The Argosy — page 189: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

172 Winifred Power. ‘““T relieve of my presence a home where, by your own confession, my part is that of a firebrand. Domestic life being, so far as I am concerned, a failure, | intend in future to live away from you. Before this reaches you I shall have left Paris. Do not try to find me. It will be useless. —Gertrude.” Horror-stricken, they looked at one another. Then Richard rushed away to overtake, 1f possible, the commissionaire, and Mrs. Dallas and Georgie began tocry. Winifred sat dumb; Mr. Dallas walked up and down the room. He was less frightened than angry: such a proceeding as this of his daughter’s grated, he would have told you, on his fine sense of order. When Richard returned, breathless, he had failed to find the mes- senger. Mrs. Dallas felt quite sure that the only people to apply to were the Bonnards, that Gertrude had gone to them, and Richard again departed. He came back, again unsuccessful, but bringing with him the astonished and dismayed Monsieur Bonnard. He, bald-headed and decorated, a respectable and kind-hearted French- man, was quite overcome at Richard’s news, and had arrived to offer his services. “They had not seen Mademoiselle Gertrude for some days,” he said. ‘‘ He was quite sure she had not been even for a moment at their house that evening. Their only visitor had been Lieutenant Valéry, who had called to take leave.” “Lieutenant Valéry!” exclaimed Hortense, who, French servant- like, had come in to listen. ‘‘ Was he an infantry officer, Monsieur ? A little young man with a reddish moustache, and black bright eyes?” ‘Mais oul; mais oul—” that described him exactly. “Then Mam/zelle Gertrude has run away with him,” Hortense boldly declared. Mr. Dallas uttered an exclamation of incredulous anger; Monsieur Bonnard one of horror; Mrs. Dallas breathed a sigh of relief. er simple mind immediately conjured up a romantic love-story, tears, forgiveness, blessings, a trousseau and general happiness. The men, more alive to practical difficulties, took a different view. ‘Run away with him!” indignantly repeated Mr. Dallas. “ How dare you say so, woman? Who is the fellow, Bonnard? I never heard of him before.” _ “He visits at our house. I am afraid your daughter has met him on occasions there,” groaned Monsieur Bonnard. ‘‘ All I know is, they meet in the street sometimes ; the other day, when I was out with Mam/zelle Gertrude, they had a long conversa- tion,” affirmed Hortense. ‘“We must go after them,” exclaimed Mr. Dallas, starting up. “Dick, you come with me. Where is this Valéry to be heard of, Bonnard ?” “He starts to-night for Lyons, on leave, mon ami”—and the Gomicbooks.co