The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-12-25
CHAPTER v.
Melanie's Dreams,

Melanie's Dreams.
Midnight and the relaxation of slum-
Der could subtract nothing from the
| high-browed dignity of the club off,
cials, and the message that was wait
| ing for Mr.. Van Camp was delivered
in the most correct manner. "Mr.
Hambleton sends word to Mr.. Van
Camp that he has gone away on the
Jeanne Dare. Mr.. Hambleton may
not be back for some time. and re-
quests Mr. Van Camp to look after the
Sea Gull"
Very well, thank you," replied
Aleck, rather absent-mindedly. He was
unable to see, Immediately, just what
change in his own plans this sudden
turn of Jim's would cause; and he was
| for the moment too deeply preoccu
| pied with his own personal affairs to
speculate much about it. His thoughts
went back to the events of the eve
ming, recalled the picture of his Di-
ana and her teasing ways, and dwelt
! especially upon the honest, friendly,
wholly bewitching look that had flown
to him at the end of the evening. Alb
surd as his own attempt at a declara-
ton had been, he somehow felt that
| he himself was not absurd in Melanie's
eyes, though he was far from certain
whether she was inclined to marry
him.
Aleck, on his part, had not come to
his decision suddenly or impulsively;
nor, having arrived there, was he to
be turned from it easily. True as it
was that he sincerely and affectionate-
ly desired Melanie Reynier for a wife,
yet on the whole he was a very cool
Romeo. He was manly, but he was.
calculating; he was honorably dis
rosed toward ma:rimony but he was
not reborn with love. And so, in the
sober bedroom of the club, he quickly
fell into the good sleep induced by ia
tgue and healthy nerves.
Morning brought counsel and a dis
position to renew operations. A note
was dispatched to his Diana by a prl-
vate messenger, and the boy was bid
den to wait for an answer, 1t came
presently:
Come at twelve, if you wish
"MELANIE REYNIER."
Aleck smiled with satisfaction Here
was a wise venture going through hap
PLY, he hoped lie was pleased that
she had named the very hour he had
asked for the night before. That was
| like her good, frank way of meeting a
situation, and it augured well for the
unknown emergencies Of their future
life. He had little patience with IL
Nudity and traditional coyness in wom-
en-, and great admiration for an open
and fearless spirit. Melanie's note
almost set his heart humping.
But not quite; and no one under
stood the cool nature of that organ
better than Melanie herself. The la
dies in the apartment at the Arch
angel had fingered at their breakfast,
the austerity of which had been miti-
gated by a center decoration of or
chids and fern, fresh-touched with
dew; or so Madame Reynier had de-
scribed them to Melanie, as she
brought them to her with the card of
Mr., Lloyd-Jones. Miss Reynier smiled
family, admired the blossoms and turn
ed away
The ladies usually spoke French
with each other, though occasionally
Madame Reynier dropped into the
harsher speech of her native country.
On this morning she did this, telling
Melanie, for the tenth time in as many
days, that in her opinion they ought
TO be going home Madame consid-
cred this her duty. and felt no real
responsibility after the statement was
made. Nevertheless, she was glad TO
find Melanie disposed to discuss the
matter a little further
DO you wish to go home, Auntie, or
is ii that you think ought TO go?"
Il don't wish 10 go without you,
child, you know that; and am very
comfortable here. But his Highness,
your cousin, is very impatient; see
that in every letter from Krolvetz
You offended him deeply by putting
on your marriage 10 Count Lorenzo
and every day now deepens his indig
nation against you. don't like 70 dis
cuss these things. Melanie. but ! sus