Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-15
XVI
The Previous Affair.

melodious tones.
Madam, you are really handsome; and
let no false modesty whisper in your ear
that you are not. Few women in Wash
inston have such clear skin, such firm
flesh, such color. Thirty-eight? 1t is moth
ing. 1t is but the halfway post; one has
left youth behind, but one has not reached
old age. Time must be very tolerant, for
he has given you careful selection There
were no years of storm and poverty, or
violent passions; and if I have truly loved
1t has been you, only you. You are TOO
wise and worldly to love any one but your
self And yet, once you stood on the precl-
pice of dark eyes, pale skin and melancholy
wrinkles. And even now, II ne were ~
speak. Enough, Enough OF TINS
folly. 1 have something to accomplish To-
night She glided from the boudoir into
the small but luxurious drawing room
which had often been graced by the most
notable men and women in the country.
Karloff threw aside the book of poems by
De Banville, rose, and went forward TO
meet her.
Misunderstanding and brushing her hand
with his lips, Madam, you grow hand
somer every day. If I We're forty. now,
should fear for your single blessedness
''Or, if l were two-andtwenty, instead OIL
MISUNDERSTANDING to draw on
her long, white gloves. There was a chai-
lenge in her smile. ,
"Well, yes; if you were two-and-tWenty.
There was a time, not so long ago, slle
said drawing his gaze as magnet draws
a needle, when the disparity in years was
of no matter"
The count laughed. 'That was three
years ago: and, if my memory serves me-
you smiled
"Perhaps 1 was first to smile; that is all
81 observe a mental reservation owl
ish1y.
II will put it plainly, then. preferred to
smile over your protestations rather imam
see you laugh over the possibility and the
folly of my loving you"
"Then it was possibe?"-with interest.
Everything is possible and often
absurd"
how do you know that 1 was not truly
in love with you?"-narrowing his eyes.
1T is not explanatory; it can be given
only one name-instinct, which in women
and animals is more fully developed than
in man. Besides, at that time you had not
learned all about Colonel Annesley, whose
guests we are to be this evening. Whoever
would have imagined Karloff accepting
the Inequalities of an Annesley? Count,
hath not thy rose a canker?'
Madam Karoff was frowning.
Count, you look like a paladin when you
scowl: but scowling never induces anything
but wrinkles. That is why we women
frown seldom. We smile But let us
return to your query. Supposing l had ac-
cepted your declarations seriously: sup
posing you had offered me marriage in that
burst of gratitude supposing 1 had COM
mitted the folly of becoming countess,
what position 1 should be in today"
II do not understand, '-perplexedly
"No?"-shrugging. She held forth a
gloved arm. Have you forgotten how gall
lantly you used to button my gloves?'
"A thousand pardons! My mind was oc-
cupied with the mystery of your long sup
position He took the arm gracefully and
proceeded to slip the pearl buttons through
their holes. CHave you ever buttoned the
gloves of a handsome woman? I have.
and there is a subtitle thrill about the pro-
ceeding which | cannot quite define. Per-
haps it is the nearness of physical beauty;
perhaps 1t is the delicate scent of flowers;
perhaps 1t is the touch of the cool firm
flesh: perhaps it is just romance). The
gaze which she bent upon his dark head
was emotional; yet there was not the slight
est tremor of arm or fingers. 1t is possible
ness of her nerves. What did you mean?'
he asked.
What did mean?'-vaguely. Her
thought had been elsewhere.
BY that superstition
On! mean that my position, had l
married you, would have been rather
anomalous today" She extended the other
arm. You are in love"
I'm love? he looked up quickly
Decidedly; and l have always doubted
your capacity for that sentiment
And pray tell me with whom am in
love?" ''-
too well to waste time in beating about the
bushes. l do not blame you for loving her:
only, say, it must not be-"
Must not be-" The counts voice rose a
key.
Yes, must not be- You must give them
up-the idea and the girl. What! You, who
contrive the fathers dishonor. would aspire
to the daughters hand. 1t is not equal BILE
Love her honorably, or not at all The
course you are following is base and wholly
of you"
He dropped the arm abruptly and strobe
across the room, stopping by window, He
dld not wish her to see his face at that par
ticular instant. Some men would have de-
manded Indignantly to know how she had
learned these things not so the count
There is time to retrieve. Go to the coll
onel frankly, pay his debts out of your own
pockets, then tell the girl that you love her
Before you tell her her father will have ac-
quainted her with his sin and your gener-
osity. She will marry you out of graft
tude.''
Karloff spun on his heels. His expression
was wholly new. His eyes We're burning; he
stretched and crumpled his gloves
Yes, you are right, you are right! have
been trying to convince myself that I was
machine where the father was concerned
and wholly man In regard to the girl You
have put it before me in a bold manner
Good God, yes! I find that 1 am wholly a
man. How smoothly all this would have
gone to the end had she not crossed my
path! I am base, /, who have always con-
sidered myself an honorable man. And now
it is too late, too later
TOO late? What do you mean? Have
you dared to ask her to be your wife?' Had
Karloff held her arm at this moment he
would have comprehended many things.
mo, no! My word has gone forth to my
government; there is wall behind me and
l cannot go back. To stop means worse
than death. My property will be confis-
Gated and my name obliterated. my body rot
slowly in the frozen north. On, l know my
country; one does not gain her gratitude
by failure. 1 must have those plans,
and nowhere could obtain such perfect
ones ST. s.
Then you will give her up?' There was
a broken note.
The count smiled, To her it was smile
scarce less than a snarl.
Give her up? Yes as mother gives up
her child, as a loness her cub. She has
refused me, but nevertheless she shall be
my wife Oh, l am well versed in human
nature. She loves her, father and I know
what sacrifices she would make to save his
honor. Tonght!-2fi But his lips suddenly
closed. ser, g.
well, tonight? Why do you not go on?''
Mrs Chadwick was pale. Her gloved hands
were clenched A spasm of some sort seem
ed to hold her in its shaking grasp
Nothing, nothingi In heavens name,
why have you stirred me 500" he cried.
"Supposing, after all, loved your"
He retreated MADAM, your suppo-
sitions are Becoming intolerabe and impos-