Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-02-19

could do-this young lady-this Other
self Well, mon ami, you may compose
yourself Ihsve heard her, now wish
to see her-spesk to her. Conduct me
where she is and then leave Us. Is any
one with herr?
"Only her brother. Shall r
"Bien, bienl Lead on. mon yieux,
am in a hurry"
When he had brought her to the door
OF Beatrix's room she made him depart,
and then knocked at the door. 1t was
opened by Ed. She made him gesture
at once of greeting and of silence, and
advanced into the room, which was
filed with flowers. Beatrix was rechn-
ing on her sofa with a sad and distracted
expression; but as she raised her eyes
and met those of her visitor she sat
erect, and the next moment rose to her
feet. "You are-MaranaP' she said in
an inward tone. The two women gazed
intently at each other, and there was ST.
lence for several seconds. At last the
visitor said: 81 had thought was Ma
rama until now. But now, mademoiselle,
the name is yours by the right that you
have made it more honorable"
"Oh, no-noF' the other murmured.
Eyes, yes, yes" said Mariana, with .
smile, which, however, was quickly lost
in the gravity of her reigning express
sion. "You have surprised me-" she
continued, after a pause; 81 did not
mean to forgive you! Twas angry. But
your voice has called my heart out Of
my bosom. There is no one who can
sing like you-no one-not even II
The tone in which these words were
uttered-dignifed, but profoundly pa
thetic, as of a great queen discrowning
herself-touched Beatrix to the soul and
her eyes filed with tears. She shook
her head, but she could not speak. After
all there was a rayishing sweetness in
this praise, coming from the one source
in the world which there could be no
gainsaying.
You two ought to pull in a team"
put in Ed. mo theatre standing would
hold the audiences that would come to
hear you sing together!"
Mariana made a gesture of negation
with her head. There shall never be
but one Mariana" she said proudly, land
she shall be the greatest singer in the
world Behold herI" she added, with a
movement of her eyes toward Beatrix.
LAS for me, sing no more! have been
your audience, mademoiselle; will
never again have an audience of my
own
do not say it-you break my hearth
cried Beatrix; and she gided forward,
and took the Russian impetuously in her
arms. Tell her, Ed" she said. half
turning to appeal to him, but not letting
Mariana 60 1T is who shall sing no
more; did it only to help my father and
him. This is the last night. If you care
for him do not punish his sister. Be
yourself again, and be my sister, toop'
Mariana drew her head back, and
gazed for a moment into the others
eyes. Then she kissed her graVely on
both cheeks, and disengaged herself
You believe, then, that / rely love
your brother" she said.
"Yes, indeed! How could you help
it," exclaimed Beatrix warmly.
"And you, monsieur, what have you
to sayY' continued the other, letting her
eyes rest upon him with certain yelled
intensity, the lids half dropped. "Are
you also of opinion that you are not in
different to me?"
sit would take a cleverer man than /
am to see through you, Vera" returned
the young gentleman naively; "but l
don't believe that could be loving you
so much as l do if you didn't love me
back"
But would you marry me, evenT"
Eds face flushed and his eyes spark
led. Haven't l shown that 1 wouldT'
he demanded between his teeth. Don't
make game of me, Vera, unless you mean
to be kind afterwardp
She stood looking at him, her head a
little bent to the left, her arms hanging
down on both sides of her graceful fig
ure. 81 mean to be kind to you, my
dear" she said finally in a low tone;
more kind than you would think if you
knew what have sometimes been in my
life"
ED, am so glad" whispered Bea-
trix to him in the little pause that fol
lowed, bat the whisper was tremulous,
for a sense of her own forlorness must
needs insinuate itself you won't for
get me, will you7-because love you,
too" she added.
But Ed, who was familiar with the ex-
pressions on Marana's face, wore an
anxious contraction on his forehead; he
drew in his lips and held his breath.
81 had given up expecting love when
/ met you," she continued, her bosom
visibly rising and falling. 81 am not
going to spoil it. now that it has come
For that, also, you may partly thank
your sister. She has made me feel that
1t is good to be generous. You have
never known me. showed you only
the best; it was true, but it was not all.
If were your wife you would have to
know all. | should not mind for myself,
bit 1 should not like you to learn that
love Is less lovely than it seems now-at
least not from me. Yesterday you might
have married me, but today-noi My
memory will be pleasanter to you than /
should be after while. We will say
good-by." She put out her left hand to-
ward him and smiled. "Good-by!"
He covered his eyes with the back of
his hand. 81 can't bear itr' he said in a
broken voice.
Aars1a's inscrutable face quivered for
a moment: she seemed to waver: she
swayed slightly toward him as she stood;
ner lips parted and her eyes shone. But
Al cl1o 1a6