Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-30
UNDER TWO FLAGS
By "OUIDA.p .p

Eaid only wanted tenderness to make it perfect changed, moved, was quickened with a thousand shadows of thought.
 seThe box is mineI I gave it! And youg'
 He rose to his feet and stood entranc- ed before her, breathless and mute.
 ssAnd you?" she repeated.
 He was silent still, gazing at her. He xnew her now. How had he been so blind as never to guess the truth be fore, as never to know that those inn perfal eyes and that diadem of golden hair could belong alone but to the wo- men of one race?
 -And you?' she cried once more, while she stretched her hands out to him. And you-you are Philips friend! You are Bertie Cecilr'
 Silently he bowed his head. Not even for his brothers sake or for sake of his pledged word could he have lied to her. But her outstretched hands he would not see, he would not take. The shad- ow of an imputed crime was stretched between them.
 Little queenr' he murmured. Itwas his pet name for her when she was q child. '.Ah, Godl How could be so blind2n
 She grew very pale as she sank back again upon the couch from which she had risen 1t seemed to her as though thousand years had drifted by since she had stood beside this man under the summer leaves of the Stephanien. and he had kissed her childish lips and thanked her for her loving gift. And now they had met thusl
 ssThey thought that you were dead" she said at length, while her voice sank very low. ''Why have you lived like fhisY
 Be made no answer.
 Tt was cruel to Philip" she went on. while her voice still shook. ''Chi1d though was, I remember his passion of grief when the news came that you had lost your life. He has never for gotten you. So often now he will still speak of you! He is in your camp. , We are travelling together. He will be, here this evening. What delight it will give him to know his dearest friend is fivingI But why-why have you kept him ignorant if you were lost to all the world besidey'
 Still he answered her nothing. The truth he could not tell, the lie he would not She paused, waiting reply. Re ceiving none, she spoke once more, her words full of that exquisite softness:
 ''Mr Cecil, diyined rightly. I felt that in all things save in some acci- dent of position we were equals. But why have you condemned yourself to this misery2 Your life il brave, is no- bic, but it must be a constant torture to such as you"
 sLeave my life alone, for Gods sakeE' he said passionateIy. "Tell me of your own-telI me, above all, of his. He loved me, you say? Oh, heaven, he did, better than any creature that ever breathed save the man whose grave Hes yonderI''
 He does sotstill," she answered ea- gerly. Philips is not heart that for gets It is a heart of gold, and the name of his earliest friend is graYen on 1t as deeply now as ever. He thinks you dead. Tonight win be the happiest hour he has ever known when he shall meet you here.
 @Why do you not answer meT' she pursued, while she leaned nearer with wonder and doubt and certain awak- ening dread shadowing the blue Iuster of her eyes, that were bent so, thought fully. so searchingly upon him. 'Is it possible that you have heard of your inheritance. of your title and estates, and that you voluntarily remain a sol dier here2 Lord Royallieu must yield them in the instant you prove your Identity, and in that there could be no difficulty. I remember you we'll now, and Philip, am certain, will only need to see you once to-
 Hush. for pity's sakei Have you never heard-has none ever told you''-
 ''What?'
 He turned from her so that she could not see his face
 world, died with the taint of crime Dn mer's
 "Of crime2v
 T was accused of having forged your brothers name"
 A faint cry escaped her. Her lips grew white, and her eyes darkened and dfIated.
 ~AccusedI But wrongfully?"
 Ills breath came and went in quick, sharp spasms.
 T could not prove that"
 Not prove it? Why2"
 ~I could not''
 "But he-Philip- never believed you guiltyG'
 T cannot tell. He may He must"
 eBut you are notw
 It was not an Interrogation, but an affirmation that rang out in the silver elearness of her voice.
 You are guiltless, whatever circum- stance may have arrayed against you, whatever shadow of evil may have fallen falsely on you. Is it not so?''
 His head bowed low over her hands Rs he took them. In that moment half the bitterness of his doom passed from him. He had at least her faith. He lifted his head and looked her full in the eyes. Her own closed involun- tarfly and filled with tears. She felt that the despair and the patience of that look would haunt her until her dying day.
 .sI was guiltIess, but none could credit it then, none would do so now. Nor cnr1 II aaaE- fO mako fEprn A Slx mo