Man and Maid

"Duchesse, I want someone who would love me passionately, and whom I

could passionately love."

"For that, my poor boy--" and she sighed--"it is not found among young

girls--these things come after one knows, and can discriminate--put them

aside from your thoughts--they are temptations which one resists if one

can, and at all events makes no scandals about.--Love! Mon Dieu, it is

the song of the poets, it cannot happen in the world--with

satisfaction--It must be a pain always--Do your duty to your race, and

your class--and try not to mix up sentiment with it!"

"There is no hope of my finding someone I could really love, then?"

"I do not know--in your own country it may be--here it is the wife of

someone else who holds the charm--and if it were not for tenue society

could not exist.

"All that one must ask of the young is that they act with discretion, so

that they can reach the autumn of life without scandals against their

names--If the Bon Dieu adds love--then they have been indeed

fortunate."

"But Duchesse--with your great heart--have you never loved--?"

Her eyes seemed to grow beautiful and young again--they diffused a

fire--.

"Loved--Nicholas--! All women love once in their lives--happy for them

if it has not burnt their souls in its passage--Happy if the Bon Dieu

has let it merge into love for humanity--" And soft tears dimmed the

dark blue brilliancy.

I leaned forward and kissed her hand with deep devotion--then the

ancient servitor came in and she was called to a ward--but I left

feeling that if there is really some barrier of family between Alathea

and me--there would be no use in my appealing to the Duchesse--Sorrows

she understands--and war and suffering--and self-sacrifice--Love she

understands and passion--and all that appertains thereto--but all these

things go to the wall before the conception of the meaning of noblesse

oblige which ruled when Adelaide de Mont Orgeuil--wedded the Duc de

Courville-Hautevine, in the eighties! The only thing left now was to

telephone to Maurice--.

He came in for a few minutes just before dinner--.

He has questioned Alwood Chester of the American Red Cross, who had told

him that Miss Sharp had been Miss Sharp always while she worked for

them, and that no one knew anything further about her.

Well!--if her father is a convict, and her mother--in a mad house, and

her sister consumptive--I still want her for herself--.

Is that true--Could I face disease and insanity coming into my family--?

I don't know--All I know is that I do not believe whatever curse hangs

over the rest it has touched her--She is the picture of health and

balance and truth--Her every action is noble--and I love her--I love

her--there!