The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

mo. not once Three times you have
done what the lovingest wife could do
to save husbands life; and l do
greatly suspect there was fourth and
earlier time. Tell me. little one. was
it not you who sent the Indian to Cap
tain Forney to tell him a Datriot spy
was 10 be executed at day dawn in the
She did not answer me direct.
was l who brought you to that
pass, she said, speaking soft and low
But for my riding down upon you one
other morning in that same oak glade
you would not have had Sir Francis
Falconnet's sword in your shoulder. And
but for that sword wound nothing that
followed would have followed.
Saying this she fell silent for a space.
and when she spoke again she was be-
come by some subtle tranSmutatiOn my
trusting little maid or the bygone hal
cyon time.
DO you remember how you used to
make a comrade of me in the old days.
Monsieur John, telling me things my
L had one?"
said I remembered; that I was not
Are you Strong enough to stand in
that elder brothers place again to-
TRY me and see, dear lady"
Not while you say dear lady. she
pouted. Twas .Margery' and Mon
sieur John year agone.
ter"
No" she said: that is Dicks name
for me; and-and it is Of Dick that
1 would speak. You love him wen, do
you not Monsieur John?"
said could never make her. OF
any other woman, fully understand the
bond there was between US.
Truly?" There was the merest flavor
Of playful sarcasm In the uptilt OF the
word, but 1t was gone when she went
on.
Being so good a friend to Dick, then.
you can advice me better. Tell me- IL
you please, must L marry him-when-'
w hen you are free to do it?' 1 fin
ished for her Why should you not, my
dearY
She was pulling the threads from the
lace edging of her kerchief and would
not for kings ransom let her eyes meet
You used to say-in that other time
that love should go before a marriage
did you not? Or do remember badly %
You remember well. 1 said it then,
and L say it again at this present But
Dick loves you well and truly, sweet
heart; and you"
She looked up quickly with the little
laugh that used to remind me Of happy
children at play.
And I?-now you will read a wo-
mans heart for me. Monsieur John.
Tell me; do I love him as his mistress
should?"
Nay. surely" said I. gravely. for
surely that is for you TO say. But you
have said 1t, long since"
Have II" she queried with an arch
lifting of the penciled brows that came
straight from her French mother. May
hap you overheard me say it, Monsieur
Eavesdropper?
God help me. little one-so 1 did"
said l.
All in a flash her laughing mood was
gone and she stood before me like an ac-
cusing goddess.
You told me once the past was like a
m n va rcf n =
that part of 1T. sir. And yet you said a
little While ago that l had not failed in
any wifely duty!"
The time and circumstance were their
own best excuse. Sure 1 am far from
blaming you, my dear. But let it pass.
tbs enough that know you love him as
he loves you"
Again her mood changed in the twink
ling of an eye. She sank down upon the
hassock. laughing merrily.
20 wise Monsieur joint how we'll you
read a wOmans heart, 'Tis you should
be the lover instead of Dick. He rides
a-cOurting as he would a legion on a
battle field But nothing would ever
tempt you to be so masterful rough.
would it. Monsieur John? You would
look deep into your Sweethearts eyes
and say-Tell me what you would say.
mon ami?"
All. my dears. I hope no one Of you
will ever be tempted as 1 was tempted
then / forgot my dear lad. forgot
honor, forgot everything save that had
ledNe TO tell ner now 4 ndQ loved ler
from the nrst; how should go on loving
her to the end. So for a moment 1 hung
trembling on the brink; and then she
pushed me over.
rs this how you would do. Monsieur
Monsieur Ogre?-Sit stock still and
glover at the poor thing as If you were
between two minds as to loving her or
eating herr
1 bent quickly took her face between
my hands and kissed her twice-thrice
That is what L should do. Now that
you have made me what l was not be-
fore, are you SattShed?
Twas long before she gave me a word
And when she spoke il was only to say:
Are you not monstrous ashamed, Mon
MOT said 1. IT am but man, and
you have reused that part of me that
knows neither shame nor remorse. 1 love
you. Mistress Margery; do you hear? 1
have loved you since that day in June
when l came back from deaths door to
find you sitting here to bear me COM
pany."
She locked her fingers across her knee
and would not look at me.
But by your own showing you should
be ashamed. sir" she insisted. What of
the dear friend to whom you would give
up even the love of your mistress?
You may fay me as you will: I shall
neither finch nor go back from my word.
You are mine. and I shall give you uD to
no man. l know have not your love
shall never have it. Also, 1 know that
have gained an enemy where once j had
loving friend Richard Jennifer may
Kill me if he Dlease-he shall have the
chance to do it, but you are mine and
shall be while L live to claim and hold
YOU"
There was something less than anger in
the blue-gray eyes when she let me see
them; nay. | could have sworn there was
a fash of playful mOckery in them when
she said: Dear heart! how masterful
rough you have grown. all IN moment.
my lord. And then the beautiful eyes
filled and she said, Poor Dick." in a
way to make me suffer all the torments
of that old myth-king who could never
quaf the water that was ever rising to
his lips.
AYE, you may love him. If you must
and will 1 gloomed. God pity me- i
know you do love him"
She looked UP quickly. 80 you have
said dozen times before. Tell me. Mon
sieur Oracle, how do you know it?''