Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29


scene with mamma could get her behind Colonel
Rfce's horses. although should have been glad
of the chance; and that Is the way 1t had been
with one or another Tor nine or ten years man.
ma said; and Romano was undoubtedly fix.
ture.
al don't know about your having the right to
hold yourself SO inaccessible" said mamma to
her one day, as the winding up of talking-to
that sent Romaine out Of the room crying.
"What Is tnere about you, that not man In
American A. or Europe either, that can see, is
Romano came In where was pegging away at
81 wish was Catholic" she cried. .and
tnen could go into convent, and be rid Of it
Wen, you're not, you know 1 said, You're
beauty, and because you're beauty you're
you any peace, and you'd better do it. What is
TIE reason, Romaine?' added. directly. "Why
cont you Ike any OF them? There's half
o oo5e n OF them could learn to like II they'd
laughed and looked-oh, 50 lOvely!-in all her
gntterng Tears and rosy color. You'd never
ore cream I. Romalne was twenty: just
with them, now-with Colonel Rice, for in
StaDce?' asked.
Colonel Rice, with his lady like Manners
"Well, the earPs son, then?"
-" And be looked down on by his family for
everI"
cousin Nicholas?"
A great broad shouldered giant who might
carry the world, and who spends his life playing
polo and driving an imitation mailcoach-of
does he blow the horn? j don't want any of
them. don't intend to marry at all. II"
and then there came another burst OF tears, and
she went away TO her ewn room
she was dancing that night with Cousin Mich
olas at Mrs Chances ball. The delicious waltz
music made my feet just ttngle. Mamma let
me go TO a ball now and then, TO show people
what she had In reserve, Romaine said But
there was Romano, so listless, SO lovely so in
different, and Nicholas looking down at her so
eager. so intent, and then leading her out into
the moonlight, as ii he would take her away
from all these people. and into another world.
Its no use. Cousin Nicholas, :" l said when he
happened TO think OF me, half an hour after
wand, and brought me an Ice; ''She thinks you
are one OF les JOts Jdtaednts, and she wouldn't
marry you II you We're made OF gold She
wouldn't marry anybody but soldier anyway
(all at once Nicholas face lighted upl. 'and
him OHly If he had nearly been shot to pieces:
and only one soldier out of all of them do be-
ueve, made haste TO add. for didn't want to
encourage him.
How much must man do to earn his ease?u
said Nicholas. in his slow, languid way which
always did seem to make him taller and more
broad shouldered than ever. He was a hand
some fellow, with his fresh color his white fore
Dc ad his grZZled hair curling In tight rings like
that OF an old Greek head, his teeth cleaning
from under his dalk mustache when he Smiled
didn't see how she could help being attracted
10 him, be1ng-being in love with him YOU know
'liOW many scars must he Show?" he draWled
does she want you TO wear your uniform and
bandageS all the timer" And then his ewes
flashed, he thrust his fingers through the gray
rings. and | saw where bullet had ploughed
It's way among them. THAT was my ticket TO
four months or Inconsistencies In a hospital. y
he cried. And then he pulled up the cuff from
1ndentation there. That lost me my sword
arm" he said. what more does She wanT9
Shall tell her ball made this dmple In my
chin? that carry the Five Wounds about me?
suppose il took Off both arms and both legs
every night, she would have me out of hand"
"No, she wouldn't l said. "She wouldn't
nave you unless you were tail slender fellow
whose eyelashes were burned off, whose faca
was covered to the eyes by a torn visor above
and by brown beard below who kissed her
hand, ard wore an odd silver-set diamond crest
on hlS-i saw ft-and whom she has set 10 in
her shrine for ever and ever. Why. Cousin
Nicholas, what is the matter with you?" For
ne nad SUI, suddenly burst into the gayest and most
uproarlous laugh. you had better tell me, so
that can laugh TOO. II said, feeling as though
ought TO be angry, but deciding that could NOT
be yexed with Cousin Nicholas. 1--WE no doubt
shell think better OF you when tell her about
your scars" said.
when you tell her about my scars." he ex-
Claimed, so that started and trembled. .'Open
your lips to her about them, you blessed little
chatter-boX, and I'll kill you! II she won't care
all,7 N'''0 i0' Aie "'
"Wen, declare, never" began. "Just
take NE TO mamma II you please. II Paul
heard you speaking SO to his"
Hang Paul! Hush. hush" he said. drawing
my hand through his arm and holding it. ssYoIl
nave mace Inc napier tonight Than you ever
Il think everybody has gone crazy ~ 1 cried.
And then, instead OF his taking me to mamma.
Cousin NicholaSs arm Slid round nv waist
and he was Whirling me round the room to the
hlaGdentng waltz music In way that mamma
asserted a1terWard was utterly indecent and
that Roma1ne declared took her breath away
Il should never have thought it or you" sh
said. ~
Dear NE :" answered; ''you don't suppose
he's going to go signing like furnace for you
forever, when you"
:" When What?"
"Have refused him twenty times.n
i've never had the chance TO refuse uim
once. i don't want to have it"
You're afraid you'd accept him, miss" ex
claimed.
81 don't want to accept him."
"IOu'd accept him quickly enough IL he wa
slender young officer with his face hidden by a
bright brown beard and smooches and smirches
OF poWd driving his soldiers out OF the house
the first man that ever kissed your hand Miss
RCmaiue with an old silver-S set diamond ring on
his. You needn't think hadn't any eyes. il |
wasn't but SIX years DID, or any memory, Or any
faculty OF putting two and two together"
'Oh, how can you be so cruel?" she cried.
hiding her face In her hands.
Pm not cIuel.' l said. "1tS you that are
cruel and silly, too. Cousin Nicholas is worth
Gozen OF that fellow that you set up for your
sell to bow down 10. Don't you suppose Cousin
Nicholas would have driven the soldiers out.
aid have kissed your hand, too?"
Nicholas, where bullets were tiying.'
1tS- NbACit HtIt lIJlIS ana T1C1nu
With Them besides. And you don't deserve
him. that you don't, If you are beautiful But.
Oh, / do declare, Rolnaine, when you are so
perfectly lovely, and lie does love you 50, for
you to"
how do you know he loves lie soe He
never said it
LAS If there were no other speech than lust
so many words. l can't see Low you can be so
uHtteliDg."
Il never said was unfeeling."
'Nhat? Really, Romane? Are you In
earnest? DO you really care for him, just
Httlt?"
"I-I-I mean could-maybe. But-but
then, you know, dear, II can't t ak about II, I
feel as If were pledged-as If l were breaking
a bOnd-'
ITO that other fellow? Fiddlesticks' ends,
You, twenty-seven years Old, almost an old
matd, and as silly as that! Now, I'll tell YOU
what, IL you don't turn short corner I'll see
what | can DO myself; and When it's 100 late for
you, you'll be eating your heart out with envy
anG rage. There he comes now, and Pm going
out to see him and begiD;' and SO ran down
the lawn 10 meet him as he gave his horse to
the groon-lt was only the GeXt day after Mrs
Chances ball.
1--WE something to tell you'll said, taking
his arm, and holding 1t, In way to drive veXa-
ton 10 RomaineS heart, for / knew She was
looking at US behind curtain some where
"ALd I've something to show YOU my dear
child, he answered, and he fumbled In pocket
moment, and then, opening bis hand Just a
little way, let me see a CLEAN of something
g-diamonds-Silyer-Set