The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-09-22

II was lut lllJulC GU hluil % ShuA
berthe room of him who had been
rescued from the great foreign
ship" AS she had hoped, the nurse
was asleep by the cavernous fire
place. The closely draped couch
stood in strong shadow. The peas
ant slipped across and stood behind
the heavy curtain. Tenderly as she
trod, it shook the rickety floor, and
the bed Jared. The injured man
moved and sighed. There was a
sudden puff of air, as of forced
breath, and the feeble rushlight
flickered out as little figure step
ped hurriedly into the same recess
behind the curtain.
The nurse awoke and yawned.
Fine draughts there be in this
drafted room"
With another yawn she relit the
rushlight and relapsed into sleep
again.
AS the light dominated the gloom
the two women looked into each
others eyes in defiant wonder, but
neither stirred until the slumberous
murmur echoed once more from
the fireplace.
Then the patrician, stealthily ap-
preaching the peasants ear, spoke
in scarcely audible whisper that
was like the wrath of speech
"Why, in heavens name, art thou
here7"
The country girl raised her eye
brows, parrying with a scornful
query.
a." returned the patrician-"l
came to see him."
And l also" retorted the other,
looking without fear into the gilt
tering blue eyes.
What are you to him." persisted
their owner with fierce intona-
ton.
The brown eyes flung back the
question, no less fiercely.
81 loved him." confessed the arts,
tocratic lips.
The plebeian noticed the form OF
the sentence, and took her revenge
HE loved me-" she sneered.
ut is false" (he whisper had ir
it the sound of a threat; Il was
to have been his wife"
"Ay!" scoffed the peasant, "ant
you gave him up because he broke
the law and had to fly for his life.
at is false-my father"
"Your father!" laughed the othe
bitterly; my father forbade it, bu
we met"
you are lying" Kissed the pa
trician.
Lying! Who are you that cal
me liar? What is your name?"
The blue eyes did not falter be
fore the flash of indignation.
"Clarice," came the reply; "an
who are you?"
, "Jocelyn," was the curt answer
The sick man moved and parte
his lips.
my love, my love-" he walled
and then the words became indis
tinguishable.
Two figures stole involuntaril
( nearer and leaned over the speaker
He was a wonderfully handsom
man, with curling brown beard an
: mustache, cut cavalier fashion, an
t feminine ringlets of hair, snow
white as though powdered.
\ The women gazed at him passion
I ately.
my love, my love-" he repeated
= stretching out his arms and opel
+ ing his blind eyes; "Amy-m
0 Amy"
Peasant and patrician turned an
e looked at each other.
e Lady Clarice laughed noiselessl
= till her shoulders shook, though he
o blue eyes shone wet and anguishe
" Nurse" moaned the sick ma
in a changed voice-the fretfl
voice of the sick.
t, Lady Clarice blew out the rus
n light, and the two women departe
e warily. Upon the lower landir
p Clarice bent to her companion
II ear.
If MY love-" she murmured, moe
n ingly, "Amy!-my Amy"
k And laughing silently, she W,
is gone in the darkness.
f. Next morning, in the warm raj
t. ance of the early sunlight, ty
er women turned their horses hea
er out of the courtyard of the Flagc
Ell Lady Clarice refined in her b
We mare. and leant towards the gre
- gray horse beside her.
rs Amy" she jeered; my Amy
en- and rode off laughing.