Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1901-07-12

achieved some slight success, 1t was
too late. All that was left for him
was to take the absurd little journey
Of sentiment.
Early next morning he Travelled to
Beaulieu. He got out at the railway
station and, following the path that
led round to st. Jean, passed the fish,
ing village and gained the Point. There
he sank down on the ground and gave
himself up to his reflections. 1t was
q perfect morning. a cloudless sky, the
air soft and pregnant with the per-
eums Of the roses that tIgrswsgigaesto
the edge Of the tinY cli6 'sspQsS8 S8ot st
below him was the sea. 'not-a f1pppsfon
It's smooth surface. Tho clear blue tipys
cleaning in the sunshine.
Presently he was aware Of q woman
gazing curiously at him. Tho snext
moment they had recognised one3 an
other. She went suddenly pale, and
her lips parted in wonder.
Ralph she gasped.
He looked at her mutely. He was
face to face with her at last, and tho
blood went throbbing through his
veins.
Eyes. Just Ralph" he said mechanic
ally.
She held out her hand, and he took
It awkwardly.
"And to think 1t Is you after all
these yearsw she said softly.
Hippesley did not speak. His
thoughts had flown back q dozen years
to the night when he had left her. An
indefinable idea came to him that she.
too. was thinking Of the same thing.
II won't lie," he said abruptly. II
am not here by chance. heard you
were on the Riviera, and after all
these years l wanted to see you again
Just to see you; had ne notion of
speaking"
She gazed at him steadily. as If try
ing to read his thoughts.
You have loved mo all this time?"
she asked slowly.
He bowed his head. She turned
away with q little sob.
And you never wrotew she cried.
"Oh, why didn't you writer
II was q failure-such an utter fail
ure l could not write to claim you."
he said hoarsely. "You did well. l
wasn't worth waiting for"
She looked at him. the tears glisten-
Ing In her eyes.
"what a tumble fate made OF our
livesw she sighed.
"It did not matter. You are the Prin-
cess Zandra."
"Oh, 1 am tired-tired to death of 1t
ALL" she cried In tone OF utter weari-
ness. "To have to live In an artificial
world. among people who are not my
people-there is no one left to me now
and to have to begin It all over again."
she added In half sorrowful, musing
tone.
He understood. He remembered the
words he had overheard at the cafe. II
was all true, then. She looked up at
him quickly. with a smile.
But you, Ralph; what have you
doneT she asked gently.
For years nothing. Now, at last,
I've got a small estate in Ceylon. It's
a fair living, while work hard-not q
bad life, too, for a man who has lost
his ambitions"
No not a bad life." she repeated.
"A lonely one. though" She gave a
little laugh. There was an infinite note
of sadness in 1t. "As lonely as mine
has beenw
She lifted her head, and their eyes
met He read something In her gaze
a something that sent him trembling
from head to foot
MY God, Esmer he cried. tiff
you were not the Princess Zandrap
He saw her eyes suddenly shine, the
color rush to her cheeks.
Remember only that I am a poor
woman again." she whispered; that
I've never forgotten. never could for
GET Her voice died away.
His brain was In a whirl. 1t seemed
hardly possible.
but the life" he cried. think,
after all, you've
II only loved once. 1t was you l
thought had forgotten
The low, soft voice came to a stop.
They stood looking into one another's
eyes.
"Don't send me back to the old life
again. Ralph" she murmured.-Mainly
About People.