terror, for Bhe had caught every word. She hastily pulled down her veil, and grasping Annette's aim almost convulsively, excitedly increased her pace. But she soon became conscious that they were being followed, for the two men had turned back and were walking behind them. They increased their speed, and those footsteps grew more rapid also. " What Bhall we do, Annette !" whispered Margaret, in a trembling voice. " Make no notice —maybe they will pass and go on," was the low reply. But their pursuers did not pass on ; they kept a little in the rear, talking in ominously subdued tones. "In a moment we shall turn into a side street, and pass to the Rue de Rivoli, where we need not fear ; there are much people there/ said Annette, in a reassuring tone. But the moment they turned she saw her mistake ; tbey should have kept on in the better lighted, more, frequented way, or gone to a corner, taken a nacre, and driven home j for the two men followed close upon them.

The street was a comparatively short one, but very quiet, and there was but lictie pacing at that hour of the evening. The girls h*d accomplished only half the distance, wheu one of their putpuere stepped up to Margaret's aide and boldly addressed her. '• Ah, pretty one, you should not be out unattended on a night so dark. Parie is not a safe place. Come, we wilt shield you —we will conduct you to your home." Tho tone was familiar, and even insulting, and Margaret was go alarmed that nhe could hardly force her trembling feet along "Go away and leave us alone," sharply ; commanded Annette. 41 Nay, nay; eurely those are not the flute like tone 3 that greeted my oar? ,but a moment ago \"' retorted their persecutor in a bantering tone. u Come, coi3o, my good girls," be continued, coaxingly, " make friends with us : there is o fino cafe yonder, let us repair thither, a:.d pv"» an hour in mirth and good fellowship. Indeed I Must Bee this pretty om/s fair face once more," and he laid-hi* hand, familiarly upon Margaret's aim as he Sh,o instantly ?hook it off and drew her form haughtily erect. "Ha, ha •'" lauguted the man beside her, "' vjhat an air ! flavo we here some beautiful counter in disguise ? Ah ! but I am tempted beyond all reason, Here we are at the cafe Quick, Antonie ! quick !" He had kept p.'ico with the frightened girls, while h ; s c^mpouon passed on and was walking ju*t before them. •As he utter fd tiieec ld<?t words he grasped Margaret firmly by the arm ; the men before them sprang forward and suddenly opened a door oi the building which they were pacing, and the powerless maiden? were hurried into a brilliantly lighted passage, and the door wa3 quickly closed and locked behind them, almost before thej' were aware of the intention of their enforced companions. Another door was opened, and they were conducted into a large and handsomely furnished room. Rich rugs lay all about the highly polished, inlaid floor ; a glittering chandelier waa suspended from tho exquisitely - frescoed ceiling : beautiful draperies were at the windows ; there was a magnificent plant in one corner of the room, and clegan ly upholstered furniture was scattered invitingly about the apartment. At a centre table, upon which there wa3 a profusion of books and periodicals, there sat a line-looking young man of perhaps twenty-five years, hipping a glass of wine, and engaged in reading. He looked up as the party from the -treat entered. *' Ah ! bah ' what are you up to now, Perrine? >- he -i^ked, in an impatient tone, and regarding the two trembling girls with astonishment. " Only a little lark, Lorrain. We have found two pretty srirle whe aro over modest, but we are determined to make their ac quaintance." Margaret stood panting, with fear and exhaustion, holding her veil closely over her face and tremblincr in every limb, for Bhe had now recogni?ed both the men who had so insulted her, and the gentleman whe was sitting at the table. The former was a frequenter of places of amusement, and she had met him often. She had never been prepossessed in hi-i favour, still she bad imagined him to be of a respectable family, or he would not have been received in those select circles. The latter was young Count Lorrain, a youthful nobleman, bighty reepected, and much sought after in cultivated society, and Margaret had often chatted and danced with him at balld and parties; indeed, he had shown her much marked attention, so much that her father had once said, in a laughing way, that he " did not see anything to prevent her becoming a countess if she chose.'* What should she do— appeal to him and demand his protection against her persecutor? She knew that she had but to speak the word, and he would spring to her assistance at once ; bat the thought of haYing her identity discovered was torture to her, while he would doubtless think it very etrauge thac she phould ba walking the streets of Paris with her maid, and in aueh a guise, at thit hour of the night ; whilo, of course, it would be utterly impossible for her to explain her errand to him. She resolved, however, not to unveil her face if she could avoid it ; she knew that she was in a perilous position, but that bhould be a last re«ort. Annette was crying and wringing her bands, and pleaded to be released. '•Ah, mon-itur," she sobbed, "pray let us go. We are only two waiting-maids. We have been to visit our mother, and were quietly returning to our mistress when you aasaileJ us. Ah, good monsieur," turning to Count- Lorrain, "you are kind ; you will plead for ue ; you will not let them insult two unprotected girls. Pray — pray, monsieur, make them let us go." The count looked displeased and annoyed. " Let them go, Perrine," he eaid, in a low tone ; " they are evidently good girls, and unaccustnmad to such ' larks ' If you must amuse yourself in this way, you can easily find enough of your own stamp who will not refuse your attentions " " Ah, but, Lorrain, we've found a jewel here," indicating Margaret. " One doesn't often meet such a pretty face or hear such a voice as yonder grisette possesses, you let us alone, my lord count— you are not accountable for any sins but your own." "1 tliank fortune that offering insult to innocent girls is a sin that 1 shall not have to answer for,"' returned the count. '* And you forget, Perrine, that the rules of this bouse forbid any but ladies and friends of the members of the club to be entertained here." Perrine frowned. " I know it," he admitted ; " but we had to bring them in here, or be baulked in our fun." Margaret gathered courage from these remarks. She saw that the count did not like to interfere with Perrine'a affaire, but Bhe did not believe that he would refuse to aid her if directly appealed to. She was upon the point of doing this when Perrine, unheeding both Annette's pleading and his friend's reproof, approached her. " My pi"6tfcy one," he began insinuatingly, " lift that obnoxious veil, do not be so coy, and try to hido your charms. Come, come, I insl3t." He would have torn the covering from her face, but she held it closely gathered under her chin with her right hand, while she put out her left to keep him off. j He laughed gayly at this, and then turned to speak to his companion, who, apparently, was his servant. He gave him some .command in a low tone, and he immediately left the room. Margaret breathed more freely as he passed out, for there was one lass to contend with now. Perrine beufc toward her again and seized the hand she had thrust out against him. She instantly wrenched it from his grasp, and in the act her mitten was torn off, disclosing her delicate hand and the brilliant diamond that Bpkvkled on her third finger. The young man looked a trifle Btartled aa his eyes fell upon the glittering stone. ♦'That ia a fine stone for the hand of a waiting-maid," he said,. In astonishment.

11 Hast thou been tampering with thy mis* tress's jewel-box ? T. uly thy band is dainty enough for the finest gems ; if thy face»coi> responds we have found a marvellous prize. Come r sweet, yonr chaiming coyness only aggravates my curiosity." , Again he kid hia hand upon her veil, andt was about to rudely tear it from her grasp, when he was startled and arrested in the act by a clear boll-like voice exclaiming authorit-ttive-ly : " Monfcieur Perrine, release me inElantly. I command you !" (To he Continued)