The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-11-23
CHAPTER VII.
A IND you will not stay?"
II cannot, mademoiselle.o

met. monsieur, should not have deem
ed 1t too much to ask of you. There
are those of your sex who would not
scorn the tedim of an evening with
me. Would had spared my invita-
ton and my blushes"
"Cruell When you know 1 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. 'Tis
chill here"
"Mademoiselle, cannot. I have
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.
"iou will not stay2"
He shook his head
II know why you CO." she said after
it"
"The quarrel In the parlor. was In
the courtyard by the window. 1 know
what you would do"
He looked Mt hdr uncertainty, his
eyes dark and bright.
"'Twas craven thing" she went on
"a dastardly sneer at brave, true
hearted gentleman. My Lord Fairfax
fs 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 notr'
And why not2" he asked. "An old
man, a noble baited by swine! Should
not such be resented by gentlemenf
And shall /, who have struck that
scoundrel, refuse to meet himf"
"He has killed before!' she cried.
"He has the quickest rapicr In Vir-
ginia. 1t would bc murder"
"Madcmoiselle, l ask you-would you
| have me fcar?"
Ills no question of courage" she
went on hurricdly. Must not 1, who
saw 1t, know that? Only you OF them
all dared to resent It, Monsieur, you
are brave"
"Madcmoisellc!"
"But it was in my lords cause, and
ask 1t for his sake. lf-if you fall, he
would sorrow for 1t till his death. And
| and
".>nd your" He had bent forward
eagerly. would you sorrow, made
moiScllc?'
"My lords grief would be mine"
The young Frcnchman drew II dccr
breath. THAT is ullI" he said sadly
II am nothing Int n SMSgg'0r' g0hg "ciin
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, madcmoiscllc, we human ones
little stars wandering in vault OF
blue. When one star has found it's
mate. about which God has made II
revolvc, shall the star refuse to obey
because 1t has never known that star
before? Have found the one woman
In the world for me- and she does not
see the divine i'm it,"
somewhere far away whippoorwll
began to call, Il liquid gurglc through
the clu.ping dark. There came the
stamping of horses and whinny from
the stables
"Tcll me, ain no more to you than
that stranger passing byT
Annc'S voice held a trcmor, but she
spoke earnestly and softly: you are
more than that Yuu are one who once
guarded me from dangcr-onc whom
have this evening seen do Il gentle
deed that / shall remember always"
"As it was nothing he answered.
WAS it more than any gentleman
might do? They We're not gentlemen
there. But | would be so proud OF 1t.
madcmoiscllc, il ii made you care ever
so slightly, as | have said If it made
| you think of me not as n stranger, but
| aS suddenly little nearer, II little clos
rr than all else besides. DO YOU re-
member what told You that day as we
| rodc in the wood? That man has n
want for two thingS--a cause to fight
for and some ono to wait for him? 1t
Is near tile time now, and / must 20,
madCmoiSclc. ont into the moonlight.
| should so JOYFUL If YOU but told me
tl'at last want was mine. You-you
cannot give me thatf"
| Ammo dlu not answer, but she was
trembling with a new sense of intoXi-
cation.
81 ASK YOU to give me token, some
thing TO carry with me as | ride to
keep the memory of always, to-
"Monsleur.'
~ love your'
"No, now she cried. "I cannot listen!
| p
81 love you"
"Stop"
"Oncc to touch your lips
| He was leaning near her, so near she
could feel his breath warm upon her
cheek In n sudden surge of revolt she
thrust out her arm as IL to further the
distance between them
"No!' she cried. "No! How dare
you ask me that? How dare your"
"Ah, mademoiscllew
Count YOU me so cheap?" she asked,
turning hair way, but she did not
hasten. He dropped OH one knee and
lifted the hem of her skirt to his lips.
She let her hand fall upon his head
with n futterlng gesture. Then, as he
started up with joyful exclamation,
she ran back toward the porch.
Standing with barred head in the
moonlight, lie saw her pause on the
threshold-saw the heavy door close be.
hind her.
You clod" bubbled furious voice