Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22

dreams. and her words but filled in the rare
crevices between them. ~ thought that
every man carried his own fate in his own
hand"
"A man can fight the tangible. but no
nan can struggle against the ordinary laws
Of social life. We may laugh at ccnven-
tional methods. but even in Revonde there
are some which must be yielded to-
Il don't think" said Valerie, I'VE yield to
many in Reyonde'
Hollywood saw a group of people adj
vancing toward them. Valerie, with her
changes of mood and manner, distracted
MIN, and drove him to say what he had re-
solved never to be tempted into saying.
Il am soldier-only soldier: gain
livelihood. but no more. have no luck AMI
no genius. To make a fortune or name is
beyond me. And without fortune many de-
sirable things are impossible.
Valerie turned upon him a bewildering
smile
Il shall know for the future Captain Raj
lywood, what you thinking Of You will
be thinking, for all those grave eyes of
yours, of the fortune you cannot make.
Not quite that, mademoiSelle, he an
swered Il shall be thinking of the girl
cannot win"
Valerie found herself drawn away from
him by the passing group. She was aware
of warm throb at her heart, she was
milling little, and the fear OF the morn
ing had temporarily vanished. For no def
mite reason which she could afterward dis
cover, she felt suddenly happy.
BY evening the tsa had blown away the
snowclouds for the time. and a thin moon
cleaned ftfully over the wide expanses OF
white. Remote, muffled in leagues of snow,
and alive with hungry passions and I'M
| scrupulous strength. the Castle of Sagan
did not, on that wild January night. offer
desirable housing to the Grand Duke Of
Nassau. He had yet some thirty hours to
spend as his cousins guest before he could
return to his capital without showing sus-
p;cion or giving offeuse. A hundred times
| he wished himself back in his great palace
fha han no nj
| the guard lay within call. But he bore
himself well. Notwithstanding. and al
| though, on the plea of chill and fatigue. he
kept to his rooms more than usual, MS
nothing to be desired He did not carry
himself as a man in mortal anxiety, but
was as dissatisfied, as discourteous. and as
disagreeable as 1t was his custom to be.
Late in the afternoon Nine. de Sagan re-
tired to take some rest before dinner.
Wrapped in lace and silk she was standing
| in front of her mirror with her women
about her, when the count entered AT MS
| first imperious word the attendants van
ished.
Isolde continued to stare into the glass
| like one fascinated, for in it she not only
saw the reflection of her own slender white
clad figure, but over her shoulde: the HeFce
| face she dreaded
For long minute husband and wife re-
manned reading each Other races IN Int
| looking glass.
| She had seen aversion and menace In the
counts lowering face many time before
and was at length beginning to believe the
almost impossible fact to be true that a
man lived who hated her, over whom her
beauty had no power.
The young countess shivered in mortal
terror
simon" she walled suddenly. you are
changed; you do not love me any more!
A broad smile fitted across the savage
| old face.
You are a fool, but very pretty fool.
| ISolda for that might forgive
you mary things. Now listen to me. After
you retire to your rooms for the night Keep
close to them, no matter what you hear.
There may be disturbance, and you had
| better have Selpdorfs daughter to keep
| you company" His expression changed as
| he spoke of Valerie.
| There is danger. she gasped, danger.
| What Is it-oh, tell me what it is?" her
first fear leaping toward Hollywood
| He stared into her shrinking eyes.
| IF you ever hope to be Duchess of
| Nassau" he answered significantly, leave
Valere's lovers. Unfair and the English
! man, to take care of themselves. Keep
your tongue SILENT Remember" He caught
her slender wrist roughly he spoke and
pressed it to enforce the command.
| The countess made reply. but her
| fingers closed in upon her palms.
Come, give me a kiss, and promise me
to do so much toward making yourself
grand duchess. He brushed her lips care
lessly with his mustache.
The caress brought no response, but as
he bent her she whispered: Have
mercy on me, Simon.' Qt was prayer
born rather of some vague instinct of
danger than any defined fear don't kill
mer'
He put his thick arm round her and
shook her impatently.
XIII you Isolde? Are you mad? You are
far more useful to me living than dead.
Get rid of your silly fears and remember
silence!'
Then putting her back on the couch with
ppnt1pneSS than might have been
pected of him, he walked out of the room.
For little while she sat listening, then
opened her eyes and glanced about her
Yes, he was gone. But it was character
istic of her that at such a time her chief
and oveTpowering thought was Valerie as
a rival, "Vaierie's lovers, Unfair and the
EngliShmanr A score of trifeS rushed
back upon her memory; but, no, it could
not be. 1t was Of the counts amiable
ways to suggest causes of Jealousy TO his
wife. He meant nothing, for what could
he know? The soothing conviction grew
| upon her that the taunt was thrown at her
for what it was worth. Oh, how she hated
Sagan-hated his bloodshot, beasts eyes,
his hooking laugh, his cruel hands. his
crueler gibes,
She pushed back the lace from her wrist
and saw the thin blue parallels of bruised
flesh his fingers had left-entirely I'M
awares, it must be owned-upon her white
ness. All she would show these to Rally
wood-as proof that she was in danger.
| that she actually needed his protection, and
so win him from his post, which tonight
would become the post of death.
All her little vain soul thrilled within her
| at the possibility of triumph-of defeating
| the honor of such a man-of winning him
! from his watch for loves sake-of over
| coming the scruples that had for so long a
time stood out against her wiies.
And yet in her poor way she loved him
| loved him as she would probably never love
another. Some women made in that
| way; they take pride in the loftiness of the
| height from which they drag men down.
Then he must be saved, she told herself
! at all costs saved! He would live to thank
| her yet. A thought of him lying dead in
| his blood by the dark embrasure that mask
ed the entrance to the royal apartments
| flashed across her mind She stretched out
| her arms with soft call like birds:
| "Oh, love- love, L will save your
(To be continued)