Ainslee's Magazine, February 1913 — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

22 touched him deeply, she asked: ‘What must I call you, please?” “Oh, you sweetest star!” he ex- claimed. “Do not tempt me too strong- ly—I love you wildly, and I want to hold you in my arms and explain every- thing with your little head here on my breast; but I must not—must not yet. Call me Sasha. Say it now that I may hear its sound in your dear voice— and then we must fly, fly back to the lights, or I cannot answer for myself.” She whispered it softly, and a shiver ran through all his tall frame; and he said, with tender masterfulness: _ “Say ‘Sasha, I love you.’” And this she did also, and then he almost brusquely placed her hand upon his arm, and led her among the people and so to her frowning relations; and then he bowed a correct good night. CHAPTER V. No one could have been more sur- prised than the Reverend Eustace Med- licott at the behavior of his betrothed. Far from showing any contrition for her unseemly absence upon the arm of a perfect stranger, and a foreigner to boot, Stella had returned to the fold of her relations’ group with a demure and radiant face; and when Eustace had ventured some querulous reproaches she had cut him short by saying she had done as she wished and did not intend to listen to any remarks about it. “You will have to learn more hum- bleness of mind, my dear child,” he retorted sternly. “I cannot allow you to reply to your future husband in this independent tone.” “T shall just answer as I please,” said Stella, and felt almost inclined to laugh —he looked so cross and amazed. Then she turned and talked to the cousin, Mr. Deanwood, and took no further notice of him. Mr. Medlicott burned with annoy- ance. Stella would really have to be careful, or he would not go on with the match; he had no intention of tak- ing to wife a woman who would defy him. There was Nancy Ruggles ready AINSLEE’S to be his slave—and others besides her. And his career would be just as well assisted by the bishop’s daughter as by Canon Ebley’s niece; even though her uncle was a crotchety and unknown lord, patron of two fat livings. But Stella, with a rebellious little curl loos- ened on her snowy neck, and a rebel- lious pout upon her cherry lips, was so very alluring a creature to call one’s own, the desire of the flesh, which he called by any other name, fought hard with his insulted spirit, though to give in would be too ignominious. She must say she was sorry first, and then he could find it in his heart to forgive her. But the opportunity to show this magnanimity was not vouchsafed to him by fate, for other people were in- troduced to the party by Mr. Dean- wood, and he did not exchange a word alone with his erring fiancée until she said a cold good night in the hall of the Grand Hotel. “Stella, remain for a moment; I wish to speak to you,” he said, in the voice in which he was accustomed to read the burial service. But she feigned not to hear, and fol- lowed her Aunt Caroline’s black velvet tfain on to the lift, and at that same moment a discreet-looking foreign serv- ant came up and handed him a note. He read it in surprise; who could be sending him a note at a quarter past twelve at night? Dear Sir: I shall be greatly obliged if you can spare to me half an hour before re- tiring to your rest, to converse upon a matter of importance. I had the honor of making your acquaintance to-night at your embassy. If you will grant me this favor, I will wait upon you immediately in the hall, or, if you prefer, my sitting room; my servant could conduct you here, and we shall have the advantage of being entirely undisturbed. I remain, sir, yours truly, SasHA RouMovskI. Eustace Medlicott gasped with aston- ishment. This Russian gentleman was evidently in need of his ministrations. and perhaps advice. He would go to his room certainly; there were still some people in the hall having late cof- fee and refreshment after the theater. He indicated by a _ condescending COMNIG NOON (F@