Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-28
ELEANOR M. INGRAM
Copyright, 1909. the Bobbs- Merrill Company,

to know. And I am certain you would
not ask me to hurt him. He asked me
II would be ready to go with him when
the regency ended and you sent him
from court. He sad that you had never
trusted him, and could not forgive him
for the government forced upon him.
That was all, indeed. Except that he
did say you thought highly Of Baron
Dalmorov; and-and a few words just
for me-
Adrian passed his hand across his eyes
as il to push back the Hair from his fore
lead. and remained silent for q few
seconds.
eff Feodor is not happy he pays the
penalty of having rued." he returned.
his strange unyouthful bitterness most
repellent. Il am not happy. nor was my
father. nor his father before him. And
you would leave me to go with him.
cousine? Think Of it again. I offer You
your household in the capital: until some
lady of my court. I loved you the first
time I met you in Italy; you were 30
gentle. SO different from all I knew.
was only a boy. Iria. but I resolved to
I succeeded. What has Feodor to give
compared with all I hold for you? Will
you stay?"
But I am his wife," she answered,
simply. How could I stay. sirer'
You love him so?''
Iria grew pale. then raised her hands
to her cheeks to cover the returning
color that dyed even her temples
IL do not know she faltered,
aghast at a question never asked even
He stared at her. for once thoroughly
amazed
HE does not love you?" he echoed.
You do not know? Why. Iria-"
She flashed into the first and last anger
he ever saw in her.
lyon forced rs to marry each other
sire. We did not want 1t, no." she cried
and raised the little. useless handkerchief
to her eyes.
There was a pause. then Adrian dis
gave his companion food for thought
during many day to come.
Poor Feodor," he said. very compass
sionately. Twice
hesitated, broke the thread of his gay
speech and caught it up again incoher-
emily.
what is it?" queried the Countess
Marya, playfully.
Monsieur Allard looks at the agita-
Baroness Alexia.
All three regarded the pair opposite
and exchanged significant glances.
Lieut.. Vasili told me that Baron Dali
peror last night. Is 1t so, MONSIEUR
added Alexia.
Eyes, baroness" admitted Allard, So
berly.
She shrugged her shoulders.
Il am to be married In September my
I am sorry for-this.''
II love the grand duchess" said
been most good to me- Where they go
Allard WINGED even in the approving
smile he sent the pale young maid Of
honor, SO hard it was to hear Staniefs
fall predicted and discussed.
Iria recovered herself almost imme-
diateiy. and brought her gold and topaz
eyes back to those of the emperor.
II would like to go. IL / may. sire"
she said.
Are you offended with me. cousine?''
Certainly not, sire"
He watched her fold the cleaning en-
broidery, tapping his fingers restlessly
on the arm of his chair.
You would go and Allard," he unused.
aloud, leach after q duty, a love, an
aim. / wonder IL there was ever but one
who conferred all such thoughts in me.
who made me the axis of his world?'
you think OF Baron Dalmerov. sire?'
she ventured.
He gave her the desired permission by
rising.
"You are anxious to go. cousine; par
don. Why. yes. Dalmorov: who else?
Allard," he turned to summon the others,
"Allard will have the honor of accom-
panying you to the carriage"
NO" protested IRA, but too late
mo? You do not wish Allard's es-
cort?' he demanded.
ooh. yes: I-of course" She turned
hurriedly from him. then looked back
with a gesture of helpless bewilderment
and distress. II wish you had not
spoken, sire: I wish you had not spoken"
And as the others came up she passed
her hand through Marya's arm and left
Allard and Alexia to follow.
All that day Stanief was immersed In
councils and affairs. Not until evening
did he and Ir'a meet, when she stopped
in his study on her way to the opera
where no less q cavalier than the en-
peror was to take her husbands place
with her.
Standing straight and slim before him,
her head dropping under its weight of
silken floss and spanning Jewels, her
soft throat and dimpled shoulders crossed
and recrossed by the manifold strands
of the wonderful Stanief pink pearls, she
repeated the conversation OF the morning.
Repeated 1t. all except the last part. Her
eyes downcast. her gioved fingers twisted
together. the rosy gems gleam-
ing uneasily with her rapid breathing. It
was the IRA Of long ago he saw. the