Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-08-29
nobody could have told that she had
gone through a terrible ordeal.


long absence from the hall. When
she me- Astra she felicitated her on
the success Of the concert.
When the guests had left, Astra and
the countess retired into the little
that was reserved for family
occasions.
"You will soon be the happiest
woman on earth, my DEAR" remarked
Roeitta, casually.
II am happy now, my dear girl"
smiled Astra.
'The gods have given you a Won
derful temperament, my dear Astra.
You, with you calm, serene nature.
were created to be happy. You sim
ply shed the difficulties of life."
"Why, dear, are you unhappy"
Unhappy" A sigh escaped the
countess lips, a spark Of fire cleaned
in her eyes, then a smile parted her
coral lips. "a person with a tempera-
ment like mine never could be happy.
NY selfish mind Graves just the thing
some one else has, and If I should
rob that person l would get tired Of
tt10 OUJ6CI duQ Cd6l II away 0AO
looked at Astra, but Astra only smiled
serenely, not taking Rositta's remarks
seriously.
Such is my fate, my dear. Tell
me, am 1 responsible for being such
an unhappy combination? Am l to
be judged by the same Measure as
you, who cannot help but be good?"
1--WE all have passions. Mine are
for liberty, peace"
Liberty, peace" repeated Rositta,
then relapsed into bought. Had Astra
been able to read those thoughts, she
would have had cause for alarm. Her
brain was filled with war, destruction
and mourning all over the world.
The next evening Rositta returned
to Ciryne, with Santos at the wheel
of the a~erodromone.
Napoleon and Astra watched the
great bird disappear in the western
sky, and then hey walked silently to
a seat that overlooked the city. Ma
poleon talked for the first time about
his love for her. Astra was calm. but
she rose quietly and stood looking at
the p~ulsating city below them. Their
love had been understood between
them, although they had never spoken
of 1t. Yet 1t made her heart throb
with happiness to hear his tender
words. He rose and gently taking
her arm, they walked among the
plants that grew on the roof. A faint
sound Of music came to their ears.
Have you ever thought of the flu.
ture?" asked Napoleon, after a silence.
II have, Napoleon. l have thought,
that when we have finished our task,
when we have done the things my
father wished done for the good of the
United Republics, then we may retire
to that little island where YOU mother
t1Rm and rest and be happy until the
end Of u days. There your genius
will create new, useful things that
will make humanity happier, things
that will help eradicate poverty and
misery"
Dear girl! I have a premonition
that the days you dream of are still
far off; that those in~triguers in Eu-
rope are planning and scheming and
that when we least expect it, trouble
will begin. For that reason, I believe
1t best to plan our marriage now.
Some Of the testers over the ocean
have already begun to discuss u sit
uation with heartless cynicism."
They stopped and stood silent for a
moment, then Astra leaned her head
on Napoleon's shoulder and tenderly
and lovingly she whispered:
"Your thought is my thought; ! will
follow wherever you lead"
In the meantime the aerodromone
was rapidly nearing Ciryne.
Rositta had sat motionless for a
short time, her mind revolving all the
details of her plan.
Santos sat with his hands on the
wheel, eyes straight forward, watching
the faint yeflowish glow that marked
the horizon. His heart throbbed with
happiness. He felt the presence Of
the woman who was playing with him.
"Mr. Duprel!"
The dreaming man turned toward
the picture of his dreams, letting the
bird fly it's steady, rapid course.
"Will you answer me a question,
Mr.. Duprel?" she asked a~ppealingly.
"As many, countess, as you wish to
ask"
First of all, please call me Rositta
and / will call you Santos"
Santos nodded. He had no more
power to analyze her motives. he
wanted to believe in the things that
were happening.
"Were you ever in love friend
Santos?" She looked impishly into
Santos astonished eyes.
Il never was BEFORE" he stammered.
Then you are now?"
Santos suddenly felt that weakness
that enveloped him in the presence OF
the fair countess leave him: his deep
love had made him brave.