Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-21

had begun to imagine that Cordelias inVi-
| tation to others beside himself meant
natural desire on her part to veil her real
motive, which was no doubt, TO secure q
| tete-a-tete.
A couple of hours later invitation to
luncheon arrived from Col. Lennard for
Capt. Merovinge and the officers OF the
Loup garou. Francois was naturally of the
party that went ashore in response. He
| lad no manner of doubt that the festiv1ty
had been worked by Cordela, and was In
some shape an answer to his impaSsioned
appeal.
At luncheon he surpassed himself. Even
Merovinge gave place to him. The others
| had also their orders, and were as COM
paratively silent as it Is given to French
men to be. They allowed Francois to take
| the floor. so to speak, and he awaited MINI
| self of the chance in manner that thrlli-
| ed his compatriotS. He was magnificent.
| He summed himself in the smiles of the fair.
| he told stories Of the duels he had fought
| and the dangers he had braved. he dwelt
| on his approaching departure with point
| and a culver of feeling that won him many
compliments later round the mess table
| on board. And all the time Cordelias at
| tentiOn never tagged, she sympathlZed and
locked terrified in the right places; in fact.
! she satisfied even the exfgent vanity Of her
| admirer
! Francois, however, directed most of his
| &C conversation to Pat Cannon. whose labored
| polfteness delighted Cordoba. For, in spite
| of all. Cannon was as jealous as a red
| haired man has right to be. He was a
| young fellow of parts and sagacity, but he
| was very human, and Corde,la, like many
| another woman, dealt hardly with an af-
| lection of which she felt secure Col. Len
| nard understood the various elements of
| the scene wonderfully, and smiled from
| time to time grimly enough under his heavy
muStache.
At length lunch and Francois tales of
| his own prowess came to an end. 1t was
! still too early in the day to go upon the
| roof and Cordelia proposed an expedition
by some sheltered passages to the fort,
| where in coo! gallery with embrasures
| open to the sea breeze the men might smoke
| and Saunter for a while
There was pause. then Col. Leonard
| slowly agreed to the proposal. Cannon de-
INJURED little. But fffs objection was over
| ruled, and Francois led the way with Cor
| della, his heart beating In his throat, as
| In imagination he saw himself being deco
| rated for his achievement.
Cordelia had put on big white hat that
| only made a frame to enhance the beauty
| of her face. -,
What Francois said during that memora-
| BILE hour, his etequence, his pathos. can
| never be written down. but he cunningly
| led the fascinated gin hither and thither.
| past endless sentries. who, however, stood
only rigidly pid as the couple paced the
| length OF the fertilization. 1t may be added
| that Cordelia herself was astonished at the
| extraordinary number of men on guard,
| the fact being that Cannon had no idea of
! allowing her TO 'be for one moment out of
earshot alone with her enamored compan-
| ion.
After a time a favorable opportunity
| offered, and Fraficois) made the request he
had been working toward since he arrived
| in Tcheu bay.
Dear mademoisel.e, you will permit me
| a recollection" he said with eagerness as
| he produced his camera ''I scarcely dare
| ask so much, but In the lonely moments at
sea, when perchance the last storm that
l am destined to hear is blowing, will take
| one last look at that exquisite face. You
| cannot refuse me?"
Cordehas eyes were alight. Never had
| she looked so beautiful
| ITO place with your mother and sisters?'
| she demanded with what Francois deemed
| to be shy delight. That was it should
be. She had clearly no suspicion of his real
| design.
| They were on one of the bastions. Two
| old sun-warmed guns frowned innocentIy
| out over the cleaning water. Francois beg
ged Miss Lennard to place herself by one
| of these, turning apt compliment out
| or the contrast He was inclined to be a
| little contemptuous of the girls blindness
and her faci,e responses to his nattery and
advances. Moreover, he largely despised