Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-04-29
CHAPTER VII.
md you will not stay?"
II cannot, mademoiselle."
\ They stood a little way from

scorh tne teulum or an evening with
me. Would l had spared my invita-
ton and my blushes!'
"Cruel! When you know I would
give SO much-any thing-for an hour
with you"
She touched his sleeve lightly. 1--WE
shall sit before the fire." she said, "and
you shall tell us tales of France and
of the life in your own country. IT'S
chill here"
"Mademoiselle. cannot. have a
tryst tonight"
"With beauty? Then will not de-
lay so gallant cavalier"
She left him and walked toward the
porch, but her steps Jagged. Turning,
she saw him standing still, looking
after her, then came back, lacing her
fingers together.
you will not stayY
He shook his head.
II know why you CO." she said after
moments pause II heard i'll saw
it."
You saw
1.-THE quarrel in the parlor. 1 was in
the courtyard by the window. know
what you would do"
He looked at her uncertainty, his
eyes dark and bright
""Twas craven thing" she went on,
"a dastardly sheer at brave, true
hearted gentleman. My Lord Fairfax
Is old, and the towards, the pitiful
towards who knew him and have eaten
at his table, they sat and heard and tit
tered behind their hands. But you
must not fight! You must not!
"And why not?" he asked. can old
man, noble baited by swine! Should
not such be resented by gentlemen?
And shall I, who have struck that
scoundrel, refuse to meet himW
HE has killed beforew she cried.
HE has the quickest rapier in vir-
| ginia. 1t would be murder"
"Mademoiselle, ask you-would you
have me fear?"
went on hurriedly. "Must not 1, who
saw 1t, know that? Only you of them
all dared to resent it. Monsieur, you
are brave"
"Mademoisellev
"But it was in my lords cause, and I
ask it for his sake. If-if you fall, he
would sorrow for it till his death. And
and
"And you?" He had bent forward
eagerly. would you sorrow, made
moiselleY
"My lords grief would be mine"
The young Frenchman drew deep
breath. THAT Is all?" he said sadly.
II am nothing but shadow-a passing
stranger, whose coming or going can
not make your heart beat one bit faster
Or more slow? Because our ways have
crossed but once, shall you tell me I
cannot know your heart? We are like
stars, mademoiselle, we human ones
little stars wandering in a vault of
blue. When one star has found its
mate, about which God has made it
! revolye, shall the star refuse to obey
because it has never known that star
4 before? Have found the one woman
In the world for me, and she does not
see the divine in it?"
Somewhere far away whippoorwill
began to call, a liquid gurgle through
the clasping dark. There came the
stamping Of horses and whinny from
the stables.
"Tell me, am l no more to you than
that stranger passing by7"
Anne's voice held tremor, but she
spoke earnestly and softly: "You are
more than that. You are one who once
guarded me from danger-one whom I
have this evening seen do a gentle
deed that shall remember always
"Ah. it was nothing" he answered.
"Was it more than any gentleman
might dc? They We're not gentlemen
there. But would be SO proud of 1t,
mademoiselle, if it made you care ever
SO slightly, as have said. If it made
you think of me not as stranger, but
as suddenly little nearer. a little clos
er than all else besides. Do you re-
member what told you that day as we
rode in the wood? That man has a
want for two things-a cause to fight
for and some one to wait for him? 1t
Is near the time now, and I must co.
mademoiselle, out into the moonlight.
should go joyful if you but told me
tAdl luSl WANT WAS lulue. 4Ou-yOu
cannot give me that?'
Anne did not answer, but she was
trembling with new sense Of intoxi-
cation.
II ask you to give me token, some
thing to carry with me as ride to
keep the memory of always, to-
"Monsieur!"
II love your
mo. mol" she cried. II cannot listen!
To-
/ II love you'll"
"Stopy
"Once to touch your lips''-
he was leaning near her. SO near she
could feel his breath warm upon her
cheek. In sudden surge Of revolt she
thrust out her arm as If to further tue
j distance between them.
''No!' she cried. mo! How. dare
you ask me that? How dare your"
"Ah. mademoiselle!'
"Count you me SO cheapY she asked,
turning half way, but sire did not
hasten. He dropped on one knee and
lifted the hem of her skirt to his lips.
She let her hand fall upon his head
with 1uttering gesture. Then. as he
started up With joyful exclamation.
she ran back toward the porch.
Y Standing with barred head in the
moonlight lie, saw her pause on the
threshold-saw the hesvzsdoor eless b.