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


Piled. THE soul is lonely and full of long
ing until the happy hour arrives when all
the solitude Is made up for by the touch
of that one adorable sympathy man has
to dream OFF,
Cordela gazed out across the shining
water to where the spars of the Loup-garou
trembled in shadow on the tide.
La recompense," she said. in low tone.
then. shaking her head slowly, she added:
But such meetings rare"
Rare. yes"-he ventured to bend to-
wards her: but not unknown. Say to me,
1 implore you, not unknown
COrdelia allowed him to meet a flying
glance from under her long lashes. The
delight of such a rencounter is enhanced
by Its rarity" he continued "Mademois-
ellie. have you never met with one who
could understand you?"
"CordeiaS fair face looked preternatur
ally sad and wistful under the moon as she
said In a low voice:
Have you?"
Francois afterward declared that he could
have died Of that charming whisper.
Tonight mademofselle?' he answered
rapturousy.
And then. ah. evil fate it was time to
say good night and depart in the captains
gig. But even separation had it's allevfa-
lions. He paced the deck of the Loup
garou during his watch, and saw the day
light grow into pallid circle through the
portfolio of his cabin while he still dwelt
ecstatically not only upon Miss Lennard's
claims to admiration-her eyes, her hair.
her figure. even her pretty. hesitatin as
Montreux and Brussels-but also upon the
flattering response his attentions had drawn
from her.
In the morning Merovinge took occasion
to congratulate him on his success. THAT
appeared to go (here Merovinge winked
in highly complimentary manner), las
the Americans say-On veelS!
Francois replied with happy self-appre-
citation. adding a warm comment upon Miss
LennardS attractions.
She is beautiful? All, yes Have 1 not
r,aiI tt,oT t;zl, tlxa
most bewitching?" the captain sighed
II respectively. Il? Yes, yes 1 know itl'
But Francois had little interest to squan-
der upon Merovinges past triumphs.
The back of mademoiselle's neck, he
went on. white. innocent, exquisite-one
sees its counterpart only in little child or
in the picture of an angelt
Merovinge came back from his own ten
der recollections with some dissatisfac-
ton.
"Indeed?'' he said rather coldly, he had
no. observed the back Of mademoiselie's
neck. but he was prepared to take its
charms trust. Meantime, Francois
could have all the leave he found neces-
sary to fulfill the duty France required Of
him.
The party from the fort that came aboard
the Loup-garou for dejeuner included Colo
mel Lennard, his daughter, and a pink
faced young Subaltern of marines
COrdela handed up the gangway oy
the Incompatible lieutenant. He paraded
her about the deck, he spoke to her of his
hopes and his struggles, of his past, of his
future. of his ambitions. He was plainly
making rapid Roadway In the girls heart.
Judging from the absorbed attention with
which she listened to his rhapsodies. She
piled him with such apt and Intelligent
questions, she realized. with fulineSS the
affections alone can teach, how great were
the dangers he must face in his career,
the storms, the fevers and the climates!
He perceived himself to be the envy OF
his comrades in arms and glowed with
racial exaltatfon Of spirit When Pat Can
non came aboard later, smart, straight,
alert usual. with many apologies for the
delay duty had forced upon him. Francois
received him with effusion. This kindly
feeling was yet further increased when he
observed Cannon go up to Miss Leonard
and say few words to which the young
lady gave a short answer and promptly
turned her back upon him. 20
You can fetch your .,aderer and his
monkey gang along any time tomorrow,
Pat Cannon had said, rather sourly, 1t must
be admitted, for Cordeias behavior to-
ward the dapper French lieutenant pleased
him little. She was playing part. per
haps but 1t appeared to him that she en-
tered into the fun-if fun 1t was-wfth
quite uncalled for amount of Zest and en-
joyment. Cordelia only replied. Very well,
in her coolest tones and took UP the rum
ming with Francois Immediately.
Now, Francois had had his own prepa-
rations to make for the reception of his
fair guest. Early in the morning, after
shaving. he had occupied himself In his
cabin by taking down the photographs of
the girls of yesterday, his former con-
quests. and hiding them In book. 1t was
not desirable that the present and the past
should meet. So Coralie of the Opera Co
miaue, and handsome Marie Girrol of Mar
settles, the girl who lives beyond the mar
ket, were deposed.
Now it must be understood that Fran
co.'s in the depth of his consciousness rec
ogniZed the fleeing character of his own
regard for the English girl, yet he desired
above all things on earth to leave upon her
- =;
that should never be effaced. In the fu-
ture he would dwell with delicate pleas
ure upon the knowledge that far away,
Cordelia Lennard still signed Tor his loss.
still treasured his words and looks in her
heart. Even when married TO some dull,
coarse-grained English husband she would
turn back through the years with appre
citation of the superb young lover of long
ago!
Filled with these praiseworthy intentions
he fiuttered about her endeavoring to
deepen the impression he believed himself
to have already made. The wind had
blown the soft chestnut curlS about her
brow, her ears, her neck, and she seemed
more than ever adorable. He took her be-
low to show her where her lieutenant lived.
He fancied she would always picture him
there. his hair wet with the spindrift of
the stormy seas and other heroic coucom-
itants. She would make that cabin the
home of her romance AS a matter of fact
she didn't She merely thought it stuffy
but was too civil (and interested) to say so.
BY an unfortunate mistake she put her
hand upon book that lay upon the table
the book into which Francois had put the
yesterdays yesterday fell out. 1t was
a striking photograph of Coralie of the
opera. Francois picked it up skilfully.
My beloved mother he said, before
her marriage to the hero, my father"
"Which?' asked Cordelia innocently. She
had caught sight of more than one.
The others are my sisters" he FASTENED
to add.
You have a great many sisters" she re-
marked with interest. How many
Now. Francois had no means of knowing
the exact number of yesterdays which Miss
Lennard's sweet blue eyes had seen, so he
left an easy margin and answered
"Fourteeni
Really? Fourteen? Do let me see
them
Spare me your eyes. your"
=" here are you, Cordeiia? Times up!"
| the colonel,s big voice rolled through the
| oren door from the mess room.
| You are coming ashore tomorrow"
| asked Cordelia, timidly. We've could go
| over the fort. Yo IT friends might like to
come alSo?'
| Francois was transported with his luck
| Alas, dear madamoiselIe he ranIfed