Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-10

other face and another voice, yet still, she
| was herself.
As in a storm the thunder claps come
crashing through the air, deafening and ap.
palling at first, then rolling swiftly into a
far distance, fainter and fainter, till all is
still, and only the plash of the fast-falling
rain is heard, 50 as she listened the tempes,
of her pain was passing away. EIsier aad
easier it became to hear herself called
Beatrice, easier and easier it grew to take
that others place, to accept the kiss, the
touch. the word, the pressure of the hand
that, were all another's due, and given TO
herself only for the mask she wore in his
dream.
And the tide of the great temptation rose,
and fell little, and rose higher neain each
time, till it washed the fragile feet of the
last good thought that fingered, taking
refuge on the highest point above the waves
On and on 1t came, receding and coming
back, higher and higher, surer and surer.
Had she drawn back in time, it
would have been SO easy. Had she turned
and fed when the first moment of senseless
joy was over, when she could still feel all
the shame and blush for AL the abasement,
it would have been over now, and she would
have been safe. But she had learned to look
upon the advancing water, and the sound OF
it had no more terror for her. 1t was very
high now. Presently il would climb higher,
and close abaye her head.
There were long intervals Of silence now.
The first rush of his speech had spent itself,
for he had told her much and she had heard
it all, even through the mists Of her chang
ing moods. And now that he was SILENT
she longed to hear him speak again. She
could never weary o; that voice. 1t had
been music TO her in the days when il had
been full of cold indiference-now each
vibration reused high harmpnies in her
heart, each note was q full chord, and all
the chords made but ore great progression.
She longed to hear it all again, wondering
greatly how it could never have been not
good to hear.
Then with the greater temptation came
the less, enclosed within it. suddenly re-
veaied to her. There was bnt one thing she
hated in it all. Thst was the name. Would
he not give her anether-her own, perhaps?
She trembled as she thought of speaking.
Would she still hoye Beltrice's voice?
Might not her own break down the spell aud
destroy all at once? Yet she had spoken
once before. She had told him that she
loved him, aud be had not been unde-
eeived.
beloved" she said at last. lingering on
the single word. and then hesitating.
He looked into her face as he drew her to
him, with happy eyes. She might speak,
then. for he would hear tones not hers.
Beloved, am tired of my name. Will
you cali me by another?" She spoke very
softly.
"By another name?" he exclaimed, sur
prised, but smiling at what seemed strange
caprice.
''Yes. 1t is sad name to me. 1t re-
minds me of many things-of time that is
better forgotten, since II is gone. viii you
do it for me2 1t will make it seem as
though that time had never beeB."
"And yet / love your own name" he |
said, thoaghtfully. III is SO Buch-or has !
been so much in oil these years. when had /,
nothing but your name to love-"
will you not do a? 1t Is all ask"
''lndeed, will, ii yen would rather have |
IL so. Do you think there is anything that !
I would not do, If you asked it OF me?"
They were almost the words she had !
spoken 10 Dim that night VIXEN they were !
together by Israel Kafka's side. |
She recognized them. and a. strange thrill of |
triumph ran through her. What matter |
how? What matter where? The old, reck- |
less questions came to her mind again. If
he loved her, and if he would but call her |
Unoraa, What could if matter, Indeed? Was |
she not herselH She smiled upconsciously. |
81 see it pl-ases you" be said, teBderly. |
Lei il be as you wish. What name vail |
you choose for your dear seii?"
She hesitated. She could not tell how far !
he might Fememser what was past And |