, 1899-06-23
have friends in Brnges who WI.

1-91: have friends in Bruges who wish
me TO accompany them to Antwerp for a
few days. It required no consideration.
it-it-is nothing, you know-only a trip
Of pleasure
'..chau zc shall see you back again soon
-on Raieh day. Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday? / believe my nieces return
from the country on Thursday. You will
be here to receive them, will you notY'
You are very good, monsieur. Your
kindness increases my gratitude. | am
perfectly aware Of the difference in ouT
stations in life, and that l have not even
the commonest claim upon your consid.
GRAFTON. Hence it becomes all the more
valuable because undeseryed."
'You have the commonest and yet the
highest Of all claims to myself and every
thing l possess replies the baron, the
claim of n woman upon the man who
loves her. All, madamel pardon me if l
am too abrupt, but for many weeks l
have tried to say this to you, aud now
that you are about to leave us, l can no
longer hold my tongue. You must have
seen my love. my devotion. You viii not
despise me when I confess that you fill all
my thoughts, and that | have but one
aarnest desire in life-to make. you my
wifei'
In his ardor and foreign sense of chiy-
airy he has thrown himself at her feet
and Della has no escape from him. Here,
On q level with her own face, are the
lmpassioned eyes and glowing visage of
the Baron SAKE, while both his strong
arms are clasping her own as in a wise.
And the temptation of it!
If this offer had but come a,'month be
fore, from what suffering might it not
have saved her! As the wife OF this gal
liant Austrian soldier and noble, who
would have dared to assail her fair fame.
even though she had been mad enough to
play with 1t as 9 child plays with a vase
OF inestimable value, never caring if he
smashes it or not in the encounter.
i'Yoa are an Austrian NOBLE says De.
LA, drawing her hand away, "a man OF
high position, and great wealth. l am a
penniless widow. neither young nor hand,
some-the g%oyerness. OF your sisters chill.
dren. You shall make no mesallianee
for my sake, Baron SAKE
"And who dares to say 1t viii be a
me~sallianceg,. he exclaims. You are OF
gentle birth-I can read it in your voice.
your shape, your manner-and / am no
more"
1T is true I am what you say" replies
Della, with a touch of pride; ''for my
father was an officer In the Royal Navy
Of England, but l was not educated in
the same class as you have been. | was
early left an orphan, to depend on my
" resources, and for many years l was
nothing but an actress on the public stage,
singing, dancing and playing, night after
night, for the sake of the bread l put into
my mouth. And an actress is no fit per-
son to place in the enyiable position OF
the Baronne de Sake
"And / respect and admire you for the
strength of mind you showed in working
eor your independence and that of your
child. 1t is your bravery that first drew
me to youi Do you think | want a silly
idle girl for my baroness-who shall be
able only to look pretty and shipper, and
dress in a new costume each day? No,
Della! I want a friend-a companion
a womanI just such a woman as you are
who has the strength of purpose to do
what is right, and the strength of mind
10 confess it! And now that that matter
is settled between US, you will tell me
zhail have what l wantT