, 1900-12-07

you wln-brought US together, out
here on the waters that you have al
ways loved. And there are no par
riers. We are both free. Today. when
| saw the shOre-line sink Into the wa
ter. and turned and saw you on the
deck? Does it tell you nothing"
She looked back into his eyes with
a shade of amusement in her own.
You were always bored, you know
She laughed. a little, low laugh. then
gently released one hand from his and
drew the tips of her fingers down over
his face. Then she held his square
chin in her hand and regarded him
gravely. You were always bored-al
your life. II was chronic. You were
delighted to see me? OF course. 1t
was a sensation. And sensations are
worth something in this all too prosaic
life Of ours. Don't you know, bore
dom is accountable for far more h la
is generally realized? II the clergy
would only give us a palliative, their
efforts would be so much more fruit
full And | was equally delighted to
see you. |, too, have learned to value
sensations. And you look quite as you
did when l-er-ate of the pomegran-
ate. There is a CLINT of silver around
the temples-but it is becoming. |
could almost think we were back in
that other era when we were so tragic.
We were tragic, were we not? Life
bored you so-and | was a new sensa-
tion-and l loved you with such feel
ing. And, after all. it was pouring wa
ter upo sand. 1t was seeing with a
child's sfaith-Ascension lilies grow
where only cacti were possible"
"No!-by all the gods l."
Never mind Olympia" She
laughed, and lifted her chin with de-
light as the chill wind whipped the
monks hood back from her face and
sent weird Aeolian strains through the
ships rigging.
The Olympian ladies and gentlemen
were persons of very uncertain morals.
And why swear at all? What matter?
All that was prehistoric. 1t was be-
fore the flood. Look at that phantom
ship with every sail set. And the buzz
zard sails on. and comes, and is gone
stately and still as a ship at sea- Do
you remember Lasca? You used to
tell me Lasca when-in the days Of
lang syne.
Then you still-remember?"
Darkly luminous in the faint star
light, the eyes turned from the ship
back to his face.
Remember? Oh, yes. My memory
Is very retentive. remember every
phase-everything."
He leaned nearer and his voice sank.
"And care?" he added.
"M-Yes," the little smile again in
her eyes.
You care-as you did them"
Her gaze went back to the ghostly
ship and she was silent as the black
sails san slowly into the darkness.
Over the battling waters f1oated the
low. irregular tolling of a distant buoy
bell. The waves leaped around them
like leashed hounds, and the rising
wind whistled and shrIeked through
the rigging. His arms closed around
her and through the warning sounds he
whispered. his face close to hers-"I
have loved you-always."
Gently her inger-tips slipped over
his face, then round his throat. Then
his lips rested upon hers.
Presently he raised his head and
looked down into her eyes.
You care-as you did? You will be
my wife7"
A long moment she looked at him.
then very slowly che shook her head.
Il am afraid-it would never do" she
said. You have become fixed in my
mind as a dead and gone episode-a
romance that was and is not. The
commonplace of marriage would be
too complete a revelation. l canno,
imagine you in that role. No, it
would never do"
You mean that you no longer
love-" His voice sounded strained,
and she Interrupted him.
Il mean that l did love-too WE'LL
she said gently.
Then she took his hand between her
two hands and drew 1t down to her
breast, while her lips fingered over his
eyes and brow and hair.
1T is life, my dear" she said, a
shade OF bitterness for the first time in
the serene voice. Il would have gone
to you on my knees owe hot plow-
shares, once. But now-It is five years
too late"
The rising gale shrIeked around
them in gathering fury am she lifted
her face eagerly to the rough wilma.
The roar of the waves had %deepened
to a thunGer, and the ship labored and
quivered in their powerful grasp. She
stretched out her arms to the storm
and flung her loosened hair across his
face and lips.
"Ah, had you loved like that" she
cried. A vivid streak of silver Quiv-
cred in the blackness ahead, and for
an instant the roa of wind and waves
seemed to pause. Then the thunder
broke and rolled over the water in
mighty wave Of sound. Leaning for
ward. he gathered her into his arms
and dragged the heavy monks cloak
around her. Again the lightning
flashed and she looked up into his face.
we will see!" he said through his
teeth.
"Quien sabe?" she laughed. Then
from his arms she watched the storm,
content. And always her eyes laughed