The state herald., 1913-04-18


Serve luncheon to Madame Reynier
alone. shall wait; and you'll have
to wait. too. poor mani" She looked
scrutinizingly at Aleck. "Or are you.
perhaps. hungry7 I'm not going to talk
to a hungry man." she announced. q
mot bite till I've heard chapter
thirty-nine!" said Aleck.
In o moment she became serious
again.
II have lived in England and here In
America" she began, ''long enough to
understand that. the differences be-
tween your people and mine are more
than the differences of language and
climate; they are ingrained In our
habits Of thought. our education. our
Judgment of life and Of people. My
childhood and youth were wholly DIFF
ferent from yours, or from what an
American girls could be: and yet I
think understand your American
women. though I suppose l am not In
the least like them
But I, on the other hand, have seen
the dark side of life. aud particularly
of marriage. When was child l
was more important in my own coun-
try than am now. since 1t seemed
then that my father would succeed to
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
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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
ficially betrothed since childhood to
Duke Stephens brother, the Count
Lorenzo. The duke was my guardian.
and there was no one else to 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 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 Ill 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."
81 know you wish to tell me all
these things, Melanie. but ! 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
this preface lends me to what really
want to say to you. 1t is this: I do
not now care for the man loved at
nineteen. 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
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 Il
who is n companion. n friend. my
equal In love. my superior In
strength" Melnnie's eyes lifted to
meet Alexis. and they were full OF an
almost tragic passion; but 1t was a
| passion for comprehension and love,
not primarily for the man sitting be-
fore her. She added simply: And
for my dream I'd give all tho wealth,
all the love, have"
The room was very still. Aleck Van
Camp sat quiet and grave. his fore.
head resting on his hand. He looked
up. finally. at Melanie. who was be.
side him. pale and quite worn.
Poor child! You needed me more
than l thought" was what he said.
But Melanie had not quite finished
mo. that 10 not enough. that I should
need you. You must also need me
want what alone can give you. match
my love with yours. And this.
think. you do not do. You calculate
you remain cool. you plan your life
like n campaign. and am part OF your
equipment You are thousand times
better than Count Lorenzo. but I think
your principles OF reasoning are tho
same. You do not love me enough
and that Is why | can not say yes"
Aieck had taken this last blow
standing. He walked slowly around
and stood before Mclanie. much as he
had stood before her when he nrsi
asked her to marry him: and this
time. M he looked down on her fair
noss. there was infinite gcntieness and
patience and love In his eyes. Hs
bent over. lifted Meianie's two hands
! and drew her bodily out OF hcr seat
She was impasrivc. Her quick alert
ness. her vitality. her passionate seri
ousncss. had slipped away. Alcck pu,
his arms around her very tcndcriy
and kissed her lips; not n lovers kiss
exactly. and yet nothing else. Then
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