The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-11-25
CHAPTER Ix.-Coxr1SuED.

her when recorded that the curious
.complezity which we call woman's
heart throbbed strangely. No woman
was ever really the lover of two men at
the same time; but many a woman has
believed that she could have loved land
passionately and truly loved) some man
whom she has known while still loving
the object OF her first allegiance. Per-
haps it was this way with Kathleen;
perhaps the fact of Clarimon6's great
rank wrought with her more than she
would have wished to tell. Women are
shaped from self-contradictions, not be-
cause they are in the main weaker than
men Ut will some day be scientifically
disclosed, no doubt, that they are
strong where men are weak and weak
where men are strong), but because
millions of years have lapsed in which
they have served as slaves to the al
legged lords of creation. Yet is this,
after all, a true philosophic view of
things, and is not stern wrong done
to kathleen, when we assert of her that
she felt one whit more disarrayed than
a like environment would have rendered
one of the other sex, this nearness of
sovereignty being feminine, not mascu-
line? Few men, if history does not err,
have resisted the Establishments of
queens. And Clarimond, if he dealt in
no Establishments, bore himself at all
times with that magnetic demeanor
which would have made his greatness
quite secondary in the eyes of not a
few women on whom he might have
cheese, f,o-7itrr11v 70 beam
Lightly he now pursued, with his
gaze fixed upon Kathleen's face in a
way that somehow belied the lcvity of
his words: ''Oh yes, the weather here Is
my only rebel and my only traitor. I've
an idea about i: I've decided that it is
only erdurable when we don't think of
discussing it. Am / not right, and do
we not respect it most when, like
Caesars wife, II is above sIispicion?'
Laughing, enjoying the pleasantly,
Kathleen threw back her head. Now
for the FIRST time had she moment of
real, vivid social distraction.
u resent this rebellion, monsieur, -
she said, ION the part of Your Saltravian
weather. Still, rs yet, I've no personal
grudCe against it. When Il rainy day
rGOElto L SAAs.lG s1-o4A YOU " -ANC III oCAAhS
preliminary edict, that l may read it to
the insurgent clements, signed with
.your royal seal"
Have you as much faith in my power
as that. mademoiselle?' he asked, draw
ing closer TO her. Il assure you am a
very small sort of king"
You're the first that I've ever met. =
she answered, gathering holiness. IF
they are ali like you, monsieur, l
shouldn't be afraid TO meet any of
them-not ever the tsar of Russia"
Russian he said, his sunny face
.clouding little. DO you care Tor that
country?'
Its romantic to us who do not
know Il. It's so far away, monsieur,
and So
''Ba-ba-ous,' he replied, 4 little harsh
IL. Yes, being the most uncivilized OF
European countries, Russia is hence the
most romantic. Her very patronyrlics.
with their bristline thickets Of con-
.=onants. seem like LARS Tor the imps Of
assassination: and one need only hear
She words 'Nasco' and Odessa and
-AVolCa' to feel as II one had been as
.sisti-- ~ a conspiracy of nihilists."
tie ended these words almost sternly,
but AZ once his face lightened and his
voice grew kind.
pardon me. mademoiselle," he pur-
sued. i try to be without rancors.
Usually I succeed in showing none. OF
all times this is the last when l should
remember them. Shall I tell you why?''
IF you wish, monsieur"
Then my reason is this: That l read
in your face, IN your manner-will you
pardon me for saying so?-the evidence
of a sorrow which does not consort
with your unquestonable youth, and
viii you still pardon Tne?-with your
very extraordinary beauty"
"a sorrow?" FILTERED Kathleen, droop-
ing her eyes. Then, in another minute,
she lifted her gaze and said firmly:
''You are right, monsieur. L have 2
sorrow-a great sorrow"
For what seemed to kathleen a
strangely long time there was silence
between herself and the king. She
waited for him to speak, and at last he
did 50. IN a voice full of somber repres-
siors:
III 1t were sorrow that I could
Tighten, or IN any way appease, mademoi-
sselle, would SO gladly do my best to
help your
Once more their eyes met, and hath
leer's lips trembled.
.'You-you are so goodI' she hest
tated Then n flood of memory swept
over her ard she continued: I'VE only
came here, mamma and l, for short
visit. We arc going tomorrow. Yes,
tomorrow. We are going to
''Going?" shot in Clarimond, with an
information that was at once hattery
and reproach.
Yes. monsieur: to Vallambrosa.
Tomorrow" he gave an impatient
frown and tossed his head. Then, as if
a desire to control undue overplus of
arlor. he went on: May 1 not induce
You TO change your mind, mademoi-
selle? May / rot induce you?' And
for an instant he touched her wrist
with his hand.
kathleen shook her head. ''Ah!
monsieur, she raurmured, you will be
good and not try to persuade u.s.
us" he echoed. ''Ah-your mother!
l had forgotten her. And You, mad
.emoiselle? You are bent on leaving Salt
ravia?7 His face had flushed and his
gray eyes had kindled. You must stay
for little while yet. You must stayI'
kathleen smiled. rs that a royal
-command?~ she asked. They tell me
must not remind you that you are a
king: and yet
'sAh.@ he cried. softly, Il viii remind
l,o% ] M, not rr1-- a