Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-02-15
CHATTER xL-coNrrSuEn.

[dAA honesty Oy.
''Ohl am not so honest. assure YOU
There, you confessed that you are.
Anyone else would have spoken SO diff
ferently."
ANY other woman. You mean?"
well, yes" he assented
And other women. when they talk
with you, monsieur, are anxious to con-
vince you of their honesty"
'Wel, yes"
Kathleen seemed to muse a little.
slowly shaking her head. THAT is be-
cause you are gou."
He made an impatient gesture sIt
Is so conducive 20 feminine deception.
then. this being /. as you put ftp" and.
without waiting for her to respond, he
went on: what made me in the first
place like you so much, mademoiselle.
was your charitable forgetfulness of
who really am"
Il didn't forget Il in the least. how
ever. ! cultivated myself into seeming
rs if did"
"Ah. you're bent on disappointing me.
No, monsieur. only on telling you the
truth"
The truth from people never disap-
points me-
Are You so sure?" she murmured, a
little vaguely, not meeting his look.
He gave a slight start Not quite
sure, not quite sure-in your case.
For example, it d,d disappoint me
TO learn that you are unhappy"
She would not admit that she had ever
confessed this 10 him during their pre-
vious talks and for a good while they
gently battled with one another CON
corning what human happiness truly
means. until Clarimond at last said.
with an accent of mild irritation:
For man or woman of reasonable
age there Is but one perfect kind of hap
piness. The heart is mill. whose
wheel should always turn in full
stream and grind forth golden grain
The soul, like a wealthy miller. must
be buoyant and gladstone at the labor
performed; the deeper he is covered
with the dust of that delicious industry
the more prosperous he rates himself.
while he looks forth on the world de-
fed by his hearts consoling thrift
1T is not everybody" smiled Kath-
leen, as the speaker paused, ''vho can
be both king and poet in one short life.
"Areyounows atirical, mademoiseneq"
''No, no. But 1 am skeptical. There
are so few hearts like TINT Mine. I
fear, IS an idle mill wheel above an
empty stream-bed."
Yet one whose waters have been
dried. Or, II not dried. cruelty damned
81 have not said that, monsieur"
"You say more, find, than you mean
10 say"
And yet you do not think me de-
ceitful; you have granted rs much"
His eyes for an instant. seemed 20
csress her face II think you strangely
miscrable!" he affirmed Then, lower
ing his voice little, and leaning nearer
70 her II can't but wonder if you are
incurably so"
Il am not miserable" she said, with
wistful ardor of denial. at is too bad
that you should think this. You said
something of the same sort yesterday.
But you are wrong-wrong / still
have a great deal TO live for"
"Stili! And you say that in the early
glow of your mGidenhood Still IL is
amazing. Or, no; it isn't amazing AT
all; it is thoroughly cxplainabic. There
is something you want. wonder IL
could get 1t for you"
She shook her head quickly and then
stared down at the hands which lay like
two pale curled feathers in her lap
mo. monsieur" She breathed, enshrin-
ing the words, us il were, in sort OF
long sigh. 1T is nothing that you could
get me"
lie accepted her reply as a surrender.
She icds sorrower, after all, and the
feints of her assertion 10 the contrary
had been admittedly futile.
In the silence that now followed they
both looked forth upon the incompara-
bic valley, ilanlSed by its mighty noun
tnins, over-scattered by It's ethereal viii
las, crowned, accentuated, dignihed by
its romantic and imposing palace.
The king slowly lifted his hand and
pointed 20 that pale and beauteous edi-
flee. His voice was quite faint Though
it reached her ears very clearly indeed)
as he said:
II have thought Of Offering you this
for home"
She did not make the slightest sign Of
reply. Tie saw the color leave her
checks and the light greaten In her
eyes But she did not turn her look to-
wards his. Now her breath came Wis
IDLY quicker, pulsing the spray Of lace
at her throat. Soon he saw her deIicate
hands huttcr a little there in her lap
like fallen flowers that "a breeze blows
over and vaguely unsettles. But that
was all.
Yes, he went on, Il have thought
u asking you TO dwell there with me
as my wife"
At once she turned and met his gaze
with great dircctness.
''You-have had this thought. mon
sieur2"
1T Is my wish--my rcquest-my en-
treaty"
Your wife?" she repeated: and he
saw that she was deeply pcrturbed.
Ny queen" he continued II want
you 10 share my throne and crown with
rae, such as they are. have never
asked any woman 90 do this until now.
have never asked any woman. for the
siupiest Of reasons. Need I tell YOU
that rcasonY' He reached his hand for
ward and took her hand. lifting 10 %
his lips 10 had grown -piteously
cold, and the kisses that he gave 10 were
somehow bestowed with the compass
si1nnte tenderness which implied that
he sought - reawslsen its natural
warmth
Your Queen-your queen" she said,
nni withdrew her hand. not rudeiy. and
set with hrmucss. Tho color came back
e. her checks IS be watched her face
4 sccmcd like "a toa-rOse IN some delight
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