The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-08

row, you will take me away-away-
away"
She pauses. a queer sob seems to
choke her.
What is 1t, darling?" says Carlton
anXiously. Her manner seemed forced
unreal
"Oh, nothing" impatiently. But
Constantinople is far away, isn't it?
From this? Well. pretty far. But
in troubled tone, there is something
the matter with you tonight. | can see
it in your eyes. Do you think you
could ever deceive mc?'
Deceive him! a little cold wave
seems to sweep over her She signs in
a broker-hearted way, and two sad
tears run doom her checks.
"Oh, this will never do" says Carl
ton. You are overdone. Your conver-
sation with that silly girl has been too
tcrvlews of that kind again. You are
mine, now, my love, mine" There is
a ring of true triumph in his voice. 1t
restores her. Once again her spirit
flashes out.
"Oh yours" says she. laughing trem-
ulously, whilst still the tears are on
her face. "One would think | was
youT slave
well why not?" with all a happy
lovers insolence. who now shall de-
liver you out of my hand?"
"Who, indeed?' cries she. joyously.
The answer Is very near to them.
side. and she turns. Her pretty hands
are still clasped in his. Her head is
on his heart. His eyes are fixed. on
hers-but her eyes.
One might pray to be delivered from
such q light as now shines in hers.
Thcre-there, where the light from the
open window CLEANS upon the terrace,
they are fXed-staring-wi He had
nc: gone, then!
A man has stumbled from the window
on to the terrace and is coming toward
them. His step is not altogether steady.
He is sufficiently himself, however to
be able to take in the situation at a
glance. and there is malevolence and a
distinct enjoyment of it on his face as
he advances.
MY dear. Clare, your says he, 81
hardly expected to meet you in this re-
mote spot. A friend of yours" He
points deliberately at Carlton. Pray,
introduce me. | am always, my dear
sir, delighted to meet any of Lady
Strangway's friends"
Carlton rises.
ut is a lie"' says he. vehemently,
looking only at Clare. Deny it"' His
voice it stern, commanding.
She, too, has risen.
1T is the truth" says she, in a dying
tone. Leave me now" She looks full
at him, and he can see that her eyes
are brilliant with pain, her lips-her
dear lips, white.
Later on l will explain. But go now
-gow
The voice dies away.
1t is midnight
Upon the terrace Carlton PAGES up
and down, with but one thought in his
mind. To see her, to upbraid her, to
leave her. For moment he rests by
the raiings. and even as he does so
he finds her beside him. She lays her
small white hands upon the railings,
too, very close to his, and looks up at
him with clear, open eyes. There is
no shame in them-no change-nothing
save the old, unalterable love.
"Well?" says she, slowly.
He returns her glance with a terrible
anger in his.
rs 1t your part to question:"
of ha
she, quickly. you can have all the
rest"
And your one?"
She hesitates.
After all. it can wait" says she.
ASK me anything you like now, and
viii answer you" Then, inconse-
quently. as becomes a woman; Does
it seem too bad for you? Can you find
no excuse, knowing all you do? Know
ing-of him?"
Timidly she lays her hand on his, but
he filings it back.
What did you mean? What did
you hope for?"
Il hoped for love--a thing | had
never yet known. | hoped for a hap
piness | had never so much as dared
to dream of before. | hoped"-she
fings up her head-"for life with you,"
He is silent, he is thinking of that
little hand he has flung from him.
II hoped, too says she, quite even
ly, with the evenness of despair, that
once out of the beaten track of the
world the fact of my having hus-
band alive would never be discovered
would, at all events. never reach you.
/ thought, | was sure, he would never
find me!'
"Oh foolH' says he, passionately.
81 know. / know, l known Suddenly,
as 1t came, the wild burst of anguish
dies away, and the dull tranquility that
had characterized her before comes
back. yet one can hope against hope,
and, somehow / never doubted. Fool,
indeed! You have well named me-"
Don't mind what l say tonight"
says he, in the tone of one physically
hurt. Surely their last moments need
not be full of bitterness alone.
She turns to him in troubled sort
of way
"Tonlght?''