Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-16

Her large eyes fell on me, and opened
slightly wider, showing ct once recogni-
| ton and not unpleasant surprise.
| bowed very low, partly to conceal the
| flush that felt mounting to my face.
Pardon me, Mile. d'Arency," / said,
in voice as steady as | could make it.
| Then looked at her and saw her fea
lures assuming an expression of such
GOODNESS and astonishment that for some
time neither my tongue nor my mind
| could continue the speech, nor could
| move step in retreat All the while
she kept her eyes upon me.
drew deep breath at last, and said
in desperation:
DOUBTLESS | ought not to address
YOU, being unknown TO you, but IT you
will permit me, ! will go and bring
| Nj. de Rilly, who will present me-
Her face softened somewhat, and she
looked amused. You seem quite able to
present yourself, she said
was immensely relieved at this melt
ing of the ice, Just when i was beginning
to feel that | was becoming a spectacle.
al am Ernanton de Launay, Sieur de
la Tournoire," | said, and TO fill up the
embarrassing pause that followed, /
added, "and being Huguenot, | am a
nobody in Paris,-in fact, mere volun-
teer in the French Guards. "
"WelI, Monsieur Guardsman, what
do YOU wish to say to me?"
She was now in quite pleasant,
uuizzical mood
Il trust YOU do not expect me to say
Il in one word, ! answered; and then ]
lowered my voice, cor in a single inter
view"
''It does not matter how many inter
views it requires, if it is interesting,
she answered nonchalantly
"Alasr | said II fear il is story
which many others have told YOU
"An old story may seem new, when il
comes from new lips.
"And when it is new to the lips that
tell il. as mine is. Actually, have never
before made confession Of love.
"Am ] to understand that you are
about to make one now?
Have not already made it?'' | said
We now stood quite apart from all
others in the gallery, unnoticed by them
and our voices had fallen almost to a
whisper.
She smiled, as if refusing 70 take my
words seriously.
making any confession of love whatever,
she said, you have certainly made up
for the delay by the speed which you use
in making your first.
"On the contrary, have had my
confession ready for a long time, as my
love has existed for n long time
waited only 10 meet its object, the
woman Of whom had formed the ideal
in my mind.
She looked as il about 10 burst into a
laugh: but she changed her mind, and
regarded me with look OF inquiry. as il
she would read my heart The smile
was still on her lips yet she spoke gravely
when she said.
Monsieur. | cannot make you out.
If You are as sincere as you are orlglna.
but | must go TO the Queen-motheT
now Tomorrow afternoon. ] shall walk
In the gardens of the Tulerles, if the
weather is clear.
But one moment, | beg M.de Nov
ard, he is in love with YOU, is he not?
Her face again took on its mockng
look Il have not asked him, she said
lightly. Then she regarded me with
new and peculiar exp- ssion, as if some
daring idea had come into her mind,
some pfoleCl WHICH iidu " W liiCdlbaAtu
upon before it might be safely breathed
You look at me strangely, made
moiselle F"
"Oh, / merely wonder at your curlo-
sitv in regard to NJ. de Noyard. /"
My curiosity is not in regard TO his
feelings, but in regard to yours
Monsieur, she said. with a very
captivating air of reproach, have ! not
told YOU that shall walk in the gardens
of the Tuileries tomorrow afternoon
And she glided away, leaving behind
her the most delighted and conceited
Young man, at that moment, in France
cTo be continued