Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-01-30
GO away, sophie,t seaa As,azi.

Serve luncheon to MSlarSs ReynieI
/ alone. shall wait; and yFaIl have
10 wait, too poor mani" She looked
scrutinizingly at Aleck COR are you,
perhaps, hungry? I'm not going to talk
to a hungry man." she announced
Not bite till I've heard chapter
thirty-nine!" said Aleck.
In moment she became serious
again.
- a4ye lived in England and here in
America" she began, long enough to
understand that the differences be-
tween your people and mis@ are more
climate; they are ingrained n 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
! think ] understand your American
women, though l suppose am not In
the least like 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 couh-
try than | am now, since it seemed
then that my father would succeed to
the throne. | was brought up to feel
| that ! was not a woman, but a pawn
in lie game Of politics When l had
been out of the convent for a year or
more, | loved youth, and was loved
| in return, but our marriage war
laughed at, put aside, declared impos
slble, because he was of rank III
| ferior to my own. My lover disaF
| peared, l know not where or how.
] Then affairs changed My father died.
and it transpired that l had been Of
ficially betrothed since childhood Il,
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 sci
for the wedding l faced the duke and
declared l would never marry the
count. His Highness ragged and
stormed, but | told him few things
knew about his brother, and MAIDS
him see that l was in earnest. The
next day ! left Krolvetz, and the duke
gave out that | was i'll and had gore
to 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 l do nc.
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 I'M
derstand now, especially because all
this preface leads me to what | really
want to say to you. 1t is this: I do
not now care for the man l loved Mt
nineteen, nor for any of the other mon
of my country who have been pleased
to honor me with their regard. BIT
ever since those early days l have hs:i
dream of home.-a place different
from Duke Stephens home, different
from the homes of r,#ny people of my
rank. My dream hes husband In 1t
who is a companies, a friend my
equal in love, my superior IN
strength" Melanies eyes lifted to
meet Alexis, and they were full of an
almost tragic passion; but it 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 the wealth.
all the love, have"
The room was very still. Aleck Van
Camp sat quiet ami grave, his fore,
head resting on his hand He looked
up, finally, at Melanfe, who was hD
side him, pale and quite worn.
Poor child! You needed me more
than / thought" was what he said
But Melanie had rot quite finished
mo, that is not enough, that 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 dc. You calculate.
you remain cool, yru plan your life
like campaign, and l am part of your
equipment. You arc thousand times
better than Count Lorenzo, but | think
your principles of reasoning are TIE
same. You do not love me enough
and that is why can not say yes
Aleck had taken this last blow
standing. He walked slowly around
and stood before Melanie, much as he
had stood before her when he first
asked her to marry him; and this
time, as he looked down on her fair.
ness, there was infinite gentleness and
patience and love ic, his eyes. He
bent over, lifted Melsnie's two hands
and drew her bodily out of her seat
She was impressive. Her quick alert.
ness, her vitality, her passionate seri
BUSINESS, had slipped away Aleck put
his arms around her very tenderly
and kissed her lips: not lovers kiss
exactly, and yet nothing else. Then
he looked into her face
(TO BE CONTINUED