Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-21
CHAPTER XIV.
THE DUG PROPOSES BY PROXY.


THE DUG PROPOSES BY PROXY.
uNN Y dear, you have male rela-
- M tive?" asked the princess.
V Surely, my uncle" Dag
/ L ger replied.
And where is this uncle?"
I'm Texas. I've told you about him. I"
"Ah, yes. But Texas is half world
away. Is there no one nearer? No one
of your blood?"
mo" Dagger was puzzled. why? I
don't need relative, do I. Is 1t dis
respectable for a woman to be without
one in France?"
The princess laughed.
Not at all. But do you not appre-
ciate the situation, child?"
Dagger was more puzzled than ever.
What situation?" she asked.
De Senacs Tante shrugged her
shoulders reSignedly.
But you are not a jeunne fillel You
cannot suppose my Raoul has been i'm
perviouS to your charms?"
Dagger blushed.
II know he likes me- And like him" "
"Ah, ikes!" There was significance
in the emphasis upon the repetition.
And likes?"
"Of course, I do" Dagger attempted
note of amused indignation. 1t didn't
quite come off. "He-he's been very
kind to me-"
More than kind" The princess
bright old eyes dwelt almost fondly
upon the flushed face beside her. you
know, my child-or, seemingly you do
not know-that this conversation Is
quite irregular Things are not man
aged so in our country. in our class.
But Raoul had talked over with me the
situation"
what situation?" Dagger interrupted
| daZedly.
Between you and him." returned the
princess, a trifie impatiently. "A man
and a woman cannot see one another
continually without developing situa-
| ton. That is patent. And between you
| and Raoul the situation has reached q
climax He wishes to ask for your hand
! but first he desired me to discover II
YOU had a relative at hand to whom
! he might address his desire for per-
mission to make his suit"
Dagger was caught up by two oppos-
| ing temptations-to laugh and to cry
But I don't love Raoul," she ex-
claimed.
"Tut. what is love?" retorted the
princess. ANY woman could love my
Raoul."
but I don't" insisted Dagger. 81
admire him, like him, respect him
oh, tremendously. But don't love
him."
The Princess Rakovsky brushed thi:
objection aside.
again, 1 ask you what is love? How
many women love the men they marry
when they marry? Do you suppose
| love is essential to marriage? mod
ern convention, my dear, possibly fitting
your American society. but scarcely 1r
! accordance with ours"
ct couldn't marry man I d1dnt
love-" :,
How do you know that you woult
not come to love him?" the princess
asked quietly. ct knew very little o!
Rakovsky when we married, but in the
course of our life together 1 came Il
cherish a genuine affection for him."
Affection" Dagger cried scorntully
81 don't want affection. ] want love
but no mans love could mean anything
to me, now. 1 am through with men
as lovers"
80 you have lovedP" the princess
challenged curiously.
yes" Dagger raised candid eyes Il
hers. IT have loved, and am finished
with love-"
The older woman nodded, as If tx
herself.
"Ah, I thought there was an expert
ence behind that poise Of yours, m!
child. But let us not be too seriou
about it. I say TO you only this: M.
Raoul loves you. He wishes to address
you-"
"Well, why doesn't hep" Dagger de-
manded, petulantly. "I should thinl
he's man enough to take a no from
me directly instead of at second hand.
The princess smiled tolerantly.
"You are not familiar with oul
French customs. It is not au fat fol
a man to address directly the woman
of his choice. First, he must approach
her nearest male relative and ANNOUNCED
his intentions. Next, there are various
| incidental matters to be settled. Ont