Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-19


shadow Of a conqueror. II ever Austria
is given a free hand it will be no mere
war upon which she enters-it will be
carnage an extermination!'
Dorward looked once more at the clock
and rose slowly to his feet.
WELL he said, Il mustn't keep his
excellency waiting. Goodbye and cheer
up, Bellamy! Your old country isn't go
ing to turn up her heels yet"
Out he went-long. lank. uncouth. with
yellow-stained fingers and hatchet-shaped.
gray face-a strange figure, but yet
power. Bellamy remained. For a while
he seemed doubtful how to pass the time
He stood in front Of the window, watch
ing the dispersal Of the crowds and the
marching by Of a regiment of soldiers.
| whose movements he followed with crti-
cal interest, for he, too, had been in the
service. He had still a military bearing
tall and with complexion inclined to be
dusky, small black mustache. dark eyes.
| a Silent mouth-a man Of many reserves.
Even his intinates knew little Of him.
Nevertheless, his was the reticence which
| befitted well his profession.
After time he sat down and wrote
some letters. He had just finished when
| there came sharp tap at the door. Be-
fore he could open his lips some one had
entered. He heard the soft swirl Of
draperies and turned sharply round. then
| sprang to his feet and held out both his
| hands. There was expression in his face
now-as much as he ever suffered to ap-
pear there.
| 'LouiSet' he exclaimed. What good
fortune"
| She held his fingers for a moment in a
| manner which betokened a more than
common intimacy. Then she threw her
self into an easy chair and raised her
thick veil. Bellamy looked at her for a
moment in sOrrowful silence. There were
| violet lines underneath her beautiful eyes,
her cheeks were destitute of any color.
There was an abandonment of grief about
her attitude which moved him. She sat
| as one broken spirited. in whom the
power of resistance was dead.
| 1T is over, then" she said. softly. this
| meeting. The word has been spoken
He came and stood by her side.
! LAS yet he reminded her. I'VE do not
know what that word may be-
| She shook her head mournfully.
| Who can doubt?' she exclaimed. For
myself. 1 feel it in the air! can see it
in the faces of the people who throng the
| city. | can hear it in the peals Of those
awful bells. You know nothing? You
| have heard nothing?''
| Bellamy shook his head.
Il did all that was humanity possible"
he said, dropping his voice. IAN Eng
lishman in Vienna today has very little
| but they hadn't a dogs chance. There
wasn't even a secretary present. The
! car. the two emperors and the chan
cellor-not another soul was in the room
| IF only Won Behring had been taken!'
! she exclaimed. He was there in reserve,
| know, as stenographer. / have but to
| lift my hand and 1t is enough. I would
have had the truth from him. whatever
Bellamy looked at her thoughtfully. II
| was not for nothing that the press of
| every European nation had called her the
| most beautiful woman in the world. He
! frOwned slightly at her last words for
| he loved her.
''von Behrling was not even allowed
to cross the Threshold" he said. sharply.
| She moved her head and looked I'D ar
MD
| now. her chin resting upon her hands
| Something about the lines Of her long,
| supple body suggested to him the savage
| animal crouching for a spring. She was
quiet. but her bosom was heaving and he
could guess at the passion within. With
purpose he spoke to set it loose.
| You sing tonight" he asked.
Before God. no!' she answered. the
anger blazing out of her eyes, shaking
in her voice. Il sing no more in this ac-
cursed city,"
There will be a revolution" Bethany
remarked II see that the whole city is
placarded with notices. 1t is to be a gala
to be present"
Her body seemed to CULVER like tree
shaken by the wind.
| What do I care-I-I-for their gala
| night! II / were like Samson, If / could
pull down the pillars Of their opera house
do it!''
He took her hand and smoothed It in
his.
Dear Louise. it is useless, this. You
do everything that can be done for your
Her eyes were streaming and her fin
gers sought his.
MY friend David" she said. you do
can understand what 1t Is to crouch in
| the shadow OF this black fear. to feel q
tyrants hand come creeping out, to know
! that your life blood and the life blood of
| all your people must be shed, and shed |
in vain. To rob a nation of It's liberty,
all! 1t is worse. this. than MURDERS
| worse crime than his who stains the soul
OF q poor innocent girl! 1t is . sin
| against nature herselfr'
! She was sobbng now and she clutched
| his hands passionately.
| Forgive me-" she murmured. II am
overwrought- I have borne up against
good here. I come to tell you that 30
away till the time comes. go to your
! London They want me to sing for them
there / shall do IT.
| You will break your engaxement?"
She laughed at him scOrnfully.
Il am Idiale," she declared. II keep no
| engagement II / do not choose. will
sing no more to this people whom hate.
| My friend David / have suffered enough
| Their applause I lOathe-their covetous
eyes as they watch me move about the
stage-oh, 1 could strike them all dead!
| They come to me, these young Austrian
1
OF conquered race. I keep their dia-
! monds, but 1 destroy their messages
! Their jewels go to my chorus girls or to
| arm my people. But no one of them has
| had kind word from me save where
there has been something to be gained
Even Behrling 1 have fooled with
promises. No Austrian shall ever touch
| my lips-I have sworn it,'
| Bellamy nodded.
Yes" he assented. they call you cold
here I'm the capital! Even in the pal
ACE
| She held out her hand.
1T Is finished" she declared. II sing
| no more. / have sent word to the opera
house. I came here to be In hiding for q
| while. They will search for me every
| where. Tonight or tomorrow leave for
| England
| Bellamy stood thoughtfully silent
, Il am not sure that you are WISE" he
| said. You take 1t too much for granted
that the end has come"
| And do you not yourself believe it?"
she demanded.
| He hesitated.
LAS yet there is no proof he reminded
her.
Proof
She sat upright in her chair Her hands
thrust him from her, her bosom heaved,
a spot OF color flared In her cheeks
"Proof!' she cried. What do you sup
pose, then, that these wolves have Mot