The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-26
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

waves broke WITH H~Isicai ulohCoony
upon the pebbly beach Ihey hsd ahgnt,
CANAAN had taken up his quarters, when
tine Prince suggested to Lame that they
ehouId 90 for a stroll, as 1T was still early.
10 this She assented, and the Captain,
went indoors and sat alone, Silent anu
bordering, while they crossed the oeserteo
esplanade togetner anu WaiAeo III 'no
moonlight by the shore.
ssSosyou have enjoyed yourself ton1ghG
ma r,eTite2'' Zertho said, after they had
been chatting soma time. ..o.
Trnmensely,'' she answered. "Carnl-
val is not fresh to me. but 1T is always
amusing Every Niools enjoys 10 $50 SO
thorouohly. L love these gay, happy, con-
tepted people who are still ltallan al,
thomeh French. They are SO different
from the English. ;,
l.You hated them once, remember,
he observed, with a smile, pauslng to
hight cigarette.
Ali SRat was in the evil days. Ones
enjoyment Is always gaueeo W ono
TThen according to that theory l ought
tn have a larger measure OF this Worlas
measures than the majority of people
ehs's
"AS' no. Lame" he .sighed, becoming
Suddenly grave. iTrue have wealth,
hnuse in Brussels, an estate in Luxem-
bourg. a yacht in yonder port, and villa
here upon this Promenade, yet stnere is
one thing I lack to render my happiness
complete. o.,,ou srr
prissd at the unusual tone of sadness in
his voice. Her smiling lips suddenly
ouiyered with a momentary dread-a
dread of something she could not quito
define
and of the place. and with slight COURT
eous wave of the hand invited her to SIT.
Slowly she did as she was bid, and await
ed bis reply.
If have not yet found any woman to
suficieptly care for me, he answered at
last. In quiet, impressive tone.
'tYon .wln surely have no d1mculty,
she.said with strange ring in her voice.
She had not suspected that he possessed
grain of sentiment, for long ago she had
notjoed that he was entirely unimpress.
ionahie where the charms of women were
Tis manner suddenly changed. He
SANG into the seat beside her. saying,
"There is something, Liane, l want to
say 60 you. I've said it 80 often to my.
seif That / feel as if you must know it"
She sat quite still. He had grasped her
small hand in his, and she let him keep
it, questioning his faoo with beWlldered
gaze.
lyon must know-you must have
euessed--" She turned pale. but out
wardly quellec the panic that sent the
blood to her heart. 6 must tell you the
truth now love you."
With a sudden movement she freed her
hand and drew away from him.
ftMei'' she gasped. Whatever potential
completely had lurked in her heart, his
words brought her only unreasonable
he BENT towards her again. "Yes,
She felt his hot breath upon her cheek,
and put up her hand with an imploring
GESTURE. He looked at her with almost
frenzied admiration, as If it were only
With fierce resolve that he restrained him.
self from seizing her in his arms and
closing her mouth with burning kisses.
His whole frame quivered in the fury OF
repressed excitement. insomuch that She
shrank from him with involuntary ter
ror.
makes me repugnant to your he asked
quickly.
you are not repugnant at ALL" she
nant ONLY am Indifferent
'Yon mean that you don't care about
me one way or the other"
She shut her lips tight. Hers was not
a nature Sd passionate as that of most
Southrons, but loving one; feeling with
her was not single simple emotion, but
q complicated one of many impulses-Of
self -difiidences, of deep, strange aspira-
tions that she herself could scarcely I'M.
derstand-a woman's pride, the delight of
compauionship and sympathy and of the
guidance of stronger will; longing for
better things. All these things were
there. But beside them were thoughts
of the man she had vowed she loved, tho
man who was ruined and who could not
for years hope to make her his wife. She
looked at the glitteIing moon-lit sea.
with the Garoupe light steadily burning
in the far distance at Antilles, but no an
swer escaped her lips. The silence of
night was complete save for the rhythmic
swish of the waves at their feet.
At last, after long pause, her words
came again, shudderingly; "Oh, what
have you done2'
"By heaven p he said, with vague
smile, 81 don't know. l hope no harm.
"Oh, don't laugh ~ she cried, laughing
Historically herself. "UnIess you want
me to think you the greatest wretch in
the world.
OPP he responded. "What do you
meant"
"You know you are fooling me-" she
answered reproachfully. you cannot
nut your hand on your heart and swear
that you actually love me"
A quick look of dispIeasure crossed his
face, but his back was towards the moon
and she did not notice it,
"Yes-yes, CAM will, +" he answered.
"You must have known it, Liane I've
besn abrupt, know. and I've startled
you, but II you love me you must attri-
butte that to my loving you SO long before
I have spoken"
Her troubled brast heaved and fell be-
meath her rich fur; she gazed at him
with parted lips.
SIT is question from me to you," he
went on, ''the question of my life.
"No, don't think So" she protested,
"please, don't ask it, ="
'Then don't answer it, Lame. Wait
let me wait. Ask yourself
81 know my own mind already I" she
said slowly, with eernestness; then per-
ceiying, as suddenly as she had all the
rest, how considered her assertion might
appear, she went on, still with the quiet
ness of clear seeing and truth-telling:
"things come clear to me in an instant,
This does, that could not have thought
d. l am already hetrothed to another;
lat is why cannot accept"
"You can't expect me to be satisfied
with that" he answered. 81, who know
myself, and who see you as you do not