Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29
But he did not dare.

But he did not dare
For the weight which had for moment
lifted from her mind had sunk with dou-
Bile weight of despair upon his; and even
while his eyes looked straight into hers it
seemed to her that there was a look in them
OF something between.
Very gently. very tenderly-forcing her to
lean with her full weight upon him-he led
her back to the sofa and placed her again
upon 1t. Every trace of the sOdden look
half-stupid, haif-savage-Whichh had shock
ed and disguised her but a short time be-
fore, mad disappeared. Some shock had
sobered him completely. 1t was not until
he had disposed the rather hard little sofa
cushion under her head as comfortably as
it could be done, until he had placed the
injured foot SO that it should pain her as
little as possible. that he spoke again.
Il had to leave you. dear, moment. You
shouldn't have got up. You might have
known as l shouldn't have left you for
long
He seemed so utterly oblivious of any
thing but her, her pain and her evident
anxiety, that Piety stared into his face in
amazement. 1mpeled by this she asked
quickly. in Il voice which was nothing but a
husky whisper:
''Why-why did you go?"
Then over his dark face there came sud
den cloud. and Piety was sorry she had
spoken, sorry she had recalled him to his
distress.
Il had something for to see to. But I've
done it; It's all right now" he answered
quickly. Don't you worrit yourself no
more about that"
Piety shivered. Knowing what she knew,
she was more and more aStonished every
moment at the calm which had succeeded to
the half somnolent half fierce manner which
had caused her such vivid distress. For
here was again the old Nigel, with the
watchful eyes, the sensitive mouth, in
which she could note every change in his
mood brought about by her own words, her
own demeanor. Here was the hard, muscu-
lar hand, which seemed to grow soft if for
moment ii rested upon hers, here was the
dark head. with it's crisp Black curls about
the shape of which, as he bent toward her,
she had always seen something she had adj
mired without knowing why.
Was it possible thai $3.50 The strain
upon her feelings was too much for her. She
fixed her gaze upon him for a few moments
with an lntenseness which did not seem to
discomfort him in the least then, quite sud
denly, she turned her face from him. buried
it in her hands in the sofa cushion and sob
bed as if her heart would break
lie let her cry on, never sa ying a word
but lowering over her. caressing her soft
hair, putting his hot lips to her little tremb-
ling fingers. making her understand by ev-
cry movement, every gesture, how unspeak-
ably dear she was to him
When at last in the midst of her sui,s
she drew deep sigh, he whispered low in
her ear:
What ais you. dear?'
And at the words. the tone her heart
melted altogether, and she drew her hands
away from her face and answered him:
Nigel, it's the thought of you and of
what may be hanging over you. For T.
know-I know why you went out and-and
why you came back, and-and what YOU
brought"
He started back-he was on one knee by
the couch-at these words; and his dark
skin changed color.
You known" he whispered back, in a
voice full of amazement
She could only bow her head.