Evening star., 1928-05-02

NH ing to lecture by Matilde,
VI who was helping her to dress
4 i why do you miStreat Gavan
Starcourt SO yilely?" she had
asked
"Vilely? I am sure treat him with
the greatest consideration"
II leave that to your conscience. Look
into my eyes, Ge-are. Why do you be-
have as you sometimes do. when you
love him with all your hearth"
Il do not love him! cried Gerane
hotly.
THAT is the first time 1 have ever
hood my dear"
well, suppose / do love him-sup-
pose do" fiared the girl defantly.
| Suddenly she covered her face with her
hands. "Oh, Matilde!" she cried, in a
| choked voice. Then she began TO sob.
please don't scold me, Matilde.
Please"
"scold you, my child?" cried the
other why should I scold you?"
"For-for making such fool-of my
| self. /"
Bless your heartl You've never
| shown so much sense In all your 20
| years as you have In the last FIVE min
| utes. l have been waiting for this
knew it was bound to come. You
| love him. Now understand why you
have treated him so horribly at times
| That is the way with women. You will
change your tactics the instant you
are sure that he loves you. Now, let me
tell you something. He loves you"
| Gerane sat up staring incredulously
| He detests mel" she cried. why
shouldn't he?"
| sarzor tt,o L>ast rnarov, II, fFa 1.torId
an unfailing reason"
But he does-I know he does. He
believes caused him to be brought
/ here. He"
He believes nothing of the kind.
II have tried so hard to convince
him that I am sorry he is here.
want him to think that, II I had my
choice, he would be anywhere else but
here Why. Matilde. have told hin
so. II that doesn't prove that L
"It doesn't prove anything" said
| Matilde calmly He isn't made of iron
is he? Women we're made to be lovec
and men to love them. Love is a grea
/ leveler. He is Lord Starcourt he is ar
aristocrat Nevertheless, my dear. 4
you say the word, you can be Lady
Starcourt tomorrow. instead Of Gerant
Davos"
Gerane. her cheeks still wet, sat verJ
still.
II have been unkind to him. Matilde
but never could be as unkind as that.
What do you mean?"
IT love him too much to-well, what
could he say to his mother, his people
when he took his wife to them? No, no
Matilde! would die sooner that put
him in that position. He would have
I fn al - n
a robber. that I have been brought uI
among thieves"
Hush! He may never see his peo.
pie again. Consider-"
Il have been thinking about thai
very thing, Matilde," said Gerane. II
I can persuade father to set him free
! mean, If it can be accomplished with
out exposing the location Of
/ Put that thought out of your mind.
interrupted Matilde
But it can be done, Matilde," argued
Gerane. He can be blindfolded anc
carried many miles from this place i
would not be any easier for him TO finc
ii than it was before. Don't you SET
how simple"
My dear Gerane, but you do no
take into consideration the effect such
a proposition would have upon the mer
and women of this valley. Your father
might be willing TO- turn him loose, bui
do YOU imagine that the rest woulc
conSent? They would kill him, II you OF
your father undertook to set him free
And so, taking everything into con-
sideration. 1t would appear that both
OF you are doomed to live in this hole
lat the top Of the world for long. long
| time. Have pity on the poor fellow
Gerane." She smiled and stroked the
| girls hair. Put him out of his misery
/ Put him out of his misery? Have
/ pity on him9 What do you mean?"
| Marry him, you poor little simple
ton"
Marry" Gerane sprang to her
feet angrily. Don't you dare call me
simpletonl Marry him2 would
rather die than-than do that"
You love him. don't you?"
| That has nothing to do with it.
creid the girl. He thinks badly enough
of me as 1t is. What would he think OF
me. if ordered him to Oh. Ma
tide. couldn't bear the look of scorn
he would"
Nothing could be father from my
thoughts that that you should order
him to marry you. You will not have
to drag him TO the altar. with all the
popuiACe threatening TO run SaDerS into
| him, II he is stubborn. He will beg you
| To-"
Go awayl You make me furious -
Greatly to Starcourt's disappoint-
ment, Gerane did not appear for the
midday meal Matilde explained that
she had Just gone off 10 have dinner
/ with old Heber Dykas, who was still
| laid up from the injury received some
weeks before: there would be no les
| sons that day. so Col Starcourt was 70
be permitted to enjoy the holiday in
| any way he liked.
| A bright idea struck Starcourt. II
shall take q long walk this afternoon.
| Tramping over the snow paths will give
| me splendid appetite. And I'll stop
In to see Heber Dykas on my way back,
poor old chap"
Il am sure he viii be very happy to