Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-04-25

Serve luncheon 10 Madame heyniof
alone. / ShRll wait; and you'll have
to wait. too, poor mani" She looked
scrutiniEingly ct Aleck. "or are you.
perhaps, hungry I'm not going to talk
to q hungry man." she announced
Not q bite TIL I've heard chapter
thirty-ninel" said Aleck-
In q moment abe became serious
again.
Il have lived in England and here in
America" abe 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 ~inErained in our
habits Of thought, our education. sur
judgment OF life and Of people. Ny
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 l am not In
the least like them
But l, 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 coun'
try than | am now, since It seemed
then that my father would succeed to
the throne. l was brought up to feel
that | was not a woman, but a pawn
In the game of politics. When l had
been out OF the convent for a year or
more, l loved a youth. and was loved
in return, but our marriage wal
laughed at, put aside. declared impos'
sibls. because he was OF a rank In
fsrior to my own. Ny lover disap
peared. know not where or how.
Then Affairs changed. Ny father disd.
and 1t t%ranspirsd that I had been OF
hcially bstrothed siAcs childhood to
Duke Stephens brother. the Count
Lorenzo. The duke was nay guardian.
and there was no one else to whom
could appeal: but the very week set
for the wedding l faced the duke and
declared l would never marry the
count. His Hishness ragged and
stormed. but l told him q few things
| knew about his brother, and made
him see that | was In earnest. The
next day | left Krolvets, and the duke
gave out that | was Ill and had gone
to a health resort; that the wedding
was postponed. | went to France and
had 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. Is Melanle Rey'
, nier."
II know you wish to tell me all
> these things. Melanie. but l do not
want you to recall painful matters OF
the past now" said Aleck gently
l "You shall tell me OF them at another
= time"
The color frightened in Melaniet
2 face. her eyes glowsd.
y mo, not another time; you must un
d derstand now, especially because oil
u this preface leads me to what I really
: want to say to you. II 10 this: d
T not now care for the man I loved a
q nineteen, nor for any Of the other me-
Y of my country who have been please'
to honor me with their regard. Blu
ever since those early days I have ha'
q dream Of q home-a place diferep
r from Duke Stephens home. diYeren
from tho homes of many people OF m.
U rank. My dream has q husband In 1
q who is q companion, = friend, m!
equal In love. my superior II
strength" Melanie's eyes lifted Il
t. meet Alexis, and they we're full OF al
a almost tragic passion; but 1t was
Q passion for comprehension and love
o not primarily for the man sitting b.
p fore her. She added simply: "An'
for my dream I'd give all the wealth
y all the love, l have"
d The room was very still. Aleck VA
IL Camp sat quiet and grave, his fors
head resting on his hand. He looke'
k up, finally, at Melanie. who was b.
r side him, pale and quite worn.
q Poor child! You needed me NOR
I than l thought" wal what he said.
But Melanie had not quite finished
70 "No, that. is not enough, that l shout
le need you. You must also need me
o want what l alone AN give you. matc
ID my love with yours. And this,
70 think, you do not do. You calculate
you remain cool, you plan your III
II like q campaign, and I am part OF you
u equipment. You are . thousand time
It better than Count Lorenzo, but l thin
ID your principles Of reasoning are tn
"a Same. You do not love me enough
and that IL why ! a not say yes"
1e Aleck had taken this last bio
ID standing. He walked slowly Aroun
y, and stood before Melanie. much as b
I'd had stood before her when he fri
asked her to marry him; and TIL
g, time. as he looked down on her fai
ness. there wal infinite gentleness an
L. patience and love in his eyes. H
OF bent over. lifted M~elanie's two hand
and drew her bodily out Of her sea
She was ~impassive. Her quick aler
ness, her vitality. her passionate SCI
he BUSINESS, had slipped away. Aleck p'
20 his arms around her very tender
and kissed her lips; not a lovers XII
or exactly, and yet nothing else. The
It's he looked into her face.
CTO BE CoNTINUED)