Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-11
corner, and sitting there grew drowsy a
Bit so that l didn't hear Denis when he en-

corner, and sitting there grew drowsy
bit so that didn't hear Denis when he en-
tered The first I knew he was standing
in the middle of the room, in the light from
the big north windows, and while I live,
mademoiselle, 1 hope never again to see
upon mans face such look of hopeless
agony, such struggle Of the greatest love
man can own, with the call of honor
that means remuneration. His soul was in
his face, mademoiselle, there in that
moment when he thought himself alone,
and it was soul that had been led 10
heavens gate and shown what was within,
only to be hurled deep into hell.
HE threw himself, face downward upon
the big divan that stands in a corner of
the room, and lay there with his hands
over his eyes. and his shoulders twisting
from time to time.
II dared not move show myself, for his
own sake, and couldn't get away without
his hearing.
Then, after a time he rose to his feet
and went across the room to little cup
board in the wall, which he opened. He
took out bottle, an absinthe bottle, and
glasses and a carafe of water, and filled
one OF the glasses. sitting at a table. He
faced the light again so that could see
the struggle in his face.
"Mademoiselle, you who are a woman
carefully bred, delicately nurtured, car
know nothing, appreciate nothing of such
struggle, the struggle of racked and quiv-
ering nerves for the relief that lies before
them, of will weakened by battle of O
mind ravaged by passion that 1t knows
is hopeless. >.
IT say he sat long time with the full
glass in his hand, head bent a bit over it.
every nerve in his body as I knew well
shrieking for the rest, the calm, the ease
that few glasses of that liquor would
give them.
Then all at once he gave his head a little
jerk and tore his fingers from the glass
with an effort
;" No! he cried. quite aloud No, by God
no! And he went over to the divan again
and threw himself face down there and
lay still. crept out after time very
softly I don't think he heard me, perhaps
indeed, hope. he was even asleep. But
my heart bled for him, mademoiselle He
is a man.
Poor Mr.. Mallory" cried the girl soft
ly. "Ah, poor Mr.. Mallory! MY heart
bleeds for him, too, colonel. What will be
come Of him-when it's all over? Some lives
seem marked for tragedy don't they? His
life has been a tragedy, heaven knows
young as he is, and 1t seems as il 1t must
be crueler one still. Have you seen any
thing more of those men who came to spy
upon the prince?"
Won Altdorf shook his head
Nothing since Creighton gave them such
chase week ago." said he. "We'le
keeping the closest guard upon the prince.
He never stirs out without one or two OF
us with him. They'll have to be bold in
deed to reach him. Still I sha'n't rest easy
till the prince is back again In Novodnia
where he belongs. Every moment of his
stay here is keenest danger to himself and
to the state, but stay he will till he's seen
the princess, and that Mackenzie won't
yet allow. In all good faith think it were
best over with as soon as may be. She's
strong again. and every day that passes
leaves her deeper and deeper in love. with
Mr.. Mallory and he with her. Let 'em
have done with it, say. Shock it will be,
but rs well shock now as ever"
'Yet we all shrink from the point" said
the girl, shaking her head anxiously, even