The Washington times., 1905-07-23
PART LcHAPTER VI.

Anna took his hand and stroked it
gently Poor Johann! Poor Johann,
she said punctuating the words with
little motions OF her fingers. She felt
that there we're things TO say, but they
slipped her grasp. his story still rang
In her ears. making dull echoes; and
she watched him with eyes half fncred-
ulous. half enytous of the adventure he
had known.
lie was lying back with closed lids and
lashes that twltche1 with The drawing
Of his breath His palli2 face looked
thin: and frequently. IN the wears tha:
followed. the isolation OF his attitude in
that moment came back to her like the
vaguely recalled section of dream
Time seemed TO halt while he sat there;
she counted four carts pass over the
cobbIss OF the street. then her patience
broke away; she pressed his hand sharp
~ and he sat up.
oh" he moaned. at was terrible
TERRIBLE
His voice sank. and ne fell back again
But Anna was on the alert. with swift
movement she dropped TO her knees and
looked up into his face. For moment
the spirit IL her eyes inspired him; he
raised himself and sat forward in the
chair. I told you that I was q coward.
sun played on il; she saw that 1t shook.
But. JOHANN
His eyes turned On her, full OF ques-
ton and doubt.
Johann. I want 10 understand" She
rese and moved slowly to the fire. Her
tone fingered in a puzzled wav and her
brows we're knit in a frown, You have
lost the ieveis-that's terrible, OF course:
but It's not SO bad as you say You'll
go 10 this man in Vienna" Her voice
suddenly stopped. broken in on by a
lauef-a laugh as hard and mirthiess
as a crash Of stones.
Go back TO Vienna The voice was
as shrill as the laugh. GO back to
Vienna! II would make the dead turn
in the grave" All at once he saw her
face. and his own chg nged. 'oh. Frau
fein. I have hurt you. 1t was the irony
and the fear together. Fra"lein' for
give
But Anna's back was turned. 1T
,sr.+ hundred years ago" she said
co;dlv. when a man could Kill you-or
torture YOU.
.errue. It is NOT hundred years
ago"
vas short and contemPtuous.
There was a long pause, so long that
she vas com PEELED at last 10 turn
around: she turned siowl" then halted
with throw Of contrition,
RE gtnl sat forward, but his face was
hunnbly bent. his eyes, panied and visit
f1I. were fixed on her with a concen-
trated gaze: as their giances met. he
spoke I am as 1 was made, he said
gently. r could be faithful; think /
could love we'll; but IN my own cause
/ shall always be a coward Nature
was looking out Of the window when
H7as bora" lie added the last with a
twist In his thin voice.
Anna laughed. but there was a catch
in her laughter. She came behind him
and touched his hair. II was wretchl
But / am sorry. VIII that dor"
1T was true-what YOU said"
1T was not II was hateful Let's
start again where I got cross. I said
you must go 10 Vienna: you said IL was
impossible. Now why
Because IT is impossible. Impossible. "
There was a nervous whiteness round
his mouth
But Why"
Because I am afraid. ] know men
cannot gill-but there are other things
besides killing. He would vent his loss
on me in other ways. Oh. not for all
the value OF the stones would j so
back" He grasped the arms OF his
chair.
Anna paused undecided; then al a'
ouce a generous Impulse crossed hey
face: she walked swiftly round the chain
and stood in front Of him, "Then don't
bother any more" she said. IF you
90 n frafd 10 go don't go Sta here
3lth Us" She bent. looking StraIghtly in