Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-23


paradox, but sober truth. BY the same rea-
soning which is the reason of society, they
are no barrier to marriage; but l can eX-
pect you to push logic that far now. Some
day you may think the man have become
of more account than the man others tried
to make me. If you do, my future will be
your future in the fullest sense"
ANN stared straight before her into a
thicket of palms, bordering the mex
plicable. This should have been a moment
of triumph. She had received an offer of
marriage from the claimant of an imperial
throne! 1t was no mere chlmera, that claim.
ROdOSlavS chance was no more tenuOuS
than Louis Napoleons had once been. He
possessed the advantage of a personality
which that shadowy eyed adventurer had
lacked. Given the hour, he might ride his
way into history with her beside him. But
Ann was not triumphant. She was Devil
dered. He had made her his strangest OF
proposals in the teeth of facts that, Judged
by the standards of her upbringing, should
have put him beyond the pale of a nodding
acquaintance. He had even suggested that
she might yet cOndone these offenSeS. Could
it be that he knew her better than she knew
herself? Was it credible that she might
some day overlook the Others? And for the
sake of one whose real heart was still sealed
book? She could not say he had made his
offer because he loved her. He had left love
out of it as completely as if it were merely
a matter of politics, royal match. He re-
manned, as he had been from the outset, a
battling enigma, and therein lay his great
appeal. An enigma to herself she uncOn-
sciousy leaned to him as her interpreter.
He continually revealed hidden possibilities
of her own nature.
at will not be dull, that future, he said
as if he read her thoughts.
at is the present I'm thinking Of she
answered, not quite ingenuously. Il don't
want to spoil plans you have taken years to
perfect. If pretenSe of an engagement"
"On your part" he amended.
@On my part is the only way-why
"You CONSENT"
Ann took counsel an instant longer with
the date palms. "Yes,' she said, II con-
sent"
She could not blame the witchery of an
Italian night for her decision. She made it
in the full candor of French day.
Rodoslavs dark eyes shone the brighter;
but for all his manner told she might merely
have agreed to a game of golf He was out
wardly an unsentimental strategist, with no
thought save the thwarting of the enemy.
He did not even thank her.
II will see your uncle this afternoon" he
said
1t was the present she thought of now in
sober truth. "Don't forget that he is an
American uncle She warned. "He has
prejudice against international marriages"
Rodoslav nodded his apprehension Il
shall convince him of my disinterestedness,
he replied.
TT was from Justin himself that she learned
how he had Jared. He came into her
room toward evening and stood looking
down at her with an expression that she
knew not whether to call tender or disap-
proving. She was at a loss how to conduct
herself. Had the situation been normal, she
would have drawn his rugged head down be-
side her own; but it was abnormal and she
could not be sincere with him.
$50 it's Rodoslav!" he said at last.
@Are you surprised" she asked, for want
of better reply.
mo, can't say that. We've had warn
ings."
@Warnings!' She caught at the chance to
break the solemnity. "That's the final
touch of gloom. didn't expect you to be
pleased but to have you treat it as ca
lamity!' She sprang from her seat and.
resting her fngertips on the table behind