The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-30
THE SIRENS CHANGE
You. Marcia. you?"

1Ous -ddiC4ds SOG-
The scene was the departure platform
at ST. Pancras station; time. early even
ing: the speaker, a man with the
straight, well-set-up figure of a military
officer; the person he addressed, lady
having an indefnable air of distinction.
with good looks, fine figure. and in
stinct with sensurous charm
"You?' he repeated. "where in heav-
ems name have you dropped from?"
You would rather it has not happened
You wish l had not come.
You did plan it. then? You arranged to
--to-join me"
Not quite that, Ludovic; you go too
fast | did not mean TO throw myself at
your head, TO force my society, my com
panionship, on you. But l wanted to see
YOU once more, to hear your voice, to
touch your hand, if only for the last
time. You are going into danger; who
knows what may happen in this terri
BILE war? God help me, it's too awful. ="
Her voice shook now with a gust Of
sudden emotion.
ing accent, and spoke with a certain pity
ing tenderness, as though touched by her
grief That's all nonsense. I shall come
back; OF course 1 shall come back"
But not 10 me, never to me-you be-
long to her now. you prefer her, you have
only just left her. she is the last in your
thoughts; yet il is I, the woman you have
scorned and f1outed, and thrown aside,
who is the one TO bid you adieu. 1t is not
she who is here now to see the last Of
you Why did she not Gomez"
You know very well why my wife is
not at the station; that she is on a bed
of sickness; that she is with our child"
Nothing would have prevented me;
mine is the truest. deepest love, for risk
everything, waive everything, to prove it.
You win not reject it, you will not cast
me from you, Ludovic? Let me stay with
you. dear, if only for a little time"
The train is due out in less than ten
minutes"
But only bear with me to the last;
suffer me TO accompany you to the plat
form, TO shake hands with you, and bid
you godspeed as you go out into the
perllous unknown. Do not deny me this;
1t is so little for you to grant and it
means so much to me-"
He consented. reluctantly, yet how could
he gainsay such pitiful pleading. express
ed in such heartrending tones?
Now they stood hand in hand by the
carriage door at the entrance of the din
ing car, and the fateful seconds flew by
til the moment came for farewell. The
,T1
the guard had waved his flag. the train
was moving slowly ahead. when with
one rash and venturesome spring she
landed herself upon the step and fell
almost into his arms
NO, no. you can't she gasped as he
tried to thrust her back You can't! It's
too late; it's not safe, must go on now"
"Of all the madcap escapades" he
cried holly protesting. 1T is perfectly
monstrous, l cannot permit it, Stop,
stop. Hi, guard
But she answered him with a gay, tri-
umphantlaugh, and covered his mouth
with her soft. white hand.
Il refuse absolutely. l have my ticket;
claim my rights. No one shall prevent
me from travelling by this train. you,
Ludovic, least of an I did ii for YOU,
dear. Why are you so cruel?" Her mock,
ing. reckless tone melted into bewitchfngA
sweetness as She chung to him. and held
him under the glamour of her bright, be-
seeching eyes.
only for an hour or two" she went
on, coaxingIy. "a few short, f1eeting
hours-a couple at most. The first stop
IS at Kettering. I will get out there if
she hesitated. dropping her voice and
yelled her glorious eyes-'if you still
wish to drive me from YOU
THAT, Of course he interrupted
quickly. But surely his voice had soft
ened; he had abated something of his
reserved and repellant temper.
Well. well so be It; you shall be well
rid Of me at Kettering" Again she
laughed joyously catching at and inter-
preting his changing mood Now let us
make the most of our time. In common
courtesy you must give me some dinner
Come, where is your table? They shall
lay place for me-
She led the way in the Pullman and
gave the order herself to the conductor.
Now. my friend. make the best of it."
she began. with light-hearted raillery.
''You are caught. Don't you think I've
been very clever?'
AS how" he grunted. refusing to be
cajoled.
My plot has succeeded perfectly-I
will confess frankly there was plot.
knew you were leaving London by this
train. l was on my way 10 the Darbi-
sls~os. so I decided to come, too. My
maid is with me; she took the tickets
for Liverpool, and is somewhere in the
train
For Liverpool? She knows, them"
My dear man. never have secrets
from Javotte; you should know that. 1t
may be risk but the advantages more
than counterbalance it
And Lord Milcombe?"
Ohio, As if he cared, My worthy lord
goes on his way. and leaves me to follow
,mine. So l am here as you see 1 have
won through all-won all. except you. At
least I hold you here fast bound for at
least a couple OF hours. We are in tete-
a-teta These people'-there were other
diners in the car-"dO not count. We are
practically alone. Come. come. let us put
back the clock 4 year or two. and think
what we were 10 each other then. How
you would have santched in old times at
such chance as this"
His brow had become cloudy again. his
voice was stern and irresponsible. We
made great fools of ourselves" he said,
gloomly
And YOU regret it? on. you poor crea-
ture. You were never worthy OF the love
that was lavished on you. Of the deep
passion that was wasted on you; you
Were always too cold. too calculating
your marriage showed that-too much
afratL Of consequences