Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-04-25
cQh1NW

yet on the whole he was q very cool
Romeo. He was manly, but he was
calculating; he was honorably dis
posed toward matrimony. but he was
not reborn with love. And 90, In the
sober bedroom of the club. he quickly
fell into the good sleep induced By IA
tigus and healthy nerves.
Morning brought counsel and . dis
position to renew operations. A note
wa dispatched to his Diana BY . pr1-
vats messenger. and the boy was bid
den to wait for an nswer It came
presently:
Come at twelve, II you wish.
"MELANIN REYNIER."
Aleck smiled with satisfaction. Here
was a wise venture going through hap
PLY, he hoped. He wal pleased that
she had named the very hour he had
asked for the night before. That was
like her good, frank way Of meeting q
situation, and 1t augured well for the
unknown emergencies Of their future
life. He had little patience with IT,
midity and traditional coyness in WON
en-, and great admiration for an open
and fearless spirit. Melanie's note
almost set his heart humping.
But not quite; and no one under
stood the cool nature Of that organ
better than Melanie herself. The Ia
dina IN tho opar%ponpf AZ Tho Arch.
angel had fingered at their breakfast,
the austerity Of which bad been miti-
F! gated by q center decoration Of or
chids and fern, fresh-touched with
dew; or 30 Madame Reynier had de-
scribed them to Melanie, a. she
brought them to her with the card Of
Mr.. LloydJones. Miss Reynier smiled
family. admired the blossoms and turn
cd away.
The ladies usually spoke French
with each other. though occasionally
Madame Reynier dropped into the
harsher speech Of her native country.
On this morning she did this, telling
Melanie, for the tenth time in a. many
days, that In her opinion they ought
to be going home. Madame consid-
cred this her duty, and felt NO real
responsibility after the statement was
made. Nevertheless, she was glad to
find Melanie disposed to discuss the
matter q little further.
do you wish to 80 home, Auntie. or
is 1t that you think I ought to got"
II don't wish to 60 without you,
child, you know that; and l am very
comfortable here. But his Highness.
your cousin, Is very impatient; ! see
that In every letter from Krolvetz.
You offended him deeply by putting
of your marriage to Count Lorenzo,
and every day now deepens his indig-
nation against you. don't like to dis
cuss these things. Melanie, but I sus-
pect that your action deprives him Of
. very necessary revenue; and I un-
derstand. better than you do. to what
lengths your cousin Is capable Of 60
ing when he IL d~ispleased. You are.
by the law Of your country, his ward
until you marry. Would It not be bet
ter to submit to him in friendship.
rather than to incur his enmityf Aft.
or all, he ID your next Of kin, the head
Of your family. and q very powerful
man. II we are going home at all. va
ought to 60 now.
"But suppose We should decide moi
to go home at ALI"
"You will have to 90 some time, dear
child. You are all alone, except for
me, and in the nature Of things you
can't have me always. Now that you
are young, you think It an easy thing
to break away from the ties of blood
, and birth; but believe me, 1t ISM
easy. You, with your nature, coult
: never do II. The call Of the land II
strong, and the time will come wher
you will long to 60 home, long to ge
back to the land where your father
, led his soldiers, and where your moth
err was admired and loved"
: Madame Reynier paused and watch
. ed her niece, who, with eyes cas-
down, was toying with with her spoon
Suddenly a crimson flush 9 ant
, spread over Melanie's cheeks and fore
t head and neck, and when she looket
up into Madame Reynier's face, sh'
s was gazing through unshed tears
+ She rose quickly. came round to tn
o older woman's chair and kissed he
3 cheek affectionately.
; Dear Auntie, you are very good u
me, and patient, too. It's all true,
I suppose; but the prospect of hom'
and Count Lorenzo together-ah
q well!" she smiled reassuringly ant
again caressed Madame Reynier'
gaunt old face. "1Tl think it all ovel
t Auntie DEAR"
8 Madame Reynier followed Melani
n into her sitting-room, bringing tn
precious orchids in her two hands
fearful lest the fragile vase shout
o fall. Melanie regarded them a me
ment, and then said she thought the
o would do better In the drawing-room.
Z 81 sometimes think the little garde
, pink quite - pretty - IN orchid"