Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

ABOUT LOT CaCC1ul means 10 emu an incident
that threatened to become too theatrical for
her nerves.
at would mean everything to me" he
avowed, following close at her side as she
turned. at would enable me to do the
work was sent into the world to do"
II can hardly believe that"
But you will. Don't disappoint the
hopes have built upon you! Help me blind
the eyes of my enemies!"
There was no putting him off. @Help you
blind the eyes of your enemles!" she re-
peated. "How can do that?"
~Let me pass before the world as your con-
quest"
The amazing petition gave the situation
it's browning cap and bells of utter folly, and
she laughed outright.
@But am in earnest" he insisted gravely.
IF appear to think of nothing but you and
aeroplanes, shall be left unmolested in my
work."
4And how, pray, shall | APPEAR AS the
successor of-the others?" She swept him
an ironical bow. @Goodnight!'
But he kept steadfastly by her side. "You
are wrong to infer that" he answered quiet
ly. "You will lose nothing in befriending
me. You will figure as one more triumphant
American girl with Prince in chains. l
assure you," he smiled a little, Il am not
ineligible. The House of Austria say it
with modesty-has even done me the honor
to offer me marriage with Duchess of the
blood royal. Look at my suggestion dis
passonately, if you can. 1t is something
to be weighed by the intellect, not the heart.
am not in the least in love with you"
HAD she faced him, events might have
IL taken different turn; but she appre-
hended the words only, and their cool au-
dacity stung her pride. If merely to compel
him to unsay them, she would strike the
alliance!
Suppose you give my intellect a chance!"
she retorted. $50 far you have appealed to
my sympathies and my vanity. But it
would not specially amuse me to lead a
Prince in chains, not even Prince Rodoslav.
What real reason is there why should join
you in this make believer"
He listened like soldier at attention.
@What reason? You will set people free!n
His gesture was superb. @Does that make
no appeal to an American? If have spoken
vaguely, shall make amends. You shall
know my plans, share my counSels. Come!
Sit with me here for a moment" He 1ndl-
Gated secluded bench to which her uncon-
sidered steps had brought them. u will
leave nothing in doubt"
"But have not promised" she said.
Il don't ask your promise yet. l mean to
prove now 1HuCU L IIuSI yOu Slldu CCu yOu
before you promise"
She listened to him there and, listening,
gave her word. Only afterward did she real
lie that low hanging lick had dropped
giant limb over the wall behind them, and
that she had sat where-test of her own
sweet will-she had vowed she would not.
Chapter VIII.
THE morrow should have brought Justin
Blair. Instead came rumor. 1t was
rumor worthy of Italy. Superlative, luxu-
rant, mysterious, poetic, it did credit to a
soil that sprouts legends as readily as arti-
chokes Aseries of paragraphs in the villain
ously printed Nlilanese daily which the lake
dwellers read with their dubious coffee set it
forth.
Brescia, tagged from her tournament,
briefly chronicled a trial flight on the part of
some aviator, name not given, who still lin
gered on the trampled outskirts of Month
char. While aeronautics filled the press, it
was fact worthy of line or two, no more.
But it seemed that Cremona also had news
to retail. Speculation had agitated the
cafes of the Piazza Roma. Many persons
with leisure for sky gazing had beheld a voy-
ager of the air who, flying incredibly fast
and inconceivably high, had borne down
from the north and swept away toward the