Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-29
CHAPTER XII
1driS Declares HE To-,

TOW long should a man have knowr q
woman before venturing upon a nronos.1
VI love! Such was the question now o.
cnpyfng the mind of Idris.
ne mad seen Mademoiselle Riviera three
tunes only; he had not spent above seven
hours IN her presence; yet had they beep
seven hundred instead of seven he Inc.
that his FEELING for her would be no strong.
er at the end of that time than at the he.
ginning. The moon might have its nerioa
OF crescent and wane; not SO his love. tic
circle was full and complete from tho f,re,
moment OF his setting eyes upon her.
one was now the sole object of his
thoughts. All other matters: the ouest 60,
his father, the problem of the V;S; .oi
skuii, were relegated to the dim and dc.
tant future; what were they comma red wifi
the winning of Loreiie? ~
lie found himself continually dwe,,ipe
upon her manner toward him at the mo.
ment of their last parting. He was nnnau
tain whether she was startled only .,
Vexed by his act of gallantry; whether be
must dfaw nope or despair from that event
anu ne knew not which was the wise,
course-to declare his love at .once or r.
defer the proposal till he had eained
greater hold upon her affections. A toe
premature avowal might be disastrous. on
Inc o.ner hand 10 be dilatory might lead
den. war
This latter argument prevailed with b;,,
and he resolved to see Lorelie at once
ana take the momentous step of giving ut
terance to his feelings. Even rejection
was preferable to the state of suspense in
which he was now living
On presenting himself at The Cedars he
was told by the maid who opened the
door that her mistress was out Where had
she gone? The maid was not certain hut
she fancied that MA amzelle" had said
something about spending the Afternoon
in Ravenhall Park
Accordingly Idris betook himself to this
park. large extent of which was open 10
the public: and after a short search he
found Lorelie seated within a Charming
recess formed by dark rocks oyerhung with
poisoning foliage. She was holding in her
hand a small writing pad. upon which Law
some sheets of manuscript that she was
apparently correcting and annotatine wifi
pencil, DOUBTLESS putting some emenda-
tory touches to her drama, The Fatal
Skull
The place, though picturesque, was hard
ly the ideal spot for his love-avowial, since
IT was within sight Of the majestic towers
OF Ravenhall, which. In Idris opinion,
offered very powerful argument In favor
of Lord Walden's suit
On seeing Idris Lorelie at once made
way for him on the seat beside her the
glad light in her eyes showing that he was
far from being an unwelcome visitor
Though idris had set out in bold spirit
yet now. faced by opportunity. he began
W icdilLc tHdt tiG TASK required more
courage than he was master of: and for a
long time he talked of other matters. or
rather he let Lorelie carry on the CONVEX
sation. finding it easier to be a listener
than speaker.
And Lorelie could talk: charmingly. and
upon many topics that are supposed to be
the peculiar province OF the masculine
mind. She had never seemed SO bright
and interesting rs on this present occasion.
How sweet and silvery her lIugh How
pretty the curve Of her lips, and how glow
ing their color. Surprising he were q
stoop suddenly and kiss them? Would not
such an act be tantap,ount to love-ayow-
al. and thus relieve him from the difficulty
Of an oral confession?
Lorelie, obServant at last of Idris' quiet
manner, rallied him on his want of spir-
Its.
"You seem very grave today, Mr. Break
spear?"
do I, mademoiselle? / am thinking.
MAY share your tlloughts?"
s'You may share my life II you will
MIR. Breakspear, what are you saying?''
exclaimed Lorelie. quickly, breathlessly
THAT love YOU Is that fault? Nay
rather. 1t would be a fault not to love
you"
Lorelle drew deep shuddoring breath
Their eyes met: a strange wistful tender
ness In hers. Such look Idrts had never