The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-12-13

!
tween your people and mine are more
than the differences OF language and
climate; they are ingrained Ia our
habits Of thought, our education. our
judgment Of life and OF people. My
childhood and youth were wholly dit
ferent from yours. or from what an
American girls could be; and yet |
think | understand your American
women. though ] suppose am not In
the least Ike them
But !, on the other hand, have seen
the dark side Of life, and particularly
OF marriage, When was a child
was more important in my own coun.
try than ] am now, since Il seemed
then that my father would succeed 10
the throne ! was brought up to feel
That ] was not woman but pawn
In the game of politics. When / had
been out Of the convent for year or
more, loved a youth, and was loved
In return, but our marriage was
laughed at, put aside, declared impos,
sible, because he was of a rank In.
ferior TO my own. My lover dIsap
peared, | know not where or how
Then affairs changed My father died
and II transpired that had been Of
ticially betrothed since childhood 10
Duke Stephens brother, the Count
Lorenzo, The duke was my guardian,
and there was no one else 10 whom !
could appeal; but the very week set
for the wedding | faced the duke and
declared ! would never marry the
count. His Highness ragged and
stormed, but | told him a few things
! knew about his brother, and / made
him see that | was in earnest The
next day left Krolvetz, and the duke
gave out that was III and had gone
to a health resort; that the wedding
was postponed. / went to France and
hid myself with my aunt, TOOK one Of
my own middle names and her sur
name, and have been known for some
time, as you know, as Melanie Rey-
nier"
Il know you wish to tell me all
these things, Melanie, but I do not
want you to recall painful matters Of
the past now" said Aleck gently.
You shall tell me Of them at another
time"
The color frightened in Melanie's
face, her eyes glowed.
mo, not another time; you must un-
derstand now, especially because all f,
this preface leads me to what | really
want to say to you. 1t is this: do |
not now care for the man loved at
nor for any of the other men |
Of my country who have been pleased |
to honor me with their regard. But /
ever since those early days | have had |
a dream of home-a place different |
from Duke Stephens home, different /
from the homes of many people of my .
rank. My dream has a husband in it /
who is a companion, a friend, my |
equal in love, my superior in .
strength Melanies eyes GfJed to .
meet Alexis, and they wer5 full of an
almost tragic passion; but it was
passion for comprehension and love.
not primarily for the man sitting be-
lore her. She added simply: And
'or my dream I'd give all the wealth,
all the love, / have"
The room was very still. Aleck Van
Camp sat quiet and grave, his fore
lead resting on his hand, He looked
Up, finally, at Melanie, who was be
tide him, pale and quite worn.
Poor child! You needed me more
han | thought" was what he said
But Melanie had not quite finished
No. that is not enough, that l should
iced you. You must also need me
want what I alone can give you, match
ny love with yours. And this,
hink, you do not do. You calculate,
on remain COOL you plan your lif5
ike campaign, and | am part Of your
You are a thousand times
etter than Count Lorenzo, but think
our principles of reasoning are the
anne. You do not love me enough,
nd that is why | can not say yes"
Aleck had taken this last blow
tanding. He walked slowly around |
nd stood before Melanie, much as he
ad stood before her when he first
sked her to marry him; and this
me, as he looked down on her fair |
ess, there was infinite gentleness and
atience and love in his eyes. He
ent over, lifted Melanie's two hands,
nd drew her bodily out of her seat.
he was impassiye. Her quick alert
ess, her vitality, her passionate seri.
usness had slipped away. Aleck put
is arms around her very tenderly
nd kissed her lips; not a lovers kiss
yactly, and yet nothing else. Then |
@ looked into her face.