Evening star., 1912-10-04
Bv REX BEACH.

Copyright. 1912. BY Rex Beach,

way once opened. he made full and
free confession of his craven fear that
night on the road to Terranova; told her
OF the inherent cowardice which had ever
since tortured and shamed him. and OF
his efforts to reconstruct his whole being.
Il wanted to expiate my sm," he fin
ished. land. above all, I have longed to
prove myself man in your sight"
She listened with white, set face, slight
ly averted. When she turned to him at
last he saw that her eyes were wet with
tears.
Il cannot Judge Of these matters she
said. You - you were no coward the
other night, AMIGO mio. You were the
AS for that other time. do not ask me to
| turn back and Judge You. perhaps,
blame yourself toe much. It was not as
If you could have saved Martel 1t is
tried-that is how you feel. is. it not?
You had to reckon with your own sense
of honor. Well, you have won your
/ fight; you have become a new person,
for any action Of that Norvin Blake
knew in Sicify-who. indeed, did not know
his own weakness and could not guard
against it. Ever since met you here In
New Orleans I have known you for a
brave, strong man. 1t is splendid-the
way in which You have conquered your
self-splendid! Few men could have done
it. Be comforted.'' she added. with
note of tenderness that answered the
pleading in his eyes, there is no bitter
ness in my heart
"Margherita." he cried, desperately,
cant you-won't you-"
"Ah"' she interposed, peremptoriy.
do not say it. ] forbid you to speak:
Then. as he fell silent. she continued, in
manner she strove to make natural:
THAT dear girl. Myra Nell Warren, has
inquired about You daily. She has been
distracted, heartbroken. Believe me, caro-
ySv. t., loxySv
, an whom you cannot cast aside. She
seems frivolous on the surface. 4 grant
you. Even have been deceived. But at
the time of Mr.. Dreux's dreadful faux
couldn't but believe she felt deeply"
Norvin flushed DULY and said nothing
Vittoria smiled down upon him with
look that was half maternal in its sweet
ness.
''All. this has been painful for you," she
said, land you have become overexcited
You must not talk any more now. You
are to be moved soon."
Aren't you going to be my nurse any
more?''
"You are to be taken home.'
His hand encountered hers, and he
tried to thank her for what she had done.
but she rose. and admonishing him to
sleep. left the room somewhat hurriedly
In the short time which intervened be-
fore Norvin was taken to his own quar-
ters Vittoria maintained her air of cool
detachment. Myra Nell came once.
bringing Bernie with her. much to the
gan to visit him in rapidly increasing
numbers; he gradually took up the
threads Of his everyday life which had
been SO rudely severed. Meanwhile. he
had ample time to think over his situa-
ton. He could not persuade himself that
Vittoria had been right in her reading OF
Myra Nell. Perhaps she had only put
this view forward to shield herself from
the expression Of a love she was not yet
ready to receive. He could not believe
in reality no hope for him.
Mardi Gras week found him still in bed
and unable to witness Myra Nelrs tri-
umph During the days OF furious So
cial activity she had little time to give
him, for the series of luncheons. of pag-
eants, Of gorgeous tableaux and brilliant
masked balls kept her in whirl of rap
turous confusion and left her scant leis-
sleep.
Since she was to be the flower OF the
festival, and since her beauty was being
saved for the grand climax of the whole
Proteus. Momus. the Mistick Krewe OF
Comus and the other lesser societies cele-
brated their distinctive nights with torch
and float and tableau; the city was trans
formed by day with bunting and flags.
by night it was garlanded with fire.
Merrymakers thronged the streets: their
carnival spirit entered into every breast.
1t was glad. mad week of gayety, of
dancing, of laughter, of flirting and love-
making under the glamour of balmy skies
and velvet. torchlit nights, and to the
pleasure Of the women was added the
delicious torture Of curiosity regarding
those mysterious men in masks who
came through a blaze of fire and de-
parted no one knew whittier.
AS the spirit of the celebration mount
ed Myra Nell abandoned herself to 1t:
she lived amid q bewilderment OF social
obligations. through which she strove in
cessantly to discover the identity OF her
king. Finding herself unsuccessful in
this. her excitement redoubled. At last
came his entrance to the city; the BOOM
ing cannon. the applauding thousands,
his royal progress through the streets
toward the flower -festooned stand where
she looked down upon the multitude. Miss
Warren's maids of honor were the fair
est of all this fair city. and vet she stood
out of that galaxy as by far the most
enhancing.
Her royal consort came at length. a
majestic figure upon a float of ivory and
gold he took the goblet from her hand.
he pledged her with silent, grace while
the assembled hordes shouted their al
legiance to the pair. She knew he must
be very handsome underneath his mask,
and he was bold also, in a quite un-
kingly way, for there was more in his
glance than the greeting Of a monarch;
there was ardent love. a burning adora-
ton, which thrilled her breast and famed
her curiosity to a leapins flame. This
was, indeed, life, romance the purple
splendor for which she had been born
She could scarcely contain herself until
the hour Of the rex ball, when she knew
her change would come to match her
charm and beauty against his voiceless
secrecy. She was no longer a make-be-
lieve queen, but royal ruler. beloved by
her subjects. adored by her throne-mate
Then the glittering ball that followed.
The blazing lights. the splendid panto
mime. the great, shifting Kaleidoscope Of
beauteous ladies and knightly men in
gold and satin and coats OF mail! And
above all, the maddening mystery Of that
king at her side, whose glances were now
melting with melancholy, now ablaze
with eagerness. and whose whispered
| words. muffled behind his mask, were not
those of monarch, but rather those of
a bold and audacious lover! He poured
nis 1.ox.,S into her hlllShing he GET her