Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-01-26
A MODERN KNIGHT.
BY EVELYN 'THORP.

MY dear BOY, what Will you? Call
the fact fantastic; call it absurd. But
as fact it remains. Useless to talk
to Mignon, unless to approach her.
She has her ideas, her very foolish
ideas. You say that you fell in love
with her beforeyou knew who she was.
That your passion has waxed warm
and true, even while you have never
spoken to her. That such a passion
should be romantic enough to satisfy
even her. tell you, no. Are you de.
scended from some Crusader? DO you
date back to they year 1000? No. You
have no glamor about you; you have
no escutheon, to be gilded or other
wise. You are plain Rob Beckwith,
an unadorned American. Love you
for self? You don't know this young
ward or mine. l can give you no
hope. Keep away. That is my best
advice"
This letter was directed, sealed,
and Mr.. Massey looked at it mo-
ment before sending it.
"Little fool! Where would she find
such husband as Rob? But care
for the boy too we'll to allow him to
entangle his affections for naught.
She would never have him. Better
let him know the truth from the first"
The band was playing, and the wind
stirred softly in the acacias. The
people who mad just sauntered out
from the table d hote of the Hotel du
Nord wandered to and fro. Little
Miss Fitzgerald watched the whole
foreign scene gloomily, thecankerworm
OF inconsistencies eating out her heart
as it had done ever since the Umbria
swung cut OF her New York pier three
months before She was sacrificing
her own inclinations in coming abroad
to her niece, that admirably pretty
girl, whose eyes now rested on the hui
man kaleidoscope before her with a
zest as keen as Miss Fitzgerald's lack
of interest was apparent.
But now Miss Fitzgerald said tenta-
lively:
"If your guardian-if Mr.. Massey
comes abroad in fortnight, Isuppose,
Mignon. he will prefer to return again
before the autumn? Do you think
you would be willing to return with
him, my dear?"
There was no reply, for flush that
was like the reflection OF some sunset
cloud had suddenly dyed the girls
lovely cheek. A tall and dark-eyed
young man approached the chairs
where the two ladies sat.
"Do you know this young MANI"
queried Miss Fitzgerald. struck by
something insistent in the strangers
glance.
"No, aunt" said N1ignon, avertlng
her face.
But when the music was over and
the ladies arose, there f1oated toward
them q certain little cosmopolitan
widow whose acquaintance they had
by chance made in travelling.
"Dear Miss Fitzgerald, l want"
cried this lady, ito introduce most
charming fellow to you-Count Holm,
He speaks English as well as you or l.
Do let me make the introduction"
And before Miss Fitzgerald could
find breath she raised her hand beck
oningly, and the tall and dark-eyed
young man Of half an hour before was
bowling to the ground before the little
spinster and her niece
Count Holm proved worthy OF the
endorsement given him. Even lit
tie Miss Fitzgerald, whose dread
OF "foregners" was ingrained and
inveterate, was compelled to ad-
nit that she had never supposed
German count could be so nice.
"There are times when he seems to
me just like one OF our own young
men at home" observed the little
lady in thecourse OF a few days.
Hedoes not seem that to me at ALL"
asseverated Mignon with unusual
quickness. "Anything but that"
Her aunt turned her eyes upon her
in mild surprise. What had come
over Mignon? Prone to dreams and
sundry exaltations such she had al
ways been! But now there was some
thing more. About the lines of her
mouth and eyes there had come an
intensity, usefulness and far-away-
ness that had not been there before.
She started at unexpected footsteps.
She flushed or grew pale without Wis
ible reason. She studied German by
the hour. Count Holm translated it's
appealing sentiment for her in amaz-
ingly faultless English-fautless save
for d very slight accent-and she list
ened with lowered eyelids and a nut-
tering color in her cheek.
Her little aunt's words required to
iler a few days later as she found her
self walking with the young man
through the sun-fecked woods up to-
ward the old castle that dominated
the town from its shaded heights.
All about them was warm scent Of
pine and he vas talking slowly, soft
ly, bending lis graceful dark head.
Long before l knew you l loved
YOU" he was saying, and though she
tried feebly to stem the current of
this precipitous declaration, he con-
tinued:
"You think these mad words? You
doubt my sincerity7 l know that the
American race is slower and calmer in
it's affections; that it repudiates our
warmer passions and give them no
faith, But, ah! how wrong you are.
If you know"
eve are OF that mind" threw in
the girl, beneath her breath.