Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-10

though if YOU were a different sort OF
man / should say that she We're far
100 attractive to be your guest here.
I have not. however, the foolish jeal-
ousies OF other women. You have APP
yreciated that, trust, my friend.
Il have never discovered anything
small about you. Stephanie." IIargrave
told her. but with reference to my
-suest-my ward, might call her
I'VE talk Of lesser things later, she
interrupted. II come direct 10 YOU
from Rome, Efargrave, and | bring
Gings which are hot good.
FIargrave looked I'D quickly. She
leaned across the table and laid her
hand upon his arm, a touch that was
almost caress. Her eyes ioohen mo
his sorrowfully, such beautiful eyes
they We're, OF the deeper shade OF VIC
let with a little fleck almost OF purple
IN their inner depths.
81 cannot blame the prince. she
continued He is a proud man and
the Putralkas have never tolerated
divorce. He lives according TO MS
lights Heaven knows that in any
ordinary world | need only point to
= wear of his life and the civil courts
would give me such liberty as | chose.
hut among lS other ideas prevail lie
las forestaIled me il Rome. ! dld
my best. but in vain. ] may live the
ne il seems OF those OtherS-the HE
of a wanton. ii | WilI-but l may not
.-looSe Il man / care for and take AIS
l@me.
Hargravc was silent. II all seemed
50 much like an echo Of a life that
lad passed For wears society in
i'lris ana the Riviera and Italy mao
taken 1t for granted that he ana
Stephanie Putralka We're il love with
one another, that 1T some day or other
must come a crisis in their ahalrs-
And until this year HargraVe Won
tered, startled to find how familiar
she idea was, whether he, too, had not
taken 1t for granted, whether II 1t
we're not for the coming of Violet he
would not have listened to the
,,rincess' story with different feelings.
lie remembered the time. as he sat
there. when he had pleaded with her
earnestly enou1h for little more
I,indness. and all that she had asked
for was time. He found himself spec
ulating as to what he would have done
if she had come back to him radiant
and offered him her future.
I'VE go to your little SALON. she
suggested, rising. Your servants
will he here.
They passed into the smaller apart
,,,nrt Hargrave attended her with
cushions. drew up a small table with
cigarettes to her side, and generally
devoted himself to her comfort. She
drew him down by her slde ana kept
his hand in hers.
so. nv friend. you see," she said,
there comes now a crisis in our at
fairs. l have not spared words with
my husband. He came on board the
Yacht the morning I left Civita
vecchia, and l spoke to him plainly
You have the power 1t appears
told him, to keep me bearing your
name. to prevent my seeking that
freedom to which my eight years Oh
lonely life would seem to entitle me,
Int YOU cannot control my fidelity.
And what did he say to that?"
Ifargrave asked.
"He only smilod-that quiet mad
dening smile of his. Stcphanie, he
laid, L do not need to control that.
Your pride IS my surest ally
His point OF view" Hargrave re-
marked. seems ingenious. but a little
selfish"
Not only that" she said, but it
forces me into a position where l. too,
must be selfish or ] must make a
sacrifice. Last night the wind fell and
I sat on deck in a sheltered corner
alone with myself and the stars, and
! faced this matter out. l asked my
self where really lay my obligations
and came to q certain decision. 1t
was a cowardly one. perhaps, but it
has logic. it has q certain amount Of
justice. Can you divine it, l wonder?"
How should II" he answered
gravely
Il decided" she went on, ITO tell
YOU everything and to let you choose.
30 not speak in a hurry, plea Sc" she
legged. La not answer me today or
tomorrow. J have never, it is true,
dreamed Of taking a lover, and Yet I
always knew that If ever did it would
lie you. Now | am forced into this
position. If there is to be anything
uf happiness in my life, of companion
ship, of love. ii must come with sacri
fice and 1t must come through you.
DO not for a moment think that it is
not In my mind that I owe you much.
You have given me many years Of de-
votion and asked very little In return.
The time has come when If you ask
for more 1t is yours"
"At a price, she nlurmured.
''It IS a side of the question" she
admitted graveiy, which cannot be
.SUoEsd. a. ~ price Of many things