The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-07-28
be Game and
Tbe Gamble

r NJ. Ingram. - i:SEjy0I
| "You yourself said it," the boy
stated, his chest heavying with pas
sion. "Now, the test. l have the
right; you know it. Do you govern
me, or your"
SIRE
you or -" ~,
Stanief looked very steadily into
the blazing young eyes, himself col,
orless with the restraint forced
upon his own emotions. a.
II believed there were two prom
ises given on the Nadeje, SIRE" he
answered. never so quietly. 1T
seems that only one is to be remem-
bered and that Baron Dalmorov
wins. But l make no complaint; T
suppose your last question was
hardly serious" -.
! you CONSENT"
| II obey" he corrected pointedly.
| At once victorious, and dominated
by his kinsman's bearing. Adrian
flung himself on the seat and mo-
toned the other to the place beside
him. But Stanief remained stand
ing, choosing not to see the invita-
ton. and there was a pause.
Il do remember my promise" Ad-
rian declared, proudly reverting to
the reproach of fe wmoments be-
fore. eff l have made you do this,
cousin, it was not to please Dalmo-
row."
Stanief bowed, answering moth
| ing.
"The lsdy-you will have heard
of her. I met her last year on the
Riviera. In her country they call
| her the gentle princess, because
she is. And she is very lovely"
, Still the dark face was unstirred.
His object gained, Adrian fretted
and chafed before the change he
himself had wrought.
you are like Monsieur Allard;
you do not want to yield your will"
he said. half petulently, half haught-
lily. HE is mine, you gave him to
me; yet he did not like it because
said that no longer shall his for
tune come from anyone but me.
Why"
'He is an American, sire"
"Why does that make a difference
between you and me?"
Il love him, SIRE"
The cold explanation coincided
perfectly with Allard's: illogically
Adrian felt a pang of isolation be.
fore this friendship, although he
would not have believed either If
they had professed the same affec-
ton from him.
1.-THE churches are ringing the
hour" he remarked, the sullen child
struggling with the emperor. "If
you wish to go, as usual, you have
my leave"
THANK you, sire; my hours are
indeed crowded"
"You are willing to ask the Prin-
cess Iria in marriage?"
"As you dispose, sire"
Satisfied and dissatisfied, Adrian
held out his hand.
You are not content, cousin" he
accused. You think me unkind."
Stanief paused to meet the wilful
gaze.
perhaps I think of a day the
years are bringing. SIRE" he replied
gravely, and bent his head stf1l
lower to the jeweled fingers which
grasped so much.
Adrian flushed scarlet.
mo" he denied fiercely. Eco
dor, you can not believe will fail
you If you do not me? You can not
think that then, after that"
Stanief did not help him at all.
Taking refuge in wordlessness. Ad-
rian left the sentence unfinished
and let his cousin go. with an as
sumption of dignity that hardly con-
cealed the sting of the rebuke he
had received. But he did not offer
to relinquish the purpose so dis
| tasteful to Stanief.
For half an hour the terrace re
manned hushed and silent under the
noon sunshine. the tree shadows
wavering back and forth across the
small, motionless figure.
Ito be continued.)