The San Francisco call., 1904-12-04

full words, for the audacity with which
she had dared to bring him within an
ace of irremediable shame-him and
the child she had borne him. She was
well punished. She came back to him
perforce. Was she weary? Was she
cruelty weary? 1t was we'll. Did she
suffer? 1t was just. Woe to the con-
quered-his was the victory Even in
her bodily trial his ferceness found
barbaric joy.
But deep within him some mocking
spirit laughed at all this, and would not
let its jibes be silenced. 1t deTided his
victory, and made bitter fun of his
child, but 1 will not come back to you"
Going back is like going back to
death" Thank you for having loved
me, Walter" The mischievOus spirit
was apt at remembering and selecting
the phrases which stung sharpest. Was
this triumph? it asked. Was this vic
tory? Had he conquered the woman?
No, neither her body nor her soul. He
had conquered - young Blakei The
spirit made cheap of that conquest,
and dared Grantley to make much Of
it. Rank blank failure" said the
spirit with acrid merriment And a
lifetime of it before you!" The world
would not know perhaps, though it can
generally guess. But his heart knew
and hers. 1t was a very fine triumph
that a triumph fine to win against
the woman who had loved him, and
counted her life worth having because
it was hers to give him! Through the
blare of the trumpets of his pride came
this piercing venomouS voice. Grant
ley could not but hear. Hearing it, he
hated Sfbylla, and again was glad that
she trudged laboriously and painfully
along the Shiny oozing road. The in
stinct of cruelty spoke in him. She had
chosen to trudge. 1t was her doing.
That was excuse enough. Whatever
the pain and labor. she had her way.
Who was to blame for it?
They passed the red villas, and came
where the Milldean road branched off
to the left at the highest point of the
downs. From here they looked over
the cliffs that sloped toward their pre-
cipitous fall to the sea. The moon was
on the heaving waters; a broad band
of silver cut the waves in two. Grant
ley brought his horse to a stand, and
looked. At the instant Sibylla fell
against the horses shoulder and caught
at his name with her hands, holding
herself up. ROllo turned his head and
nosed her cloak in a friendly fashion.
A stified sob proclaimed her exhaustion
and defeat. She could walk no more
The day had been long. full of strain,
compact of emotion and struggle; even
despair could inspire no more exertion.
In a moment she would fall there by
the horses side. Grantley looked down
on her with frowning face, yet with
a new triumph. Again she failed;
again he was right.
"Of course you couldn't do it! Why
did you try?" he asked coldly. THE
result is-here we are! What are we to
do now?''
She made no answer; her clutch on
Rollo's name grew more tenacious
that alone kept her up.
You must ride. I'll get down. he
said surlily Then he gave a sudden
laugh. mo, he can carry us both
he's done it once before. Put your feet
on the stirrup here-I'H pull you up"
She made no sign of understanding
his allusion. He saw that she was
dazed with WEAKNESS. He drew her up
and set her behind him, placing her
arm about his waist.
Take care you don't let CO." he