The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-06
mean nothing. sho was kind, but SO

tions, the heavy, down drooped lids,
with their long lashcs, casting a shadow
OH her fair cheek, her white fingers
moving swiftly amid her silks and
woois. You must be frightfully bored.
shut up so long?'
Prison. do you call i;?'' he returned
rather unsteadily. at has been more
like IL paradise. can never forget your
kindness, Lady Lexley."
Have l been kind?" she asked, rails
ing her white lids and letting her calm,
gray eyes rest OH his face. "Surely. |
have done no more than any woman
would have done in my place?''
And not more than you would have
done Tor the vericst stranger, he added
rather bitterly. cat the same fine. !
should not like you to think me un-
grateful, especially as must leave Ash.
lcen tomorrow. The regiment is under
orders for foreign service. We sail i'm.
mediately, and after tomorrow il is un.
likely shall SEQ you again, EXCEPT to
say goodby."
His voice was harsh and strained. and
his eyes fell gloomily on the fire. Nc
answer. And us the silence grew pro
longed he turned and looked mt her.
She was quite calm, the tranquility of
her face unnoved.
How cold, how cruelty cold she is!''
he thought hopelcssly. Yet what could
his going be to her but IL matter of com
pletc Indifference? But, all the same. it
seemed bitterly hard, when every fiber
of his being was pulsing with Il passion
ate, hopeless love for her, she should be
so utterly and completely unconscious
and unrcsponsivc.
You will like it?" she said at length,
note of calm Interrogation in her low
tones
ike it!' he echoed rather wildly.
DO you think a man likes leaving all
he holds best and dearest in the world
when going means for him drcaricst cx-
lie into oUtoT darkness? If you can sun
pose such Il thing to be possible, then
like going" with a miserable. Earring
laugh.
Her eyes gazed straight into his, com
pelling and drawing his to meet them
by the very intensity of her gaze. Then.
swiftly folding her work, she rose and
stood with one hand resting Oh the man.
tclpiece, as if to steady herself, still
looking down at him.
"What do You mean?" she questioned
Ill Il very low voice.
II mean I love you," he muttcrcd
rccklessly. "Scorn me, dcspise me,
don't care. I must speak or 1 shall 20
mad, [ think. l mover, God knows.
meant to tell you this, but circumstances
have been too strong for me. I had bet
ter leave your house ut once before You
order me out. s" And sinking his face on
his hands, he brcathed hurriedly.
Silence-tlead silcncc-followcd his
speech, asilencc so intense that he could
almost hear the beating of his heart.
After Il time he raised his head languid-
ly and rested his haggard eyes on her
She had not stirred, except that one
white hand was tightly clinched on her
bosom, crushing the delicate lace of her
gown, while her eyes shone with a
strange light as they met his
All ut once, with sudden, tender
movement, she fell on her knees beside
the couch, and her soft fingers twined
round his. Almost mechanically, in his
great establishment, his heart beating to
suffocation, his arms closed round her
tightly, he drew her close to him. AS he
did so Il long soft sigh escaped her
ooh, my love, " he breathcd very low,
carcssing the soft ripplcS of her hair
that lay against his lips, lis it really?
Do You care little?"
Yes" she whispered, nesting closer
in his arms. Il have cared all along, l
think. Yon have magnctizcd me in some
way. I was drawn TO You irrcsistibly
All the summer was one long dream TO
me because You were there. and saw
you daily. never even tried to cheat
myself with the puerilc belief that the
feeling had for you was platonic, that
mask under which so many try to de
ceive themselves and hide their real feel
ings. No. 1 knew / loved you, and 1
guessed that | was not quite Indifferent
80 You. But you should never have
KNOWN had you not spoken I am too
proud Il woman to wear my heart on my
sleeve. Do you remember the day of
your accident-that fearful day? 1 saw
you fall into tho road, and for one awful
moment of sickening suspense / thought
you were killed. But when [ knew you
were only badly hurt, not dead, l felt I
could not bear that you should be tended
anywhere but here SO that | might look
aftcryon and be your companion i'll your
convalesccncc. And I have been so hap
by during these past wccks'
1t seemed to Gordon his ears must be
playing him false as the sweet voice
faltercd and paused. His queen, whom
he had always thought so cold so caln
was i'll his arms, at his feet Tightening
his arms round her, he bent his face
over hers till his lips met and sought
hers i'll Il long, dclirious kiss. Then IA
prolonged silence cnsucd
The freight had sunk to dull glow,