The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-03

you never were really truly knight,
were your" she went ON through her
tears. You never cared anything about
me; you were just amusing yourself,
weren't you? Making fun of a foolish
little girl. o, monsieur. how could you?
And now you are going to leave met 81,
Anne he said at last, you are only
a little girl, and I am a grown man"
Yes, I remember I said you were old
for knight but you were all had!' she
walled.
But do you know he continued, at
wasn't all play after all-not exactly
and ii I fingered there on the balcony
if you saw me pause, it was because I
did not wish to leave you. Ills truly so.
Dear little lady, little playfellow and COM
rade. am your knight and will be- I
"And is there no other lady in England
or America? You said No once, but was
it true?'' d. !
1T was true and it is true; there is no
lady in England America, or anywhere
In the world, for me, except in this little:
corner of France, and if chesitated about
going away, it was for you. but don't
you see? My duty-I am an English off,
Ger. My king is at war with yours
must go backI' =, ~.
| you love your country, monsieur, more
than-but you do not love me at all, do
your she asked piteously.. ,.--.... = -
| III course / ne answered promptly.
II love you very much indeed; you are
the sweetest little girl know
20, the marquis loves me that way, and
Jean-Renaud, and Josette, and
ITS different with me. you know. Not
like that at ALL You see, men do their
duty because they ought to, and they love
people because they have to-"
DO you have to love me, Sir Philip
Eyes, and am glad to, my dear little
girl. am afraid if stay here any longer
and you grow any Older" He hest
tated; was he actually about to propose
to this child? He resumed, rather
tamely Il Just had to go away, you
see. Now let me. go, and some day
will come back to you and
Put me down, monsieur she said
gravely, with one Of those swift changes
Of mood which he had often noticed be-
fore. II insist upon it! There, you may
go now, but you will never come back
to me. I know it, You will be some
body else's knight, and l."
Her little head dropped forward. He
lifted his hand to her chin, turned her
face upward and kissed her, and then
drew her nearer to his breast as he
might have done little sister. Yet it
was not such a kiss as a brother might
have given; nor was it a. sister whose
lips met his own. 1t was the first time
he or any man had kissed her, save her
grandfather, whose love did not express
itself in frequent caresses. She was
but a child, yet something thrilled and
leaped in. her heart at his touch, and
there was a faint echo of her feeling, e.
brief response to her heart-throb, III
his own breast.
But in a moment she broke from his
arms-never again could he hold her so
as before. She stood and looked at him
from those glorious eyes Of hers, and
;,> ant I,ny ,nnt-
ing kiss, wiped out the difference in years
between the two. His thoughts changed
as he gazed upon her. "A new Hdea came
to him. In a few years she would have
grown-why not?
Monsieur" she said at last, and the
| change in her was evidenced by. the;
gravity and the added dignity of her
| manner. .t"you have kissed away the
child. I am a woman; YOU can mot go
! now - =. H., > -
-''why, not. Mademoiselle Anne? I can
| love you--from a distance-for I swear,
| child or not, I love you-and I can, come
| back 4
Love has nothing to do with this,
| monsieur now; I am a French woman.
! You must not go; you shall not! You are
a prisoner. The marquis is absent. The
castle is mine till he returns. I am
the chatelaine. could never look my
grandfather in the face again If al
|
"And how would you prevent 1t, Made
moiselle Anne?'' =. - ~, - -
by standing in your way, sou she
answered, stretching out her slender arms
and barring the window with her slight
figure. "a feeble barrier, you say, yet
you were my knight-even though only
in play-and I, at least, do not forget it.
\ Gentlemen do not pass to freedom over
the bodies Of their ladies'" she continued
quantity.
"Ah!;' he cried. looking at her with
mingled pride and vexation. y could
brush you aside in moment
But you would not, Sir Philip" she
went on, lapsing into the old style of
address. Besides, should scream, and
| then-and you can not go down those
rocks at night. The danger-it would
kill me-the thought hurts me here
She laid her hand innocently upon her
heart.
.n "Ths baron Of old did it," he an
Oh yes; but he went for love-"
"And for liberty .~
| "And is liberty stronger than love,
monsieur" =, ... -.. :-r
"By heaven. Little France" he an
swered irnpulsively. calling her by a name
which she loved to hear, IT know not if it
be-! I am afraid tits not, since"
"Since what, monsieur?' +, - 8. d.
I "Since stay here with you" he replied
decisively. Nov. you must. go to bed.
want not your death upon my hands,
He stepped forward and lifted her in his
arms again. She weakly protested. but
allowed it, They both felt the end of the
game had come, yet for the last time she
| indulged herself. Tomorrow would see
nay, tonight saw her child no longer.
| Yet she chung to the spirit of the play, the
hardest to be lost of all the ideas youth
| cheriShes. -A5=~ ~ ~ 49, - r
you promise me on your word of honor
that you will not seek to escape when
am gone to bed, Sir Philip" she asked,
nesting against him. her arms around his
neck, her head on his shoulder, as he car
ried her toward her chamber
! IT promise you, Lady Anne, on the faith
of knight-your Knight s.'ss