The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-22


hours. mademoiselle; | can feel for you.
| also have been lonely
Mademoisele merely smiled diyinely.
thoughts on Francois With a womans
art she put the next qeustion.
How can you know? You have com
panions, friends
Companions? What are they?" he
replied. THE soul is lonely and full of
longing until the habpy hour arrives
when all the solitude is made up for by
the touch of that one adorable sym
pathy man has to dream of
Cordelia gazed out across the shining
water to where the spars of the Loup-
garou trembIed in shadow on the tide,
la recompense," She said, in low
tone, then, shaking her head slowly she
added: But such meetings are rare
Rare. yes"-he ventured to bend to-
wards her: but not unknown. Say to
me. | implore you, not unknown
Cordelia allowed him to meet III flying
glance from under her long lashes
THE delight of such recounter is en-
HANGED by its rarity" he continued
"Mademoiselle. have you never met with
one who could understand your
Cordelia's fair face looked preternat-
urally sad and wistful under the moon
as she Said in IA low tone:
Have you?"
Francois afterward declared that he
could have died of that charming whis-
per.
Tonight, mademoiselle!" he answered
rapturOusly.
And then, ali. evil fate! it was time
to say good night and depart III the
captains gig. But even separation had
its alleviations He paced the deck of
the Loup-garou his watch, and saw the
daylight 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. hesitating Fremch-although lt
was the French of MontreuX and Brus-
ses--but also upon the fattering re-
sponses his attentions had drawn from
her.
In the morning Meroviogs look occ'-
sion to congratulate him ON his success
''That appeared to go" there Merovinge
winked in highly complimentary man
nerl, las the Americans say-on veels.
Il TiHCOlS Etplleu Will ilppJ SSAA ''t
probation, adding warm comment up
ON Miss Lennards attractions.
.She is beautiful? Ah yes. Have L
NOT said that there are Englishwomen
--ah. the most bewitching?" the cap
tan sighed retrospectively. Il? Yes,
yes, know il"
But Francois had little interest to
squander upon Meroyinge's past tlil-
u1nphs :.
ihe 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 angel.
Merovinge came back from his own
tender recollections with some dissatis-
faction.
.'Indeedg'' he said rather coldly, he
had not dissolved the back Of madonna
selle's neck but he WIS prepared to take
its charms on trust. Meantime Francois
could have all the leave he found neces-
sary to fulfil the duty France required
of him.
The PARTY from the fort that came
aboard the Loup-sarou for dejeuner in
cluded Col Leonard. his daughter, and
a pink faced young subaltetn Of ma
rines.
by the inoinpura BILE lieutenant. He pa
raded her about the deck, he spoke to her
of his hopes and his struggles. CT his
past, of his future, OF his ambitions. he
was plainly making rapid headway i'll the
girls heart. judging from the abSorDsd
attention with which she listened to hS
rhapsodies. She piled him with such apt
and intelligent questions. she realized
~ 4. r., al, a,A
teach, how great were the dangers he
must face in his career. the storms, the
fesvers and the climates.
He perceived himself to be the envy of
his comrades in arms and glowed with
a racial exaltaticn oI spirit. When Pat
Carnon came aboard later. smart,
straight. alert as usual. with nany arol-
ogies for the delay duty had forced up
on him. Francois received him with eff
fusion. This kindly feeling was yet fur
Their increased when he observed Cannon
90 up to Miss Leonard and say few
words to which the young lady gave a
short answer and promptly turned her
hack upon him.
You can fetch your adorer and his
monkey. gang along any time tomorrow
Pat Cannon had said. rather sourly, it
ant pleased him little. She was playing
a part. perhaps. hut it appeared to Hmm
that she entered into the fun-if fun 1t
was-with Il quite lancalled-for amount
OF zest and enjoyment. COrdelia only
replied. VERY well" in her coolest tones
and took up the running with Francois
immediately.
Now. Francois had had his own prep
arations to make for the reception OF has
fair guest. EARLY i'm the morning. after
shaving. he had occupied himself in his
cabin 10y taking down the photographs
of the girls of yesterday. his former com
quests. and hiding them in book. IT
was not desirable that the present and
the past should meet. SO C0ralie Of tl@
opera Comique, and handsome Ma'le
Girrol of Marseilles, the girl who lives
beyond the market, We're deposed.
Now. it must be understood that Fran
COTS in the depth of his consciousness
recognized the feeting character OF his
| own regard for the English girl, yet he
desired above all things ON earth to leave
upon her memory a tender recollection of