Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

She needed no key to those last lacOnlc
words. The great adventure was indeed
near! Venice would write fms to the story
that began for her before the tapestry in
the Rheims cathedral. She realized it with
acute regret.
ooh, 1 wish 1 could do more!" she ex-
claimed fervently.
HE swung round at her tone, and, seeing
her eyes suffused, sprang to her side and
imprisoned her hands in his. "You can if
you will" he cried eagerly. "Make the pre-
tense real, my ally! Come with me to the
end! Meet the danger with me like the
brave spirit you are! Share all with me-
the risk, the struggle, the prize! What mod
ern woman has had such chance offered
her? You can be the Jeanne d Arc of my
country! see the meaning Of our first meet |
ing now! You were born to inspire my peo
pie as she was born to inspire France! They
will hail you as France-hailed her! They will
fight like demons because you lead, win
against any odds, deny you no reward! Is it
nothing to unite nation scattered and OPP
pressed for centuries? Is it nothing to 60
down to posterity in legend and song?
Don't hesitate! This is what you were |
meant to do since Time began! Embrace |
your destiny!"
There was spell in his words; but she |
shook it off. at is your destiny, you see, not
mine," she answered, withdrawing her |
hands. @You will need no one but yourself
to rouse your people. Speak to them as you |
have spoken to me, and they will follow"
@But you do not follow" he said. "If |
cannot persuade you, shall fail with them"
mo, no!'
at is true. You are bound up with my |
fortunes. You have become as dear to me |
as the great dream ITSELF You must have
seen that last night. forgot that old man
in the doorway. 1 forgot everything but |
you. believed you had given me your lips |
because you loved me. l even hope it still.
@You must not"
II cannot help it. have loved no human |
being as 1 love you. l cannot picture a |
future you do not share. If we separate at |
never have your love; but see you near me
to the end!"
HIS words haunted her. Whether they
= followed the prismatic shore, climbed |
the mountain barrier of Liguria, or sped in |
their last flight across the Lombard plain, |
she repeatedly asked herself if it was posi- |
BILE that Venice would not mark the end? |
She had spoken the exact truth when she |
denied that she loved him; but in her heart
of hearts lay dumb regret that it must be |
the CruCn. WIN all DIS IaulCS, ne was SC1ll |
man to love if love came by willing. He
stood, as he had from the first for Romance,
and because the world she had known was
prosaic, Romance spoke to her with silver
tongue.
The man himself said no more. He had
made his avowal. Whether for good or i'll, |
Destiny must decide. From the hour they
left the Mediterranean behind till they ex-
changed the automobile for the train at
Mestre, he was apparently a man without
care. No motoring companion could be
more entertaining, more considerate, more
gay. AS they crossed the lagoon, however,
and Venice performed its old, old miracle of
rising from the sea, Ann saw his face sadden,
and she OWNED that his vision of the future
grew less assured.
1t was evening as they issued from the
station and crossed to the black fleet of gon-
dolas moored by the marble steps. Justin
had seen to that Matter of fact in most
things, he was a man of sentiment as regards
Venice and would approach her only at the
close of day.
@The Grand Canal all the way to the hotel,
tell the man, Ann" he charged. II don't
come to Venice for short cuts. All my Amer
lean hustle is back on the mainland with the
automobile"