The evening Republican., 1902-05-22


per In the sunlight. I used to coax
her into the sun SO that l might
watch it glitter. And she'd the sweet
est, loveliest smile that ever was lost
from Heaven, and a high little nose
that turned up the very least In the
world, and the curve Of her cheek was
like All, well, lived at the
gates of ParadiSe for six little weeks
"And then?" said the marquise
sharply. "fhen you came away, ana
it was all over, wasn't it? You made
her love you-she was child, you
say; then you just left her to her lone
Illness aud sleepless nights ana her
agony ofhopeless pain She caught
he r breath quickly, and the flowers
at her bosom quiyeled and heaved.
"Ah, you mem" she cried. "Every
pretty girl is something to play with
aLd Halter and kiss, isu't she?
Something to love through week
Tor her eyes or her hair. and then
to leave, carving away everything
that makes sunshine and joy! What
10 a broken heart Or two! On, aren't
you proud, Sire, at the conquests
you've made? Never mind the little
girl down in Campania. Aren't you
proud to have taken the light out
Uf all her life?"
II went back, my lady, said he.
"rhere was dreadful scene about
it, but bolted and went back. BE
a little sorry for me, won't you:!-
she wasn't there. She and her
father had disappeared utterly,
and have never been able to trace
them; don't know where she Is.
She NAV have married someone or
rank, possibly for her extraordi-
nary beauty, or she may be-she
may be-dead.
The marquise raised the big
white fan once more and waived 1t
before her face. "But /, mon Rol!'
she questioned. "Your little love
story is entertaining, though bit
sad, yet how does it touch me-
what you tried to do?"
.You look like her." said the
King, simply. "You might be her
elder sister; you've her eyes and
her hair and her mouth when you
don't smile. You haven't her
smile; yours 10 colder, prouder.
But you've her way OF walking
| aud of carrying your head. IL
wanted 10 to kiss you and pre-
tend was kissing her again. do
you see? 1t isn't flatteriug, is 1t!
1t isn't very peroonal, but you see
it's been six years now, with never
a day that wasn't an agony OF
hopeless love, nor a night that
wasn't half sleeplessness aud half
Dire ans CT her. so that when you
came to us from Paris, month ago,
it vast was almost as If she had
come, though she was a music
teachers daughter and you the
widow OF a marquis. IL wanted
to take your hands and hold them
at my breast and kiss your lips,
| Just once. the way kissed her the
last time in our forest path when l
gave her the little gold locket with
the royal arms on it, aud she
wondered what the arms meant,
and promised to wear the locket
| always. think it would help ME
TO endure things little more
easily. I'm going to be married to
the BavNian Princess IN two
months. marquise.'
The lady's lace was low over the
orchids of her breast again, and the
orchids rose and fell. Out in the ball
room the orchestra was playlng
"The River Of Love,
"Will it help you, uion Roi,' she
asked, presently, 'jf l let you kiss
me--once? For l think shall. l
am a widow, Sire. and you are bound
to no one-yet. And | think | know
of no love that is greater or sadder
than yours. See it has made me weep
a little--for sympathy
She rose to her feet, and the King
rose with her His face was strange.
" young and eagerand boyish. There
was flush on his cheeks and a qCe,r
light in his eyes. Then he took her
hands they shook little In his
| ana penn OVCI HCl aiu hiooSA ASi
lips, once. The face Of the marquise
was white.
"WiIl you leave me now, please?'
she begged. ~ want to be alone.
Send some one for me, presently. On
and never stop loving u little girl IN
Campania! Shed be happy II she
knew-happy Yes, yes, you must
stop when you're married-but not
quite, oh, not quite, mon Rol. 60,
please, go!'
When he had gone the marquise
sat for a long time with her hands
covering her beautiful face. And the
orchids rose and fell. Then presently
I she pulled at the diamond chain that
passed over her shoulders and down
into the bosom Of her gown, and
drew from her bosom little gold
lockct with a shield Of many quater-
ings engraved on 1t. She kissed the
IL cket over and over again, and held
it against her cheek And after a
time she slipped it back in her bosom
and sat very quitely waiting for the
officer whom the King should sent
to her.