Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

La Rune" her cavalier suddenly jerked
his cigar away and said:
MademOiselle. / wish to ask you an
important question:.
The intensity Of his tone startled her;
she turned and looked at him quickly
and her heart beat fast.
do you think you would find it toe
hard to love me?'
His listener could summon no words
to reply: the crisis had come upon her
with rush. Alas, she might have an
swered with truth. that to love him was
unhappily too easy!
and his eyes were fixed upon her. Il love
you. and l ask you to do me the great
honor to become my wife.
There was a long silence before the girl
spoke: the river Numbered below. chat
finch twittered close by.
At last she said, and she was white to
the lips: You have paid me a high
honor. but
c"Dios! Had he been too certain? Was
this cold-blooded northern woman about
to refuse him. Paul de SaraZin?'D
But" she continued, in a louder and
firmer key, Il am not sure-and you are
not sure. II you really do care for me
and 1t is not just passing fancy. l ad-
To possess it truly would make me un-
speakably happy; but you have only
known me a short time-I am not of your
race or your religion. You cannot be
certain!
Pardon me- mademoiselle. I am quite
certain he interposed with decision. and
there was touch of hauteur in his air
Certain now" she repeated. But
how will 1t be in a months time?-in a
year? Oh. have had such starved
lfe!' and her eyes filled with tears
Love means so much to me-more than
you could believe! If you will only be
kind-truly kind-and tell me. as 1t were,
soul to soul-could you always care for
me. or would you. as they say of you.
forget me in a day."
How can one forget ones wife in a
day." he asked.
AYE. but before she is your wife!''
Hesters jealous thoughts ranged from
Dolores to the Austrian countess. who
both doubtless outshone her in every re-
spect but money! "Oh, II this were to
happen to me 1t would mean the end of
everything in the world! And before we
go further. l would say. is 1t not better
to remain as we are-friends?"
mo. no. nor he answered, vehemently.
Eyes. l shall always have this one hour
go away and marry one Of your own ma
ton
But shall not be satisfied he cried.
impetuously. do you think l am a
young fool and do not know my own
mind? If you go away I shall follow you
to the worlds end. for l love you.' and
at the moment he spoke the honest truth.
Then. If you do love me-" and her
voice trembled, ''for Gods sake be faith
full to mev' and her white face was lit up
by an expression that amazed a man we'll
accustomed to his own fiery and emo
tional countrywomen. This girls love
was serious thing-it meant her life. her
very SOUL If she had given 1t to him, 1t
behooved him to step warfly.
Il swear / will love you!' he declared,
his dark eyes aglow with emotion-"you
only-to the end. till death claims love
and me-"
Hester leant back against the tree trunk
and put her hand over her face, which
was working convulsively. He saw the
tears tricking fast under her pretty un-
gloved fingers.
Paul de Sarazin had taken part in vari-
GUS love scenes, but never in one ap-
preaching this. He had held tender in
terviews in dim rooms. behind large fans,
on moonlight nights. on terraces. in cor
ners of Conservatives, even in the day
time on motor car; but on no occasion
had he experienced anything of similar
descriptiOn-a lady receiving his vows In
a storm Of tears.
"Win YOU not trust me? Will you not
believe me-" he pleaded. II swear l will
foolish-all the world knows that: but
will turn over a new page and you. be-
loved lady. will make me good AS he
spoke he took her disengaged hand in his.
=" nat DO you say! SPEAK 10 me.
II will speak, do love you''-her voice
was half a sob. "Oh. you know that!
But l am afraid
She hesitated, her mind filed with the
poignant memory of the anguish Of jeal-
ousy this handsome lover had already oc-
casioned her: of the mysterious story Of
the duel fiction-yet it had hurt as
sharply as a fact-the vague whispers
that went round BiarritZ his unknown
past. including the siren Dolores. the I'M
L. %,xf,r nd ito nit ona
II am afraid" she repeated. Let us
wait month-so as to know one another
better"
And to prove me your true knight al
ways!'
She made no reply for some time. At
last she said: LET us remain unbound
in any way. and at the end"
THE end he interposed, will be the
beginning Of my happiness. But. dear
lady. you have told me that you care for
me: this / cannot forget; this fact.
though it binds you not, binds me to you
for ever
And as he spoke he stopped down bare
headed and kissed her hand.
Tell me one thing he asked, after a
it that you fear?"
Il am afraid of myself" she answered.
tremulously-"yes. and of you! l am jeal-
GUS. When Mrs. Tudor told me Of the
duel I was secretly distracted. Yes,
''Madre santissima!" he exclaimed.
WAS that what sent you into Spain?'
And he pressed her hands tightly in his
1T was" turning away her face. Il
realized then how horribly. horribly jeal-
Gus l could be-"
And yet you had no reason-you know
that?'
(Oh. what charm in the low. vbrat-
ing voiceD
NO" and she drew away her hand and
r1ofh ct /
it must be all or nothing"
1T is ALL Surely you will believe me?
Tell me how I shall prove II to you?
What can l offer. or promise. on my
knees?"
prove it by waiting for one month be-
fore we are pledged to one another-be
fore all the world knows. Grant me this
favor"
Il see. you wish for a term of proba-
ton. the purgatory before heaven!" He
paused. struck by the pale intensity of
her face. We'll. then, have it SOL
as she slowly dried her eyes. Now we
will return to Mrs. Tudor. she will be
WONDERING" She could not complete
the sentence.
MAY I inform herr he asked. gravely.
THAT YOU are free, Of course.
No for hold myself pledged to you
you have told me something that binds
me to you till the end Of my life
NO no. said Hester. invaded by
spirit Of perversity she could not analyze.
There is no pledge yet-we are both
free"
Her companion received her verdict in
two descended the woods to where blue
nara sol unarkad the limit OF their tete.a-