The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-09-21

from her black gown and running in
little streams over her noble shoulders
and strong white arms, the closely
clinging stuff showing every outline Of
her splendid shape.
"You are not hurt anywhere?' she
Queried, quite forgetful of sex.
"No, no. 1t was only cramp." he
murmured. I'll can get to the beach
now. don't know how to thank you
enough
ooh! that's all right" said Diana
easily. Here's boatman coming.
He'll get you some brandy-that's
about the best thing you can have
She turned about and plunged again
into the sea. her golden head growing
less as she neared the shore.
| Tom Bolton Enclosed his left hand
| and looked with smile at a red coral
button.
"Well. I've won my bet. l thought
that would fetch her. and 1t was worth
4 great deal more risk than that How
superb she looked as she stood there
painting. as unconscious of her costume
rs was ever Eve
| II can't quite believe it, Diana. 1t
seems too good to be true"
"WhyT' said Diana. She was wear
ing q white gown, -.> ..... aiken off
her hat and the sea breeze j>:st ruflel
the little golden t, ndrils round her
forehead. They were hardly darker
than the frail sea peoples she was car
rying in her hand.
| Because l am not worthy of you. I
don't know why you should love me,
Diana"
"But you love me? or you say So"
"Ah, l 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 V '' you love me.
If I could think OF j, reason WI
you should, l should feel safer"
She frowned a little as if refectin,
Il think it began when-when
saved your life. All. if l Lad been TIC
late. should never have known VIII:
love meant" Her voice broke on til,
word.
You would have loved some or
else" he said quickly. He would net
face what underlay his speech.
NO" said Diana quietly, 81 think
not
"1t is the wrong way round. 1 ought
to have saved your life"
lit is more Of the century as it is.
But. Tom. | want you to be very care.
full. If you have the cramp once, you
are always liable to it again. Promise
me you won't go too far"
II promise you anything you like
He was holding down his conscience
with ruthless hand. but the delicious
gravity that had overcome the smile
she began with made it struggle hard.
isn't it time we were going in?
The moon is rising"
"It must be the sun setting We
have only been here a moment. or an
eternity. Time does not exist in Para
disc
be ScandaliZed."
81 wonder whether Eve trimmed her
conduct to suit her neighbours"
"They were only wild beasts"
mot tame cats? Kiss me once more.
Diana, / can't believe in it. shall
step out of Paradise into the every
day world and find it is only blessed
dream"
"Come back into Paradise again and
dream again"
| SSVoI1 COO I oplv m n
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.
'Thank you. 1t was quite right
81 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.
was sure you wouldn't encourage his
attentions for an instant if you knew.
"You were quite right" said Dian
again.
eff girls had any idea of the way
men talk in clubs and smoking rooms
they would never marry. never"
Il think not" said Diana. ant
laughed.
She was standing by the open win
dow, and the fading yellow poppie!
fell from her hand to the road be
meath.
what a heavenly nightv' said tn,
married mans wife, coming over t,
her. You are shivering! Have you
caught cold?"
"Oh, no!' said Diana. Tit is tin
change of atmospheric
But let me explain! Give me a
least hearing! Diana, you shall hea
mew
She did not even draw the gowl
from the grasp he held upon it. but tn
scorn in her eyes took all power o
defense from him.
Explain? You made me the subjec
Of a vile jest. You triumphed in you
miserable success. When you can ex
plain that away, l will believe il
your
"Diana, set any penance on me, tr
me as you will. l swear love your
Love! What do you know Of love
You have shamed, tricked, INSULTS
me, but you / not degrade me wit
your love. And l thought-oh, if
were but man! But you are too pit
full for revenge. Only never dare t
speak to me again!'
She turned and left him in the sur
light, and he watched her GO. speech
less and hopeless. for in very truth b
loved her.
well, that's over" he said aloul
but his laugh was AOt steady. II
seems to me have played the part @
Actaeon with singular success an
then, under his breath, "Oh. what