Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-05-04


~Do you still persist, sir, that you do
not know my rightful Manner she de
handed
From my previous acquaintance with
the lady 1 knew she was working her
self into a passion, though why 1 could
not imagine.
MY dear madame 1 said, "why such
pother over such tribe? II your name
be no longer Madeline Spencer tell me
what it Is. 1 shall be profoundly glad
to call you by 1t or any name than
Spencer 1 added
She felt the thrust, and her eyes an
swered it Then suddenly she turned
and faced those at the table
"Your pardon she said, speaking
straight at Lord Radnor, will you tell
me if this man here" waving her hand
toward me, 'is Major Armand Dali
berg?"
Lord Radnor bowed 'That gentle
man is his royal highness the Grand
Duke Armand of Valeria," he said
"Erstwhile major of engineers in the
American army?' she asked
Il believe so, madame said his lord
ship stiffiy
Thank you,'' she said And now
But L broke in Madame 1 said
sharply, you have presumed beyond
forbearance. Major Moore, will you es-
cort the lady to her compartment"
Moore stepped forward and, bowling
very low, offered his arm. Like a flash
her face changed and she met him with
a smile.
Just a moment, if you please" she
said, with softest accents Then, with
studied elaboration, she turned her
back on me and swept the princess an
elaborate courtesy.
''Your royal highness may pardon my
intrusion she said, when 1 tell you
that L am Armand Dalberg's wife.
Now, Major Moore, 1 am ready" and
she put her hand upon his arm.
But Moore never moved. Instead, he
looked at me for orders.
Language is utterly inadequate to de-
scribe my feelings at that moment, so
/ shall not try. Imagination is better
than words. 1 know 1 had an almost
uncomfortable impulse for violence
and 1 fancy Courtney feared it, for he
stepped quickly over and put his hand
on my shoulder.
''Thank you, old man. 1 said. Then
1 looked at the princess.
She was leaning carelessly back in
her chair, watching the Spencer wom-
an through half closed eyes, a bright
flush on each cheek and a faint smile,
half sneer, half amusement, on her lips.
Suddenly she looked at me, and the
smile flashed out into such one as she
had given me in the royal box.
My heart gave a great bound-I knew
she trusted me still. 1 turned to the
woman in black
rs it possible, madame, that you
claim to be my wife?' 1 asked.
She dropped Moore's arm and took a
step toward me-and, as 1 live, there
were tears in her eyes.
What has changed you, Armand ?''
she asked. "Why do you f1out me sop
1 stared at her. Woman, you must
be crazyr" I said.
She put out her hand appealingly.
''You don't mean that, dear, surely?'
And now the tears were in her voice
too.
what 1 mean, madame, is that you
are either crazy or playing some game
L answered CURLY.
She brushed aside the tears and gave
me a look of almost heartbroken ap-
peal.
why do you deny me, Armand ~
| she cTleO nave grown ugly Ill the
| last few months? Has the beauty you
| used to praise turned so soon to ash
| esp
Unfortunately for me her beauty had
| not turned to ashes. She was at that
very moment the handsomest woman
| had ever seen save only the princess
The slender figure, the magnificent
| neck and shoulders, the roll upon roll
of jet black hair, the almost classic
face, and all in distress eai trouble.
changed my manner.
"My dear Mrs. Spencer said kind
ly, mo one may deny your beauty and
1 least of all. But / do deny that 1 am
| your husband. You are evidently i'll
| and laboring under some queer halluci
nation"
She shook her head. ''You know per
| fectly well, Armand, 1 am not i'll mol
under a delusion, "she said and looked
me straight in the eyes.
''Then, madame, you are a wonderful
| actress / answered
Again the tears welled up, and one
| trickled slowly down her cheek. She
turned quickly and made as though te
go. But Courtney stayed her.
My dear madame" he said, with
| that gracious courtesy of his, which
have never seen equaled by courtiel
| of any court, may / ask you a ques
| tion?'
She inclined her head in answer and
waited
"You have claimed royal duke OF
|