The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-25

her hat and the sea breeze just ruff1ed
the little golden tendrils round her
forehead. They were, hardly darker
than the frail sea peoples she was car
rying in her hand.
Because ! am not worthy of you. I
don't know why you should love me,
Diana"
But you love me? or you say SO"
"Ah, do not! l worship you. IL
feel should like to kneel and kiss the
hem of your gown,
"Only the hem of my gown" The
eyes, on a level with his own, smiled
frankly into his. The kiss fell-not on
the gown. 1t fired his veins like potent
wine.
Diana, tell me why you love me.
1T could think Of any reason why
you should, l should feel safer"
h frowned a little as If rejecting.
Il think it began when-when /
saved your life. All, If 1 had been too
late, l should never have known what
love meant" Her voice broke on the
word.
You would have loved ONE n
else" he said quickly. He would not
face what underlay his speech.
NO" said Diana quietly, II think
not"
ut is the wrong way round. 1 ought
to have saved your life"
ut is more of the century as it is.
But, Tom. | want you to be very care
full. If yoa have the cramp once, you
are always liable to it again. Promise
me you won't go too far"
Il promise you anything you like"
He was holding down his conscience
with a ruthless hand, but the delicious
gravity that had overcome the smile
she began with mace it struggle hard.
"lsn't 1t time we were going in?
The moon is rising"
lit must be the sun setting. We
have only been here a moment, or an
eternity. Time does not exist in Para
disc"
But it does here. Every n will
be scandalized."
81 wonder whether Eve trimmed her
conduct to suit her neighbors."
"They We're only wild beasts"
"Not tame cats? Kiss me once more.
Diana, l can't believe in 1t. l shall
step out of Paradise into the every
day world ana find it is only a blessed
dream"
"Come back into Paradise again and
dream again."
you see, l thought it was only my
duty to let you know" said the mar
ried mans wife. She had strong no.
tons of duty. and Tom Boston had
once been platonically her property.
"Ihank you. 1t was quite right"
II said at the time it was a most
coarse and impertinent wager, but
most men are horrid about women"
Diana said nothing. Perhaps she
was too busy watching the silvery
path the now risen moon made on the
water.
$50 when l saw you walking with
him l thought you ought to know. 1
was sure YOU wouldn't encourage his
attentions for an instant if you knew"
"You We're quite right said Diana
again.
"If girls had any idea Of the way
men talk in clubs and smoking rooms
they would eve marry. never"
II think not" said Diana. and
laughed.
She was standing by the open win
dow, and the fading yellow peoples
fell FROM her hand to the road be-
meath.
what a heavenly night" said the
married mans wife. coming over to
her. You are shivering! Have you
caught coldy'
"Oh, no." said Diana. "It-it is the
change of atmospheric"
But let me explain. Give me at
least a hearing! Diana, you shall hear
mew
She did not even draw the gown
from the grasp he held upon it. but the
scorn in her eyes took all power of
defense from him.
Explain? You made me the subject
of a vile jest. You triumphed in your
miserable success. When you can ex-
plain that away, will believe in
your
Diana, set any penance on me, try
me as YOU will. swear l love you.!"
Love! What do you know of love:
You have slammed, tricked, insulted
me, but YOU shall not degrade me with
your love. And l thought-oh, if i
were but a man! But you are too pitt
full for revenge! Only never dare to
speak to me AGAIN.
She turned and left him in the sun
light, and he watched her go, speech
less and hopeless, for in very truth he
loved her.
"Well, that's over" he said aloud.
but his laugh was not steady. 1T
seems to me l have played the part Of
Actaeon with singular success" and
then, under his breath, "Ch. what a
cursed, despicable fool q man can bel"
Cincinnati Enquirer.