Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-06-22
wait t,ll a water ret comes, s1e en-

SQOOC Nlm.'
The canoe had drifted closer to the
land, the paddle trailing In the water.
"You are looking at my white hairs"
he went on, in a sudden need Of con-
versation. please bring your boat a
little nearer"
The paddle twisted lazily in the wa
ter like a flsh's tail.
Hold tight he said, reaching down.
With d little laugh he lifted the canoe
and its occupant far up on to the bank.
Despite my white hairs" he said,
with q tap Of both hands on his broad
chest.
II attach no Importance to them"
she answered, taking his proffered
hand and stepping rel the light bull.
wark. II have gray ones myself. I
am getting old too"
"How oldY he asked, looking down
at her with his old bluntness.
"Twenty-eight."
"Ah, they are summers" he said;
mine have turned to winters. Will
you sit here where I was sitting? See.
I will spread this rug for your white
dress"
Maggie paused, looking through the
trees toward the sinking sun. The
light fell on her face and showed one
or two lines which had not been there
before. 1t showed q patient tenderness
in the steady eyes which had always
been there-which Catrina had noticed
in the stormy days that were past.
II cannot stay long," she replied. II
am with the Faneaux at Brandon for
q few days. They dine at Z"
"Ah. her ladyship is q good friend of
mine! You remember her charity ball
in town, when it was settled that you
should come to Osterro. A strange
world, mademoiselle-a very strange
world, so small and yet 81 large and
bare for some Of usp
Maggie looked at him. Then she sat
down.
"Tell me-" she said, 'all that has
happened since then"
II went back" answered Steinmetz,
land we were duly exiled from Rus.
STA. 1t was sure to come. We were
too dangerous. Altogether too quioxtic
for an a%utocracy. For myself I did
not mind, but 1t hurt Paul"
There was a little pause, while the
water Tapped and whispered at theil
feet.
II heard" said Maggie at length in
q measured voice, that he had gone
abroad for big game"
"Yes-to India"
HE did not go to American inquired
Maggie in~diferently. She was idly
throwing fragments Of wood into the
river.
"No," answered Steinmetz, looking
straight in front Of him. "No, he did
not go to America"
And you?"
"I-oh, I stayed at home! I have
taken a house. It is behind, the trees
You cannot see it. l live at peace with
all men and pay my bills every week
Sometimes Paul comes and stays with
me. Sometimes I go and stay with
him in London or in Scotland. I smoke
and shoot water rats and watch the
younger generation making the same
mistakes that we made in our time
You have heard that my country is il
order again? They have remembered
me. For my sins they have made mt
a count. Bon Dieu, I do not mind
They may make me a prince, If il
pleases Them"
He was watching her face beneath
his grim old eyebrows.
These details bore you" he said.
mo" T.
"When Paul and l are together we
talk of a new heaven and a new Rus
STA. But it will not come in our time
We are only the sewers, and the har'
vest is not yet. But I tell Paul that
he has not sown wild oats nor soul
grapes nor thistles."
He paused, and the expression of his
face changed to one of semihumoroEs
gravity.
"Mademoiselle," he went on, ut has
been my lot to love the prince like Il
son. 1t has been my lot to stand help
lessly by while he passed through
many troubles. Perhaps the good God
gave him all his troubles at first. Do
you think SOL"
Maggie was looking straight in front
of her across the quiet river.