The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-07

fine head erect without haughti-
ness; his dark eyes under their
heavy lids had the same eagle
glance. He was still, she con-
cluded dispassionately. the hand
soonest man she had ever seen,
even for an Austrian, the hand
soonest race on earth; he combined
high intelligence with classic re.
gularity of feature, grace, dignity;
and when the firm lips relaxed he
had a delightful smile. II it had
not been for his hair. very thick
white hair, he would have passed
for little over forty. He wore
loose gray travelling clothes. and
every detail was as quietly fault
less as ever.
She went hastily to the speckled
mirror beneath the antlers and
surveyed herself anxiously. Her
own travelling suit of dark green
tweed, with it's white silk shirt,
was as carelessly perfect as his
own, and the little green turban,
with its shaded. dropping feather.
extremely becoming. No color
set off her fairness like green, but
she turned away with a sigh. Ii
was not the eyes of the past three
days that looked back at her.
And then she remembered that
he had not seen her since the
renaissance. The moment was
not without its excitements.
Their meeting was excessively
formal.
Frau Grafin."
"Excellenz."
She lifted her hand. He raised
it to his lips.
And then he drew back and
looked at her with penetrating but
smiling eyes.
1T had heard. of course" he
said CALAMITY, but 1 hardly was
prepared. May say. Frau
Grafin, that you look younger
than when had the pleasure of
meeting you first?"
IT assure you that / feel many
years younger" she replied light
ly. May / add that am de-
lighted to see that you are in the
best of health? Your rest in
Switzerland has done you good, al
though it would have been better
for Austria had it been shorter.
Shall we sit down."
Two tall dlgnified bodies ad-
iusted themselves to chairs both
slippery and bumpy. He had
closed the door behind him.
Now that the amenities are
over, Excellenz," she said with the
briskness she had picked up from
her American friends, 'let us come
to the point. 1 infer you did not
take days journey and put up
with this abdominable hotel to
tell me that you are forming o
Federation of Austria and the
South German States. You were
sometimes kind enough to ask my
help in the past, but I have no
influence in Washington
mo. dear Grafin do not need
your assistance in Washington.
But do need it in Austria, and
that is why am here"
But it is--was-my intention
to return to Austria almost i'm.
mediately. Surely Judge Trent
must have told YOU
Other Things
Eyes. dear Grafin, he. told me.
but he also told me other things.
shall not waste the little time at
our disposal in diplomacy. He
told ME that you have the inten.
ton to marry young American"
There was the faintest accent on
the young.
Mary was annoyed to feel her.
self flushing, but she answered
coldly. "It is quite true that in
tend to marry Mr.. Clavering."
And have come here to ask
you to renounce that intention and
to marry me instead"
YOU Mary almost rose from
her chair. What on earth do you
mean?"
MY dear Marie" He re-
nounced formalities abruptly. IT
think you will be able to re-
call that whether 1 wrapped my
meaning in diplomatic phrases
or conveyed it by the blunter
method, it was always sufficiently
clear to the trained understand
ing. have never known a more
trained or acute understanding
than yours. wish you to marry
me, and I beg you to listen to my
reasons"
She gave the little foreign shrug
she had almost forgotten. IT will
listen, of course. Need I add that
I am highly honored? were
not so astonished. no doubt
should be more properly apprecia-
tive of that honor. Pray let me
hear the reasons" Her tone was
satirical, but she was beginning to
feel vaguely uneasy.
Neither her words nor her in.
Elections ruffled the calm Of that
long, immobile face with its half
yelled nowerfI,l ava.