Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22

ing enough embarrassments to tax his wit
and resourcefulness. :,
You have something important to ten
me- Gerard 1 know" said Gabrielle. you
were about to tell me when my uncle came
to US. But, first l have to make cohtes-
sion and to ask your pardon
Il am no priest, l fear, ne Salu, meeeiHs
her smiling gaze.
but this is wrong done to you. When
/ was thinking over all we SAID today-aho
have thought of nothing else since-l re-
membered, to my shame, that | had never
given you even word of thanks for your
help yesterday, and again today.
please say nothing of it"
"Oh, but you must have thought me
very miser of my gratitude. And 1 am not
that. Indeed, indeed. / do thank you from
the bottom of my heart she cried warmly,
her eyes on his face.
the knowledge that it was you whom |
could help? When l saw you yesterday
my heart leapt, and I vowed
"Well?" she asked as he paused; and
when he still hesitated, checked by the
thought that he had no right to speak thus
while the truth of his position was still I'M
explained. she added. with a little frown
and winsome smile, you break on al
most irritating points, cousin"
II vowed myself to your service for gooo
or H. he said deliberately.
Take care what you say, cousin. DIG
you know who l was?'
Not then, indeed
Then was that surely a most dangerous
VOW
How"
She laughed merrily. "Supposing it had
not been Gabrielle to whom you thus rashly
vowed yourself; what would you nave
done?"
II had not thought of it. No other woman
would have drawn such vow from me-
You turn words well-so well that i
could almost be afraid of your skill. Shall
we go out on the terrace? The evening all
Is lovely. Tell me-" she said, as they
walked, chow came you to be playing tres
passer so opportunely today In Mahncourt'
1t has puzzled me-"
IF 1 tell the truth, was lurking in the
wood, hoping to catch a sight of you again.
You lad learnt who this lady of youl
VOW was by that time, then?'
Elise had not been in Malincourt, ne
answered, without thinking.
She glanced at him quickly, her face
wrlnkled with this fresh puzzle:
rs not that worse puzzle!' she asked
knowing who 1 was, why not have come
straight to the maison?"
"Of course, / might have done So" he re-
Piled. He saw the slip then clearly enough
anc tried to cover it with laugh Perhaps
/ ought 20 have come"
You would have seen me sooner had you
come. Do you know that only this morn
ing my poor Denys went riding out to Beau
camp on a veritable wild-goose chase to
find vou?'
Gerald smiled. did you at the time know
who 1 was?" he asked.
Should 1 have sent away from Morvaix
to find you, had l known?"
Then you, too, were not without interest
in a Stranger"
1T is not a fair HIT she laughed, Il
would no. have had even a stranger think
me an migrate for such service"
Then it was merely to thank me, you
wished
"Gerardr and she let her eyes drop to the
ground.
Il should like to think that before you
heard my name today you He com
menced in great earnestness, but checked
himself again.
Some cay will tell you" she replied in
a low tone, after a pause and then in a
tone as low, he asked
And what if l had been other than
Gerard lie Cobalt?'
Thank God it was not so,'' she cried with
a little shiver and sigh.
why, Gabrielle?" He had his own strong
reason for pressing the question.
For a time she kept her head bowed and
remained silent; but then raising her eyes
to him frankly and trustfully she said:
II think / should like to tell you. You
will not think shame of me. / fear / could
never have been Gerard de Cobalts wife.
All night l wrestled with the problem, and
prayed fervently for strength to do my
duty, and keep the pledge made for me by
my parents. But when l knew Gerard de
Cobalt would come today, l dreaded to
meet him. Can you not guess why?" She
was all bushes and sweetness as the fall
tered confession dropped from her lips.
You cannot think what this means to
me-" he answered with passion. But some
day you will understand
why not now, Gerard? / have betrayed
all my little secret-little, do 1 say-if you
but knew how great how all in all it is to
mel l have shown you all my heart" she
whispered.
They were leaning on the marble balus-
trade gazing over the lovely gardens which
the risen moon was silvering with her
glory
"Why not now Gerard?' she repeated
after long pause, with sweet, gentle in
sistence. What need of secrets between
us two?'
He longed to respond to this frank con-
fession of her feelings by telling her every
thing; and the impulse to speak was only
curbed with great effort. But prudence
stayed him, and the fear of unknown con-
sequences which might mperil everything
by forcing a disclosure to de Probable.
We will have no secrets one from the
other, Gabrielle, when once this matter in
my thoughts has been cleared up, he said,
his reluctance to refuse her plea causing
him to speak with hesitation.
rs it the same of which you spoke today
so strangely"
1.-THE same, yes
But you were going to tell me-then."
Her pause before the word, and empha sis
in speaking it, did not escape him. But
even the subtle temptation implied in the
sweet accent did not prevail.
Yes, / was going to tell you. If l do not,
you trust me?"
Gerard, of course. l should trust you
always. Butt am only a woman, and
curious" she added, with a tender smile of
reproachful invitation.
"If you can trust me, what else can mat
ter?"
A footstep on the terrace disturbed them.
1t was Pascal.
Il was seeking you, monsieur to know II
you have any other commands for me-" he