The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-07-31
BY !. OUIDA' Z

you, In the arMyS name, sIOF your H
finite goodness in acting so munifcent-
" on my slight hint. Your generosity
has made many happy hearts in the
\ hospital.
Generosity Oh, do not call it BY
any such name! What did it cost me?
We are terribly selfish here. I am in
debted to you that FOR once you made
me remember those who suffered. =
She spoke with certain impulse Of
candor and Of self accusation that
broke with great sweetness the some
what careless coldness of her general
manner 1t was like a CLEAN Of light
that showed all the depth and the
warmth that in truth lay beneath that
imperiouS languor of habit. 1t broke
further the ice Of distance that severed
the grande dame from the ca valry sol
der He wholly forgot their respec-
tive stations. He only remembered that
for the first time for SO many years he
had the charm Of converse with a Wo-
man Of high breeding, of inexpressible
beauty and Of keen and delicate intui-
ton. He wholly forgot low time pass
ed and she did not seek to remind him.
Indeed she but little noted it herself.
At last the conversation turned back
to his chief
You seem to be aware Of some mo-
tive for your commandments dislike y
she asked him. Tell me to what you
attribute it
He obeyed and told to her the story
of the emir and of the Pearl of the Des-5
ert, and Venetia Corona listened. as.
she had listened to him throughout.
with an interest that she rarely vouch-
safed to the recitals and the witticisms
of her own circle.
This barbarian is your chief?" size
said as the tale closed. His enmity
is your honor. can well credit that
he will never pardon your having
stood between him and his crime. But
have not heard one thing. What ar.
gument did you use to obtain her re
lease
No one has ever heard it, he an.
swered her, while his voice sank low
II will trust you with it. It will not
+ pass elsewhere. told him enough of
of my own past life to show him
that / knew what his had been and
that 4 knew, moreover, though they
We're dead to me now, men in that
greater world of Europe who would
believe my statement if wrote them
!, this outrage on the en1ir and would
avenge it for the reputation of the en-
pire, and unless he released the emir's5
wife sWore to him that would SO
! write, though he had me shot on the
morrow. and he knew should keep
my word. 2
She was silent some moments. look
ing on him with a musing gaze in
which some pity and more honor for
him were blended.
You told him your past. VIII you
confess it to me p
cannot, madame
And why ~
Because am dead, because in your
presence 1t becomes more bitter to me
to remember that ever lived. 7
You speak strangely. Cannot your
life have resurrection 2"
Iis4@ wv SAs AAA6AaAAACss&s III d bllCl AOuI
you have given it one-in dreams. It
will have no other. AS am now SO
4 desire to live and die. !"
You voluntarily condemn yourself
| to this %
| ii have voluntarily chosen 1t. am
well sure that the silence / entreat will
be kept by you r.
.Assuredly. unless by your wish it
be broken. Yeti await my brothers
| arrival here. He is a soldier himself.
shall hope that he will persuade you
to think differently of your future.
At any rate both his and my own in
fuence will always be exerted for you.
II You will avail yourself Of it,
You do me much honor, madame.
ALI will ever ask of you is to return
those coins to my colonel and to forget
that your gentleness has made me dis
regard for one merciful half hour the
suferance on which alone a trooper can
present himself here
| He swept the ground with his cap as
though It were the plnmed hat Of q
marshal and backed slowly from her
presence, as he had many a time long
before backed out of a throneroom.
AS he went his eyes caught the ar
| mics Of the ivory chessmen. They
stood under the glass and had not been
broken by her lapdog ssS
Miladi, left alone there in her luxu
GUS morning room. sat awhile lost in
thought. He attracted her; he inter
ested her; he aroused her sympathy
and her wonde as the men OF her own
world had failed to do roused them
despite the pride which made her Inn
patient Of lending SO much attention
to q mere Chasseur q Afrique. She
discovered the ring Of true gold IN his
words and the carriage Of pure breed
Ing IN his actions. He interested her
more than it pleased her that he
should a man so utterly beneath her,
doubtless brought into the grade to
which he had fallen By every kind Of
Il