The Lighted Match

two with the hounds, then strayed aim

your other side. You have made a very brave effort to talk to me. Ah, I know-" raising a slender hand to still his p

lite," he

she wickedly

ara was listening to something that Benton was sayi

the bore, near the head of the table; O'Barreton, who must be tolerated b

admiration for Van because he's distantly related to n

not myself a sovereign with the right on election day to stand

id you acquire your gorgeous r

about it. Do you think the

is still before the house," interrupted O'Barr

Van, but O'Barreton was

pigrammatic," he persis

rmenting guest, he explained carefully: "Once upon a time the Earl of Dundredge had three daughters. The eldest-my mother-married an American husband. The second married an Englishman-she is the mother of my

tablecloth with a salt-spoon, fo

al status of your Aunt Maritzburg," object

of a grand duchy, which he did not want, and compelled him to relinquish the mahl-stick and brushes which he loved. My aunt was his grand-duchess-consort, and until her

ngly purposeless eye, keenly alert for a black gown, a red rose, and a girl whom

ssly roving eyes, like a hunter searching a jungle. The foreigner paused with o

A fitful breeze brought down the dead leaves in swirling eddies. The moon was under a cloud-bank when, a quarter of a mile from the house, he left the smooth lawns and plunged among

en leg or worse might be the penalty of a misstep in the darkness. The humor seized him to sit on a great rock which dropped down twenty feet to the creek bed, and listen to the quieting music of its

ir, don't

Then the moon broke out once more and the place became one of silver light and dark, soft shadow-blots. She was sitting with her back against a tree, her knees gathered between h

ing down, and

ed. "What are you

r than four walls. The moon has been wonderful, Sir Gray Eyes-as bright and dark as life; radiant a little whi

eet and propping himself on one elbow, "have been sitting in the c

is!" she laughed. "I didn't app

IR, DON'T

here in these woods, and

ed frankly up at hi

or you." He sp

he inqui

o her eyes. "For many reasons," he said.

looked straight away across the clearing. The moon was bright now, and

d slightly. He bent forward and folded the ca

you," he repea

laid her hand on his arm. It trembled violently under her touch. "And, oh, boy," she b

ry close, and his tone was almo

ant to

an impulse stronger than one's self, she leaned forward and placed a hand on each

en, with a break in her voice: "Oh, you

about her, and was vaguely conscious that his lips were smothering some words

ng heart which beat back of a crushed rose in the lithe being he held in his a

find it so hard

nt with her hands

she said faintly. "You have not

right," he announ

d. "Not when the

droop at the corners of her

words came slowly with labored calm, almost as if she were reciting memorized lines. "It sounds simple from your point of view. It is simple from mine, but desperately hard. Love is not the only thing. To some of us

o keep a promise that your heart

would always love you-that I would never love him. Besides, he must d

y drew his handkerchief from his cuff, and w

head. "No, his name

raised a hand to wave him bac

are certain of th

u doub

id, "I don'

in the silvering radiance of the moonlight she could se

lung both arms

onately. "Don't look lik

ment, I shall look precisely

disguise.... It is my father who is the Grand Duke of Maritzburg, and it is ordained that I shall marry Prince Karyl of Galavia.... It was Von Ritz's mission to remind me of my slavery." Her voice rose in sudden protest. "Every peasant girl in the vineyards may select her own lover, but I m

re you crying, Cara, d

u believe there are more lives-other incarnations-tha

Galavia yet by a good bit. There's a fairly husky American an

he inexorable call of it, as my father saw it when he left his studio in Paris for a thro

either spoke. Then she took the r

a pitifully forced smile. "I don't want to

s arms, and she o

," he said. "To-day you

ce down. "I shall never do this with anyone else,"

ned together to

to the scene in the foreigner's room, and he thought he began to understand. "He is a man.

not come," sh

?" he demanded with sud

solely, you, Mr. Mon

for a clock striking two and the distant crowing of a c

tly: "But you are stu

hat?" he

. Pagratide's real nam