Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-05-03
CHAPTER VII.
And you will not stay?'

Il cannot. mademoiselle."
They stood little way from the
inn porch between low box rows, and
the young Frenchman's eyes look back
the stenciled moonlight.
Yet" Anne continued, last time we
met, monsieur, / should not have
deemed It too much to ask OF you.
There are those Of your sex who would
not scorn the tedium OF an evening
with me. Would had spared my in
vitation and my blushes!"
Cruel! when you know would
give so much-anything-for an hour
with you"
She touched his sleeve light, I'VE
shall sit before the fire." she said, land
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 a 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 stay?"
He shook his head.
81 know why you CO." she said after
a moments pause. Il heard It'll saw
It,"
you saw
THE quarrel in the parlor. was in
the courtyard by the window. l know
what you would do
He looked at her uncertainty, his
eyes dark and bright.
Twas craven thing" she went on
"a dastardly sneer 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 mott"
And why not?" he asked. "An ole
man, noble baited by swine! Should
not such be resented by gentlemen
And shall !. who have struck that
seoundred, refuse to meet him."
HE has killed before!" she cried
"He has the quickest rapier In Vir'
giuia. 1t would be murder"
"Mademoiselle, / ask you-would you
have me fear?"
"'Tis no question Of courage" she
went on hurriedly. Must not l, who
saw It, know that? Only you OF them
all dared TO resent 1t. Monsieur, you
are brave"
"Mademoiselle!"
"But II was in my lords cause, and
ask 1t for his sake. lift you fall, he
would sorrow for 1t till his death. And
and
And you?" He had bent forward
eagerly. Would you sorrow, made.
Eloiselle?"
my lords grief would be mine"
The young Frenchman drew a deep
breath. THAT is all?" he said sadly
II am nothing but a shadow--a passing
stranger, whose coming or going can
not make your heart beat one bit fast er
or more slow? Because our ways have
crossed but once, shall you tell me |
cannot know your heart? We are like
stars, mademoiselle, we human ones
little stars wandering in vault OF
blue. When one star has found Its
mate, about which God has made Il
revolve, shall the star refuse to obey
because II has never known that star
before? Have found the one woman
In the world for me, and she does not
see the divine In it?"
Somewhere far away a whippoorwill
began to call, liquid gurgle through
the clasping dark. There came the
stamping OF horses and whinny from
the stables.
"Tell me, am no more to you than
that stranger passing by?"
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
have this evening seen do a gentle
deed that ] shall remember always"
"Ah, 1t was nothing" he answered
WAS II more than any gentleman
might do? They were not gentlemen
there. But ! would be so proud of 1t,
mademoiselle, II II made you care ever
SO slightly, as have said. II 1t made
you think OF me not as a stranger, but
a..Il A..I.