Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

lGenevieve' S were already taken. But didn't
choose to go back. l wanted to stay in
America; and the life Mrs. Cobb offered me.
all petting and diamonds and beautiful
clothes-it seemed ideal. To be sure, the
husband added to the bargain-I did hest
tate moment for that. But only moment
what else, after all, had looked forward
to, and what would have been my marriage
if Papa had lived? Monsieur has so many
thousand francs of fortune, Mademoiselle is
the daughter of a Marquis and has so many
thousand francs of dowry. And here was
husband who was willing to take me without
to take recompense from my name and my
relatives, instead of from the fortune didn't
have, could be anything but relieved and
glad? And after all, giving me her son for
my husband, whether one agrees with her
or not about his qualities, still one must con-
fess she certainly had no idea of wronging
me there! For, after all, Victor is her son.
And, though haven't any children myself,
still | sometimes fancy l can imagine how
children seem to their own mother"
Mrs. Stuart stroked my hand, and it
seemed to me for moment that saw tears
in her eyes.
Funny little Lili,' she said, 3dear little
Lii! A dear little name, for dear little girl!
i L
to their mother. Even Henry, you see, to
me"
@But-ah, Henry!" 1 cried 3He's differ
emit"
I FELT her eyes on me, penetrating, in
= fnitely kind Then, as l raised my eyes
to meet them, I knew that my voice, in
these two or three words, had betrayed my
secret; for the glance that l met looked
through and through me, to the very inmost
part of my soul, even past the thought of my
dear papa, to where nothing lives but the
thought of Henry! Henry! Ali day long,
when I'm awake and when I'm sleeping,
there in my dreams! So, as knew that she
knew already, just let everything come
into my eyes,-an my longing, all my strug-
giles, all my hope that knew itself hopeless.
"This is an odd complication" she said in
changed voice, hesitating and tender.
"Wil you-will you let me tell Henry?
He's a lawyer, as you know. He's very
clever at it. I've known him to unravel the
most extraordinary affairs. May I tell
him."
moi" l cried. Then paused to think.
Was my refusal delicacy, was it Quixotism?
And in any case was not one reason more
foolish than the other, if way of escape
could be pointed out?
| 1CS. SlldilSCo LILY 1lCSdL1SC. Gil
him, please! Butch, dear Mrs. Stuart"
1 cried with sudden thought, @no one else,
please! Imagine if people heard about bar
gain, or coercion, or anything like that
where would be the social advantage that
Mrs. Cobb hoped to gain from the marriage,
which it only fair she should have, because
she's paid for it? So not word, pleased"
Mrs. Stuart stroked my cheek-what a
soft hand, what a tender touch! eyes," she
said, @you're Etienne's daughter, one can
see that,-the same delicate scrup1es, the
same fine sense of honor"
"And yet" 1 cried in weeping voice,
3were trying to find a way out for me to
break my world"
She seemed perplexed. NO. she said, Il
could never advise anyone to break their
word. But, you see, l can't help feeling that
l have the first right to you; for it was to
find me that you came to America, after all.
Think of it!' She looked at me as if over
come by the thought. 3You came to find
me! Etienne's daughtei looking for me, and
wasn't there! No, it's too cruel that we
should find each other too 1ate-no, it
mustn't be too late! Lii, you belong to me
IL won't give you up! l won't let you
marry that 1outish young Cobb-never,
never! But, never fear, Henry will find a
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