Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-03-05

/
me. Would had spared my invita-
ton and my blushesv'
| "CrueE When you know 1 would
give SO much-anything-for an hour
| with you" -a|
She touched his sleeve lightly. eve
shall sit before the fire." she said, 'and
! you shall tell us tales of France and
of the life in your own country. TITS
chill here"
"Mademoiselle, 1 cannot. 1 have a
tryst tonight"
| with beauty? Then will not de-
Jay 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 stayT"
He shook his head.
II know why you co." she said after
a moments pause. II heard tt saw
Ut" 49,.
you saw H.
1.-THE quarrel in the parlor. I was in
the courtyard by the window. I know
what you would do M.-.
He looked at her uncertainty, his
ayes dark and bright.
"'Twas a 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 tight! You must not!'
And why not?" he asked. can old
man, noble baited by swine! Should
/ not such be resented by gentlemen?
And shall l, who have struck that
! scoundrel, refuse to meet himT'
'~ '.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?'
"'Tis no question Of courage she
went on hurriedly. Must not I, who
,, saw it, know that? Only you Of them
Ill dared to resent 1t. Monsieur, you
are brave"
'Mademoiseller'
But it was in my lords cause, and /
ask it for his sake. Tiff you fall. he
would sorrow for it till his death. And
k-ands--
"And you?" He had bent forward
eagerly. Would you sorrow, made.
moiselle?"
.'My lords grief would be mine"
The young Frenchulan drew deep
breath. 'That is alp he said sadly
81 am nothing but shadow-a passing
stranger, whose coming or going cam
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 vault OF
blue. When one star has found its
mate, about which God has made 1t
revolve, 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 in it?'
Somewhere far away 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 byg'
Anne's voice held trenor, 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 l shall remember always"
"Ah. it was nothing" he answered
''Was lit more than any gentleman
might do? They were not gentlemen
there. But would be so proud of it,
mademoiselle, IL 1t made you care ever
so slightly, as / have said. If it made
you think Of me not as stranger, but
as suddenly little nearer, little clos
err 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? It
Is near the time now, and / must CO.
mademoiselle, out into the moonlight.
should go joyful If you but told me
that last want was mine. You-you
cannot give me that?'
Anne did not answer but she was
trembling with a new sense Of intoxi-
cation. 4 . .-....ss
"I ask you to give me a token, some
thing to carry with me as I ride to
keep the memory Of always, to-
Monsieur"
II love your
mo, nor she cried, 81 cannot listen!
r.
IT love you!"
Stop
"Once to touch your fIps-
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 the
distance between them.
Nor she cried. "No! How dare
you ask me that? How dare your
'"Ah, mademoigelle!"
Count you me so cheap?" she asked,
turning half way, but she 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 futtering gesture. Then, as he
started up with joyful exclamation,
she ran back toward the porch.