Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-06-16

~ '' ~ -. ~ 'o"" We're it was;
Wv e''e after we are it
shall be! sound as old as Scripture!
1t has seen old masters and great mis-
tresses! Saving the proprieties, weren't
you Montespan or Pompadour?"
"De Ia Valliere?" she laughed. "Or
Maintenon?"
"For good or evil, neither! Do hurt
you"
"No; you make me think, though"
answered Sophy. "Why?'
"They niggled at virtue or at vice.
You don't niggle! Neither did Monte
span nor Pompadour.'
"And SO am to be-Marquise De-
Higher, higherp' he laughed "Mme.
la MARKETABLE
ut is war, then-soon-you thinkY'
| She turned to him with a sudden ten
| sion.
He pointed Frenchman's eloquent
forefnger to the dark mass Of the
chateau, whose chimneys rose now like
| gloomy Interrogation marks to an un-
| responsive, darkened sky. Gle is there
now-the emperor! Perhaps he walks
in his garden by the round pond
thinking, dreaming, balancing"
Throwing balls in the air, as con.
jurors do?"
Eyes, my STAR
"And If he misses the f1rstf'
Hell seek applause by the second
And the second, l think, would be
war;
"And you would go?'
ITO what other end do I love the
lady Of the red star-alas, 1 can't see
it-save to bring her glory?"
i "That's French" said Sophy, with q
laugh. Wouldn't you rather stay with
me and be happy"
"Who speaks to me?" he cried
springing to his feet. mot your
mo, no." she answered, ST have nc
fear! What is 1t, Casimir, that drives
us on?"
Drives us on! You! You, too?"
tits not woman's part, is IT."
He caught her round the waist
and she allowed his clasp, but she
grew pale, yet smiled again softly.
IF all life were an evening ut Fon
tainebleau-a fine evening at Fontaine
bleau!" she murmured in the low clear
ness which marked her voice.
"Alightn't it beT'
with war; And with what drives
us on?"
He sighed, and his sigh puzzled her.
ooh, WE'LL" she cried, 'at least you
know I'm sophy Crouch, and my ia
Their was as mean as the man who
opens your lodge gate"
The sky had gone a blue black. A
single star somberly announced the
coming pageant.
"And his daughter high as the hopes
that beckon me to my career!'
you've wonderful way of talking
smiled Sophy Grouch-simple Essex In
contact with Paris at that instant.
you'll be my wife, Sophie?"
II don't think Lady Meg will keep
me long. Pharos is working hard, SC
Marie Zerkovitch declares. l should
bring you dot of $500 francs!
do you love me?"
The old question rang clear in the
still cir. Who has not heard it Of wO-
men or uttered it Of men? Often SC
easy, sometimes SO hard. When all is
right save one thing, or when all is
wrong save one thing, then 1t is hard
to answer and may have been hard to
ask. With Casimir there was no doubt
save the doubt of the answer. Sophy
stood poised on a hesitation. The pres
ent seemed perfect. Only an unknown
future cried to her through the falling
night.
"I'll win glory for you" he cried
"The emperor will fight!,
/ you're no emperor's mani" she
Knocked.
/ Eyes, while he means France. Tn
for anybody who means France" Fol
moment serious, the next he kisses
her hand merrily., COR for anybody
who'll give me wreath, medal, {
toy to bring home to her I love-"
you're very fascinating" Sophy con
/, fessed.
i 1t was not the word. Casimir fel
4 from his exaltation. Its not love
that of yours" he said.
4 mol don't know. You might max,