The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-07-04
from the rank he ostensibly held to

hers. >..< ~ q:
MADAME, this is very merciful. !
know not how to thank you.''
She motioned to him to take a seat
near to her, while the Levantine, who
knew nothing Of the English tongue,
retired to the farther end of the tent
Il only kept my word" she answer
ed, 'for we leave the camp tomorrow;
Africa next week.
$50 soon?"
She saw the blood forsake the bronx
ed fairness Of his face and leave a
dusky pallor there. 1t wounded her as
if she suffered herself. For the first
time she believed what the little one
had said-that this man loved her.
Il sent for you,' she continued hur-
riedly. ''There are many things I de-
sire to say to you. I must entreat you
to allow me to tell Philip what know.
You cannot conceive how intensely op-
pressive it becomes to me to have any
secret from him. I never concealed SO
much as a thought from my brother in
all my life, and to evade even mute
question from his brave, frank eyes
makes me feel a traitress to him."
Anything else," he muttered. "Ask
me anything else. For Gods sake, do
not let him dream that liver
"But why? You still speak to me in
enigmas. Tomorrow, moreover, before
we leave, he intends to seek you out
as what he thinks you-a soldier of
France. He IS interested by all he
hears Of your career. He was first in
terested by what I told him of you
when he saw the ivory carvings at my
villa. I asked the little vivandiere to
tell you this, but, on second thoughts,
1t seemed best to see you myself once
more, as had promised. That French
child forced her entrance here in a
strange fashion. She wished to see
me, suppose, and to try my courage
too. She is little brigand, but has a
true and generous nature, and she
loves you very loyalty
."Cigarette?" he asked YEARLY. ooh,
no! I trust not! I have done nothing
to win her love, and she is fierce lit
tie creature who disdains all such
weakness. She forced her way in
here? That was objectionable, but
she seems to bear singular dislike to
you."
''Singular, indeed! I never saw her
until today"
He answered nothing. The convic-
ton stole on him that Cigarette hated
her because he loved her.
ho
sage? pursued his companion. :"That
seems her nature-violent passions, yet
thorough loyalty. But time is pre-
c1ous. must urge on you what I
babe you come to hear. It is to i'm
plore you to put your trust, your con-
fidence, in Philip. Let him learn that
you live; let him decide whether or not
this sacrifice of yourself be needed.
His honor is as punctilious as that of
any man on earth. His friendship
you can never doubt. Why conceal
anything from him."
His eyes turned on her with that
dumb agony which once before had
chilled her to the soul.
DO you think, if I could speak in
honor, should not tell you ALP"
A flush passed over her face, the first
that the gaze Of any man had ever
brought there. She understood him.
But" she said gently and hurried
ly, 'may it not be that you overrate the
obligations Of honor? l know that
many noble hearted man has mex
orably condemned himself to a severi-
ty OF rule that a dispassionate Judge
of his life might deem very exaggerat-
ed, very unnecessary"
Her voice failed slightly over the
last words. She could not think with
calmness of the destiny that he &C.
cepted. Involuntarily some prescience
of pain that would forever pursue her
own life unless his were rescued lent
an intense earnestness, almost en-
treaty, to her argument
He started from her side as he heard
and paced to and fro the narrow limits
of the tent like a Gagged animal For
the first time it grew a belief to him
In his thoughts that were he free, were
he owner Of his heritage, he could
rouse her heart from it's long repose
and make her love him.
Hear me-" she said softly. IT do
not bid you decide. I only bid you con-
fde in Philip. You are guiltless of this
charge under which you left England.
You endure it rather than do what you
deem dishonorable to clear yourself.
That is noble; that is great But it is
possible, as I say, that you may exag-
gerate the abnegation required Of you.
Whoever was the criminal should suf-
fer. Yours is magnificent magnanimi-
ty, but it may surely be also false
justice alike to yourself and the
world''
He turned on her almost fiercely in
the suffering she dealt him.
1T is! It was madness, a quixot-
ism, the wild, unconsidered act of a
fool! What you will. But it is done.
It was done forever-so long ago
when your young eyes looked on me in
the pity Of your innocent childhood.
cannot redeem its foIIv now nv o16irn