The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-16

With blinking eyes he saw the timid soldier
budding IN the corner, one arm covering
his face, the other hand vainly striving to
pull the skirt Of a military coat over a pair
of red trouser legs. Below the arm that hid
the eyes and nose he saw parted lips and
a beardless. dainty chin; above. long. dark
tresses strayed in c~ondemning confusion
The breast beneath the blu coat heaved
convulsively.
The match dropped from his fingers, and
as darkness fell again. it hid the soldier in
the strong arms of the fugitive-not a SOL
der bold. but a g~asping. ~blushing. unresist-
ing coward. The 1.-the form quivered and
then became motionless in the fierce,
straining embrace; the head dropped upon
his shoulder, his hot lips caressing the
burning face and pouring wild. incoherent
words into the little ears.
you! You!" he cried, mad with Joy.
"Oh. this is heaven itself! My brave dar-
ling! Mine forever-mine forever! You shall
never leave me now Drive on! Drive ONT
he shouted TO the men outside. drunk with
happiness. Wen make this journey end
less. 1 know you love me now-I know it!
God, 1 shall die with joy"
An arm stole gently about his neck. and
her lips found his in a long, passionate
kiss.
IT did not want you to know! Ach, I am
so sorry! Why, why did 1 come tonight?
was so strong, so firm, I thought. but see
how weak 1 am. You dominate-you own
me, body and soul, in spite Of everything
against my will. I love you'll love you'll
love your
st have won against the princes and the
potentates! 1 was losing hope, my Queen,
losing hope. You were SO far away, so un-
a~ttainable. 1 would brave a thousand
deaths rather than lose this single minute
of my life. 1t makes me the richest maj
in all the world. How brave you are! This
night you have given UP everything for
my sake. You are fleeing with me, away
from all that has been dear to you"
mo, no. You must not be deluded. 1t l.
only for tonight, only till you are safe
from pursuit. 1 shall go back. You must not
hope for more than this hour of weakness,
sweet as it is to me-" she cried.
You are going back and not with me?'
he cried, his heart chilling.
"You know 1 cannot. That is why i
hoped you would never know how much
care for you. Alas. you have found me out
My love was made rash by fear. You could
never have escaped the vengeance of AK
phain. 1 could not have shielded you. This
was the only course and 1 dared not hest
tate. 1 should lave died with terror haC
you gone to trial, knowing what I knew
You will not think me unwomanly for COM
ing with you as 1 am. 1t was necessary
really it was. No one else could have
But he smothered the wall in kisses.
"Unwomanly!' he exclaimed. 1T was by
divine inspiration. But you will come wit
me, away from Graustark. away from ev-
cry one. Say that you will!'
Il cannot bear to hear you plead, and /
breaks my heart to go back there. But
canno leave Graustark-I cannot! 1t woulc
be heaven to go with you to the end of the
world, but 1 have others besides myself t
consider. You are my god, my idol. L can
worship you from my unhappy throne,
from my chamber, from the cell into which
my heart is to retreat. But 1 cannot, L will
not desert Graustark. Not even for your
He was silent, impressed by her nobility,
her loyalty. Although the joy ebbed from
his craving heart, he saw the justice of heI
self-sacrifce
II would give my soul to see your face
now, Yetive. Your soul is in your eyes; }
can feel it. Why did you not let me stay In
prison, meet death and so end all? 1t
would have been better for both of us. !
cannot live without you"
I'VE can live for each other, die for each
other-apart. Distance will not lessen my
love. You know hat it exists; it has been
betrayed to you. Can you not be satisfied
just a little bit-with that knowledge she
pleaded.
but 1 want you in reality, not in my
dreams, my imagination"
Zach. we must not talk like this! There is
no alternative. You are to go. 1 am to stay.
The future is before us; God knows what it
may bring to us. Perhaps it may be good
enough to give us happiness-who knows?
Do not plead with me. L cannot endure it.
Let me be strong again! You will not be 5
cruel as to battle against me, now that l
am weak; it would only mean my destruc-
ton. You do not seek that!"
His soul, his honor, the greatest rever-
ence he had ever known was in the kiss
that touched her brow.
II shall love you as you communicative
out hope" he said, sadly.
without hope for either she sobbed.
MY poor little soldier" he whispered.
lovingly, as her body writhed under the
storm of tears.
IL wish were a-soldier!" she walled.
He comforted her as best he could and soon
she was quiet-oh. so very quiet. Her head
was on his shoulder, her hands in his.
How far do we driver" he asked, at
last.
ITO the monastery. We are nearly there"
she answered. in tones far away.
1.-The monastery? Why do We go there?"
he cried.
You are to stay there"
What do you mean? I thought 1 was to
leave Graustark.'
"You are to leave-later on. Until the ex-
element is over the abbey is to be your
hiding place. I have arranged everything,
and it is the only safe place on earth for
you at this time. No one will think of look
ing for you up there"
81 would to God / could stay there for
ever. living above you" he said, dreari1y.
your window looks down upon the cas-
tie; mine looks up TO yours. The lights that
burn in those two windows will send out
beams of love and life for one of us. at
least"
For both of us. my sweetheart" he cor
rected, fondly. You say 1 will be safe
there. Can you trust these men who are