Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-08

one knows You have suffered. even by yonr
Tess 10 you never wear even blue ribbon
She looked at him soiemnly for moment,
aDo then smiled.
NO" she Said; but yos must not ask me-
why: Perhaps some day may tell you. Nov
l must not stay here with you any longer.
open the door. If you please, and let me go.'
FRANK opeyed She paused In the door way
uLdeT the Shadow OF the velvet curtain: laid
two fingers on her lips, and looked at him.
deeply, intently. as II she was asking him some
question on the answer to which her life de-
pended. He thought afferward that he had
never seen anything SO extraordinary.
You love ne7" she said. under her breath
and without waiting for any sort of reply She
glded away and was gone. He SCo1d for al
least two minutes with the curtain In his han1.
staring In a s3ft OF beNilGerment, long after she
Lad vanished
lew weeks later. after his visit 10 frozen
Iarls. frank Morley found himself once more at
Chateau Maupas, tits Tine, wonderful to tel.
as the accepted lover OF Mademoselle de Saint,
F!or. Frank never knew, and did not much try
10 find out how Albert had conquered the prs
Juoices OF his parents. There may have bean
more reasons tnan one for their co.'s ting
BeslGeS the solid advantage OF belonging 10 a
Iich and generous Engiisaman, Ibis marriage
was. perhaps. Seen by Jnen to be a way out u
painful difficulty. Frank was afterward Goa
SClouS that the whole explanation was very
clear, II he had cared 10 think # out: but he
liz
seemed almost an impertihcnce, both 90 tn
POOR proud people who bowed their heads In
*uCH stately way to circumstances ami 10
Snelr osautiful unhappy daughter. He came t.
haupas by special invitation. on his way back
10 Bordeaux, joining Albert, vino had gone
before TO smooth the way for MIN.
he slow was gone, but the weather was still
bitterly cold. Albert was the only person who
received him with any animation. Monsieur
and Madame de Saint Flor were grave and no.
lite; Marguerite. though her smile made him
u that he was very welcome, looked,
II possible, sadder than ever. Her eyelids were
heavy, as If she had been crying. By the end
OF the evening, the discovery that they were
not TO De left alone together had thrown Frank
the use OF being engaged If they were 10 behave
to each other like strangers, ii they might not
even even, TAX unheard by otner people? Frank re-
should give way before his English win. or else
tnaG he would leave the chateau the next day
ana see none of them again Till It was time TO
De married. He could not annoy his lady-love
and her parents by any open rebellion, but he
promised himself that Albert Should know his
mind On the subject: and he gave IL him that
evening In the smokingroom, after Monsieur
de SalDt-tlOr had left them and gone TO bed
Certainly, my dear friend; what you ask is
only reasonable" said the amtable Albert
Trust to me. l will do everything MY
mother naturally keeps to her own ways
But Will arrange that you shall have an inter
view tomorrow. Trust 10 me-"
'Inank you, SAID Frank With Satirical earn
estness. 'H you fail to make thai arrange
ulent, sir. shall make 1t myself"
lie smoked In silence for few minutes
Albert also looked very grave perceiving that
ms tr!eno was out OF temper, and perhaps feel
ing himself in an awkward position between
these Earring nationalities.
Presently they went upstairs together. The
young FrenchMan left his future brother-in-
law, st1ll rather Injured and suiky, in a large
state bedroom, given him Ia honor OF his new
position In the family. A fire was burning on
tie low hearth. Two candles hardly lighted the
high dark room. which was hung with old faded
tapestry. The flames, as they ilared and fell.
seemed to make sudden stir among the
ghostly figures on the walls. A crowd of pale
faced hunters on White horses would come
riding forward, dogs would run among the
trees, peacocks would wave their once shining
tales In the light.
Frank, as he Lad told Marguerite, was not SUI
pe'stiIfous He glanced once round the room
ana then, pulling up great chair In front OF
the fire, sat down and thought about that sad
white face, those dear wistful eyes that seemed
TO be forever asking the same question that once
had made It's way into words, '.you love me?''-
q question which, it seemed to him, he had
never been allowed to answer properly. Could
she doubt him? Was that why sac looked so
sad? BAD she consented TO this matcn Tor any
reason out TO please herSeir-any idea OF duty
TO her fam1ly7 He promised himself to have
that ali made clear tomorrow.
A little noise, like door opening gently
made him turn his head and look round tue
room again: seeing nothing, he supposed there
must be rats behind the Wainscot, and he re-
turned to the fire and his meditatiOnS AT the
far corner of the room there was poor opening
into a 0ress1ng-room, which again communal
Gated with the passages Frank, full OF Other
thoughts. had not noticed this entrance; and
now he was not at all aware that hand was
pushing the dressing room door, and that eyes
were peepng at hum from behind it. Footsteps
on the boards OF his room, however, with The
made him spring from his chair in real SURPRISE.
Standing by the table, On which Francois had
arranged the materials for eau sucree. was
small elderly lady, dressed In black, with g fair
sharp lace, suspicious expression, and GUAM
t1ty OF White hair rolled up high over a cushion,
She wore long gloves, and carried cane in her
hand. Frank stared at her In speachl ,ss sur
plise.
81 am not ghost, monsieur, and you have
seen Inc before, she said. Her voice had a sort
OF dlsagreeable snap In It,
Frank recognized the old aunt who had
looked out OF her window that snowy morning.
and had told him to take care what he was
doing. He bowed politely.
well" he said. sCan do anyIhng for yU %op sefy
"Nolhing at all" she said, with slight toss
OF her head II am come here to do you
kindness. Give me chair. Is 1t true that you
Flor?n
She sat down, placed her feet on footstool,
ana looked at him maglsterially. Frank thought
her, at the further end OF the table. and an.
swered her very meekly.
Yes, madame, am to have that honor"
suspected 1t from the moment 1 saw you
IN the garden, and since then have heard all
about 1t. My brother was obliged to tell me.
He can never keep a secret, poor man. sup.
pose ne thought had forgotten the past, or
that should not venture TO interfere again.
BUT no, would not sit in my tower and see
fine young man sacrificed. Did you ever hear
OF Gregorire de Ia Masseliere?"
mo" said Frank, as she waited for an
answer
"Ah, 1 thought not. Or of Jules de Marigny?"
mo"
cor Of my son, Leon de Maupas and his
brother Celestin?"
mo, madame"
every well. Listen and will tell you a little
history about those four young men. 1t Is
days and my two sons lived here In this
house, and my brother and his Wife and those
children OF his were miserably poor people liy-
Ing at Tours. Out Of kindness OF my brother 1
arranged that my elder SOD, the ComIe de
Maupas should marry that girl Marguerite.
though never cared for her-tO my eyes sac
always had misfortune written on her lace
But my son admired her, and he was willing
enough. She was mere Child then. Well.
they We're betrOthed, and then the war broke
out and my son Leon went straight to the
underestimate"
Perfectly, madame" said Frank, gravely.
The story improves as IL goes on. After that,
IN the winter, we arranged that my second son,
Celestin, should marry Marguerite. ibid 1t ali
out OF Kindness to my brother, remember.
Ceiesttn also was in the army. He was Killed
In the spring In the last battle.
Frank could not restrain q slight SILVER.
There was something quite awful IL the C1m-