Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR APRIL 80. 1911

shrugged again, "they exist, they are facts"
@And can't be ignored?"
"Not with impunity."
Ann conceived and risked a bold play.
"Don't imagine Pm quite barbarian" she
begged prettily. al knew 1 shouldn't be sit
ting alone with Prince Rodoslav in the win
ter garden. Bear witness that | have run
away"
Il WILL if you need a witness" he replied;
"but l don't feel that the case is urgent.
What has become of Rodoslav?"
"He's still there" She gave backward
tilt of her admirable head and smiled.
"Princes are very much like other men,
aren't they?"
"All I've known were human
"Mine is certainly human" Her smile
became a laugh. "He would much rather l
stayed in the winter garden. In fact, think
he cares less about the conventions than
do" She fixed her eyes upon Saccarello's
with appealing candor. "Tell me" she be-
sought. @You know him better than l.
Does he sulk?"
posure "What kind of friend would be l to
tell you?" he rejoined.
"A good friend, think. If it's a habit, it
ought to be cured"
al learned early in life not to tell people
their faults" said the old man grimly. "You
must use your own eyes.
at wouldn't be quite the same as telling
me my faults, she Disseminated; shat is,
not yet: | suppose marriage alters ones
point of view"
$50 I've heard"
"You've never married, then? Haven't
you wanted to marry?"
mo-" he said shortly to both questions,
and eschewcd further autobiography. as
your wedding day fixed9"
"Not yet"
at will be soon, perhaps?"
at would be soon if the Prince had his
"Am l to infer that he isn't having his
own Way?"
Ann again lodged skilfully. II shouldn't
infer that if l were you," she smiled. @He
has very great powers of persuasion. She
laid her fngertips together across her breast
and swept him an ironical bow. "Isn't it
evident?"
The heavy eyelids lifted and the black
eyes pierced hers with a directness that
brought back all her apprehension. ayes,
Signorina, it is evident" he assented, each
word as deliberate as hammer stroke. "He
must indeed have very great powers of per-
suasion to have induced you to cast your lot
with his.
He suspected! He must suspect! A look
here, an infection there and now this speech
challenged her sincerity! Was the ruse of
the winter garden after all futility? She
could divine little of what Saccarello knew;
but she did overwhelmingly realize that he
was an antagonist and that Rodoslav's suc-
cess or ruin might well hang upon her bear
ing in this very hour. But what an unequal
duel! What supreme need for GOODNESS and
courage!
at was SIEGE" she asserted lightly; @but
l was compelled to surrender in the end"
compelled, Signorina?'
@Yes." She still Haunted the smile that so
be1ied her anxiety.
"What compelled your
@Need you ask? What makes women in
general surrender"
"Many reasons, ambition, pique, money,
sheer folly. One might extend the list"
"Indeed one might, she retorted. "You
have omitted love-"
II made sure you would supply the
omission"
an that case you must have guessed my
reason"
@No, Signorina, merely your answer.
Your reason rs still profound feminine mys-
terry"
Ann chr,ooad bor shoulders -, n,,ite tho