The Washington herald., 1912-11-24

the verge of tears, your philosophy
confounds me-"
"Oh, Madame, am only the mouth
piece of philosopher, the priest of a
religion, the imitator of man divine
because of his humanity. What love
| have for my fellow-men and what
ever broadness of view. was first taught
and given to me by him-Jesn Jacques
Rousseau"
"And before such priest" replied
the baroness, "a confession is useless
that is half-confession. What l have
said to you, Monsieur, is but the be-
ginning. Well, then, listen. The wom-
an you would marry despite the facts
| have told you is a woman weak
in many ways. She is fond of the
material things of the world: of dress,
of gayety, of pleasure; she is spitefui
very often to other women, and she
has passion for matching what brains
she has against the brains of men,
often in very petty ways; she is a
woman who does not brook contradic-
ton. The man who marries her must
be content with her love; her mind she
retains as her own property, settled
upon her before marriage. Well, Mon
sieur, what do you say of such a
woman?"
Only this said De Lussac, sinking
on his knees beside her and taking
her hand. Only this: l love her"
He raised the white tapering fingers
to his lips and kissed them; then
passing his arm round her waist and
drawing her toward him. their lips met,
chung together; they breathed each
other. In a moment and at that magic
touch, the passion for him that had
been slowly gathering in her heart be-
came wildly alive; MS youth, the dawn
of his life, the springtime of his man
hood became part of her. He had read
her Alright: the heart that no man had
touched fully till now had awakened.
The woman of the world was no long
er there. The world itself was for
gotten-tor q moment
Listen to me-" she said, holding
him away from her as though she
wished to gaze at him and touch him
at the same time. You have made
me love you; you have spoken to me
of love as a priest might speak of re-
ligion; let US pause for a moment, even
as We are-would that we could always
remain even as We are, like people on
a height gazing at a fair country!
Tell me, have you ever cared for an
other"
For a moment De Lussac was silent.
You do not answer me-"
Il do not answer you, because l
am thinking how strange it is that be-
fore l met you / cared for another
woman. anI that your image entering
me shattered her image. destroyed it as
a sunbeam destroys a shadow"
who was it,
you have seen her to-day"
"Ah! Madame d'Harlancourt? You
do not care for her still?"
For me, she is not in the world"
He sprang TO his feet and Madame
Linden. turning with little cry, found
that Placide had entered the room.
why did you not knock cried the
baroness angrily. rs that the manner
for a servant to enter a ROOM
knock, but you We so preoccupied-"
Hold your tongue
Yes, Madame"
Go. But stay-why did you come?
| did not ring"
Il came, Madame. to ask you at
wins time you required the carriage
to take you to Compiegne"
'At 2 o'clock Have everything
ready. You know you are TO accom-
pany me-"
Yes, Madame"
He went out and he baroness turn
ed to her lover.
Fortunately, it was only Placide
One never minds him. And now, my
friend. sit down beside me here on the
fauteuil, for / have something serious
to say-no, do not take my hand until
have finished speaking; then take
it, and keep it for ever, or for ever
leave it. Listen: you say you love
me"
Il love you"
You would give up everything for
me?'
Il would give up my soul"
Il ask you for a gift of far less
value. l ask you to give mp your am
bition"
Never. for my only ambition is to |
possess you
Now you are talking like a lover,
that is, person more and yet less