Daily inter mountain., 1900-10-10

became silent, watching the light play
ing upon the diamond he had put upon
her hand two years before. He recalled
how His fingers had trembled with
nervous happiness. He had certainly
loved her then. Had she ever loved him?
He looked at her sitting there in the soft
glow Of the freight and a thrill Of ad-
miration beat in his pulses. She was un-
doubtedly the most perfect woman he |
had ever seen. LAS perfect a master
piece in marble and as passionless," he
thought bitterly.
'"rhe business streets of Teheran are
a perfect bedlam," English began hur-
riedly, suddenly becoming aware that
he had not spoken for long time.
There are no sidewalks and every mans
hand is against every other man, woman,
donkey or dog that obstructs his pass
age"
Yes? 1 expect it is intensely inter-
esting.''
"Under that sun it comes nearer to
being intensely exasperating. AS rule,
though. it is a sleepy place. he contin-
ued, talking on in spite of her preoccupa-
ton, because his hour was not yet UP
and he could not in all decency pay
shorter visit. Il had but one adven-
ture.
You had an adventure?" Her pre-
occupation had vanished.
Dane became curiously alert. IA slight
affair. You know it is much as a
Christians life is worth to go into a
Mosque"
"And you went mo, Dane, it was
such daredevil thing TO do" Erie
arose to adjust vase. Her restrained
nerves were beginning to thrill. If he
would only leave before she made an
exhibition of herself by gushing over
man who had a horror of sentiment.
How did you escape?" she asked against
her will.
"Oh, some Of my friends swore that
I was not a Christian. I believe tne.I
testimony was that they had never satn
me do anything that betrayed a follower
of Christ
Extremely kind of them," she remark
ed sarcastically.
"Well, they saved my 1ife."
"By lying about you. Rather coward
ly-"
Nonsense, Erie" Ill.,.
But it was. If the United States can
not protect her citizens save by defam-
ing them I don't care to call myself an
American"
governed by motives of policy and ex-
pedency, sometimes" he said in a light.
happy tone as he arose to stand be side
her. What have you been doing all
these months?" She started a little at
his tone, but answered steadily enough:
Nothing much.' -.
'You have not written me many let
ters."
Erie made no reply. How many times
had she put fierce restraint upon her
self about those selfsame letters.
You were busy perhaps or thought
I was,'' he continued with a stirring
sense of exultation at her silence. "Do
you think anything can ever take the
place of love in a mans life Erie? Oh,
answer me, dear. Do you?"
"No, I suppose not"
II know it cannot, dear. Not if he
loves a superb woman as I love, and
knows that she loves him. he added
softly.
Il do know it now.'
did you ever doubt it?
$50 gravely did doubt it, my darling,
that I told you that romance about the
Mosque"
'':eomance?" she interrupted hurriedly.
Aes and"
ion let $ Ldlk ABOUT 1t any more.
Dane laughed happily and drew her
nearer to him. What shall we talk
about? Suppose you begin by telling
me how much you love me-"
"I cannot"
'Why?"
because could not do that if talked
all the night
"Erle! How Perfect you are" Many
times the dreaded hour slipped around
the dial of the busy time piece before
Dane English relucta ntly arose.
'Well if it must he-good night, DEAR"
Goodnight"
Goodnight. Do you know I can
scarcely realize that this is my dignified,
fastidious swee .hea1t here in-Oh Erie,
dearest, I am line nappiest man in the
whole world"