The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12


you How am I to drag out my life?
can't believe that after Tonight
shall never see you again l can't!
can'ti" She stood up and leaned
against the opposite end OF the mantel-
'.Do you know one thing that keeps on
hurting me through everything? she
asked after a few moments. TT is
that you suffer more than I do. than
am capable Of suffering. and that
/ cannot sympathize with you as I
want to do. Is that the reason that
you don't love me we'll enough to give
up everything else for me-that am
not strong enough to hold your?
"Of course il is not the reason II
you really love me-and believe you
do--you will suffer enough before you
get through
For a while neither spoke again. nor
moved. The ocean sounded as il it
were under the window
There is another thing" she said.
finally. I may as Well say 1t. I know
that if had succeeded tonight /
should have been horribly disappointed
in you. 1t wouldn't be you any longer
For what love in you is your strength
"a strength don't possess. I'm glad
came tonight. although I've made
myself ridiculous; / know both you
and myself better. I can be true to
you now; I don't think could have
L
reckless things. And perhaps after
you have gone and the novelty and
excitement have worn on, shall
understand you still better. That is
what / shall live for. Promise me that
you will believe that and that spirit
ually shall never be far from you.
and that am growing better instead
of worse"
IT don't need TO promise" His left
hand was still above his eyes. Helena
saw his right clench- She went toward
the door.
He went forward to open 1t for her.
As he reached out his hand for the
knob she struck 1t down and fung her
arms about him
II can't go like this she said pas
sionately. You must kiss me once
more"
He caught her to him. she saw his
ewes blaze as he bent his head. and
thought. as far as she was capable Of
thinking that her generalities had
been correct Even IN the rapture OF
the moment a pang shot through her.
Then she found herself on the other
side of the door and heard the key
turn in the lock
she remembered only that she was
hungry and tired She Went 20 the
iarder and sat on a box and ate
plate Of cold chicken and bread. then
went to bed and slept soundly.
CHAPTER XVI.
Next morning the guests or Casa
Norte were assembled In the court
discussing Gives departure and wait
ing for the traps which would take
them for their accustomed drive, when
Helena, dressed in her habit. came out
of her room and walked up to them.
Mr.. Give has gone, SUPPOSE
she asked.
"He left short time ago." said
Miss Lord IT am so sorry he viii not
return. Helena. how can you be so
cruel?"
You are a hypocrite and talking
rubbish / tried to get him away from
Mary Gordon and lost the game and
don't care in the least whether you
know it or not. shall not drive with
you this morning. / am going Tor
ride by myself: and she left the house.
Home. heaven and mother." said
Rollins with a gasp. II didn't think
even she would be as game as that
Wei, am sorry-sorry. Damn the
whole business of life. anyhow.
Helena rode rapidly through the for
est, taking short cut by trail to the
fern grove above the canyon. She
came upon it after an hours hard rid5
ing. She noted that 1t was almost
circular in form, irregularly outlined
by the redwoods. The stiff and feather
tops were rustling in soft breeze and
gIinted with the younger shades OF
green. She thought that she had never
seen the sky so blue. the sun 50 golden.
The trees were singing high above.
Occasionally. one branch creaked upon
another discordantly.
She tethered her horse and went In
among the ferns. When they closed
above her head and the green twilight
was about her, she felt gratefully that
she was beyond the eye OF man. hidden
even from the redwoods, which. she
hrr~,,
She sat down on the stone and cried
Tears did not come easily to her: she
was not a lightly emotional woman
To-day she abandoned herself to a
passion Of grief which thrilled her
nerves and cramped her fingers. It
was a passion which accumulated
depth and strength instead of dissipat-
ing itself. and 1t was an hour before
she was exhausted. The storm brought
no relief, as April showers do to most
women She felt heavy and blunt, and
knew that the third stage would be
the first. She was conscious OF one
other thing only: that she understood
Give better than she had ever done be-
fore. and that her sympathy was as
strong for him as for herself
Suddenly she sprang to her feet and
faced the point Of the fern-wood where
she had made entrance. The tears
dried under the rush Of blood.
"Owini'' she cried. "OWini"
She strained her head forward. then
drew back slowly. There was not a
sound in the forest Her lips fell apart.
"Owin!' she gasped. She shook from
head to foot He had a quick, strong
step. She heard it now with a sub
consciousness Of which she had never
been cognizant before. But it made no
sound in her ears.
Then she sank back against the
ferns. bending them with her weight.
closing her eyes. The spiritual part
within her seemed to become clearly
defined. Something touched and passed
It, There was a moment OF promise.
rather than Of ecstasy. then Of peace.
She opened her eyes. "Owin,'' she
whispered But she was alone.
She went out of the ferns and
mounted her horse and rode rapidly
homeward- As she turned the corner