The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-12-13
y MARTHA BELLzINGER,
c0N,Ry04T /9u. mr. HossS7z6ea4k coNeAh1

his decision suddenly or impulsiyely
nor, having arrived there, was he Il
be turned from II easily. Trud as (.
was that he sincerely and affectionate
ly desired Melanle Reynier for a wife
yet on the whole he was a very coo
Romeo. He was manly, but he wal
calculating; he was honorably dis
posed toward matrimony, but he wal
not reborn with love. And so, in the
sober bedroom OF the club, he quickly
fell into the good sleep induced by ia
| tigue and healthy nerves.
Morning brought counsel and dis
! position TO renew operations. A note
was dispatched to his Diana by pri
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. He 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 IT,
midity and traditional coyness in wom-
en-, and great admiration for an open
and fearless spirit. Melanie's note
aITUnuf hfu fbNtTgaf,fnur
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 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 it that you think l ought TO go?"
Il don't wish to 90 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
off your marriage to Count Lorenzo,
and every day now deepens his indig-
nation against you. don't like to dis
cuss these things, Melanie, but sus-
pect that your action deprives him of
a very necessary revenue; and l un-
derstand, better than you do. to what
lengths your cousin is capable of 60
ing when he is displeased. You are,
by the law Of your country, his ward
until you marry. Would it not be bet |
ter to submit to him in friendship, |
rather than to incur his enmity? Aft |
er all, he is your next of kin, the head |
Of your family and very powerful |
man. If we are going home at all, we
ought to go now"
But suppose we should decide not |
to go home at all?"
you will have to go some time, dear
child. You are all alone, except for
me, and in the nature of things you
can't have me always. Now that you
are young, you think it an easy thing
to break away from the ties of blood
and BIRTH but believe me, it isn't
easy. You, with your nature, could
never do it. The call of the land is
strong, and the time will come when
you will long to go home, long to go
back to the land where your father
ed his soldiers, and where your moth
sr was admired and loved"
Madame Reynier paused and watch
I'd her niece, who, with eyes cast
lown, was toying with with her spoon.
Suddenly a crimson flush rose and
spread over Melanie's cheeks and fore
lead and neck, and when she looked
lp into Madame Reynier's face, she
vas gazing through unshed tears.
She rose quickly, came round to the
lder woman's chair and kissed her
heck affectionately.
Dear Auntie, you are very good to
lie, and patient, too It's all true,
oppose; but the prospect of home /
nd Count Lorenzo together-ah,
Telli" she smiled reassuringly and !
gain caressed Madame Reynier's {