Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
CHAPTER v.
Good Luck md n FREELY.

[ uoou Luch uuu a
Meanwhile Hollywood had come to an
| anchor beside one of the high embossed
| doors of gold and white which led from the
| gallery into various luxurious Withdrawing
| rooms. AS he leaned against the Intel
! voice suddenly said in his ear as il seemed:
My dear lady, why have such scru-
pies? They are the most detestable things
| in life and the least profitable. They poison
| pleasure even when they do not altogether
| deprive us of it. And what does one gain
| by them? Absolutely nothing, not 50 much
as the good opinion of our friends, who can
never be brought to believe we possess
| them" said nan in mocking tone.
A distinctly unc omforta bic sensation per-
vaded Rallywood's mind for the second
| which preceded the reply. The voice was
| Baron Won Elmur's, and there was mote
| of admiration III it that he had reason to
be acquainted with.
woman laughed, light, provoking
| laugh. Hollywood, who was still held by
| the crush against the door, knew it we'll
| but he breathed freely, for 1t not the
| laugh he had feared to hear.
| Nevertheless, baron, l like scruplas;
! they are always respectable, and, therefore,
| of use-sometimes," the lady answered. in
| high, sweet tone.
| Your husband my Lord Sagan, has not
| found them Indispensable in his career"
| But he is not womanp' with sigh
"A beautiful woman can dispense with
everything except-her beauty! That makes
| fools of us all! Besides"
| The rest of thu sentence was lost as
| Hollywood managed at length to force his
| way through the crowd, which was thicken-
| ing rapidly.
| Then he came upon group of men he
| knew, men from the frontier, from the
| marshes about kofn ford and the crags of
| Pulesco, men with tanned skins like his
| own, and the mark of the collar rim of
| their high military tunics round their
| threats. They were masked, and repre-
| scented various original charac tiers, and
| We're enjoying themselves hugely More
/ than all they CT Sbod ba;,o
| recognized so readily by Hollywood Rally
| wood drew his finger round his throat by
| way OF explanation. Thers was a general
| laugh. and the men scattered each to seek
! his own particular pleasure Hollywood re-
| NAMED looking down on the dancers There
| was in the back Of his mind some desire to
| ioehtl1y the lady whose glove was still in
| MS possession. He fixed now on one tall
domino, now on another, but without salts
| lacton He was discomfort Ally coming to
| tne point of knowing that he had made a
| lfesh mistake, when he turned his head alb
! rrptly, with vague sense of being looked
| al, ana saw a black domino standing for
| an instant alone at the further end of the
| gallery. Even under the muffing silken
| lOidS' ne fancled he recognized the attitude
| OF the girl he had met at the chancallor's
! he at once began to make his way
| through the crowd in her drec ton but
| when next he looked she vas pon, He a.
| scehded to the salon, where he danced with
| more than one masked lady His six feet
| ., stature marked him out from the shorter
| -idaS'auiS' ana the tall, athletic figure of
| the samekeeper who moved with so rnuch
| OF unexpected ease and grace excita5 son,
| attention. SUM-
Alter an interval. as he stood back
a aga the wall to allow a couple who
| mao peen following him to pass they dre,v
| UP in front CT him.
~ obey you, mademoisele" said the
| His compa MON. who wore black dor,iro-
| made gesture of dismissal Then sbe
| turned to lakewood. You have been look
| ing Tor me?' she said, as her late partner
| moved away.
| But naturally, mademoiselle," replied
Hollywood. peN
| You know who ann"
| Not in the least l cannot even make
guess, though 1 have been waiting to
know since this day last week.
II would nave been easy to ask the uues-
tlon-of any one," she said, with an odd
BY no means. There are questions which
cannot be asked-of any one because the
answer touches too closely" Rallywood
pulled himself up, with sudden sense of
being rfdiculously in earnest.
And then they were dancing.
4 ct you are not stranger in Revonde.
Nine. de Sagan could have answered your
question-had you cared to ask it, the girl
said.
1T did not strike me to ask her I trust
ed to the fact that. belonging to the guard,
l must some day have the good fortune to
find you again"
You are patient"
No" replied Hollywood. 81 am not pa
tient. But know that all things come 10
Tim who waits. l waltz
so / see-excellently,
Have l not waited long enough to hear
your name first from your own lips?'
Stop for a moment" Then. standing be-
side him. she continued, ASK tomor-
row.
"If l am alive 1 will" he laughed
He felt her hand move with a quick
tremor on his arm.
II knew it! Which of them has chal-
lenged you. Unziar?' The swift question.
echoing his own thought, took him com
pletely by surprise.
He passed his arm around her. for the
waltz was nearing its end.
| me the honor of sending me challenge"
Let US have an end of this absurd mys-
| terry. said the girl impatiently. Il am VAL
erie Selpdorf and you are"
John Hollywood Of the guard of Mas
au,' he interpOsed. II had my commits
| sion from you in the anteroom of the hotel
du Chancellor. But for that l should have
been more than half inclined to refuse it."
Il wish you had refused 1t. 1t may cost
you-more than man cares to pay. /
thought my father held the power to give
any commission he pleased, but one can
never reckon with the guard. They mean
to kill you, Captain Hollywood! I wanted
to warn You. but think you know more.
perhaps. than can tell you. or than you
will tell me. What is going to happen? 1
want to help you-you must let me help
drew her a little closer as they moved
more slowly during the concluding bars of
the waltz.
MY dear mademoiselle. assure you that
your fears are quite groundless 1 am
proud to belong to the guard of Nassau
and they have SO far shown no intention of
rejecting me. AS for the duels, If there
happen to be one-are affairs common
in Nassau? And afterward fewer funerals
take place than one would suppose likely!
Besides M. Selpdorf's wishes cannot be
lightly disregarded in Revonde."
you will be drawn into quarrel before
the night is over" Mademoselle Selpdorf
stated her conviction very plainly, without
noticing his disclaimers.
The music ceased. Hollywood spoke once
more ITO prove to you how little 1 an
ticipate anything Of the sort, will you al
low me to have the last dance on the pro-
gram?'
THAT is nothing! What can I do for
your" she exclaimed.
Expect me! If you would promise to ex-
pect me. don't yet know the man who
could stop my coming to you
The words were lightly spoken. but VAL
erie Selpdorf looking up into RalIywood's