The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-12-27

The soft alluring strains of the Hun
garian orchestra, the sounds OF many
voices and laughter were In the air.
The shadowy terrace OF the Country
club, the moonlight pickering through
the trees, the perfume Of many bios
SONS, an atmosphere charged with
that strange force that intoxicates the
soul-and two people, too absorbed in
each other to more than feel the
beauty Of the night.
Just n minute more, Cyril; they
Will miss me. You see the mood he
is In tonight. l think he Is beginning
to suspect ne. l dare not inger; !
must return"
"Ah. my darling, ! cannot let You
go. These stolen moments are all too
short. Kiss me just once again, be-
loved" He held her yielding form In
wild embrace, kissing her not once,
but many times. The influence Of the
night was upon them both.
why do we part. Edytha. darling?"
he whispered. "Iet us leave it all,
and together we will find a land Of
sunshine and love, where you will be
mine forever. Come, beloved, ! cannot
live without you. We will sail to-mor-
row and life will just begin"
Her form trembled. III 1t were only
possible, dear one; but Lam afraid. /
cannot break conventions, / do not
dare. But" her voice hardened, T
am only his chattel. He bought me
with his money, he cares for nothing
but to exhibit me as he does his
horses. He doesn't even desire my
love, only to possess me. I have q
right to happiness. / will go. But
take me at once, Cyril, do not let me
think"
Only the moon saw the white.
strained face Of Cyril Hamilton. This
was love indeed, but the ~price--ah, the
price. Quickly the white pure face Of
his wife, the laughter Of his children
flashed through Ids mind. He was
not a bad man, but quite mad. The
seductive form and voice OF the wom-
an in his arms dispelled all thought
Of duty. Grasping her roughly in his
excitement, he spoke rapidly In .
tense whisper:
"Edytha, my own, you know not
what this meal to me. lay my
honor at your feet, with you in my arms
all else is forgotten. / will engage
passage for tomorrow night. Meet
me at the dock tomorrow evening at
eight. l will arrange everything. I
must leave you now, my darling; |
cannot 60 in again. Good-by until to-
morrow, and then, oh, beloved. no
more good-byes."
He disappeared In the shrubbery
and she, shivering slightly, turned and
entered the lighted rooms.
From Cyril Hamilton to Mrs. Cyril
Hamilton:
The Painters Club: It is due you.
dear Margaret, that | leave you some
word Of what / have done. The pa
pers will have 1t in q day or two, and
| am still man enough to spare you
that. When this reaches you, Margar
ret, will. according to the world,
have dragged my honor and yours
to the dust, for l am going
away and. not alone. l have never
been to you what I ought. Margaret.
but believe me, / have tried, tried
harder than you may think, but /.
have failed. My honor and my career
have meant much to me. more than to
most men, but / can no longer control
that wild impelling force that bids
me take her and seek that happiness
OF which you In your calm, cool ma
ture could never dream. You Will
never see me again, SO forget me. +
do not ask forgiveness, for with her
nothing else matters. and even the
love I bear my children cannot hold
me now. For the last t~ime.-Cyril."
Ill.
The hurrying crowd, the noise ana
which attends the sail
Ing OF a. large steamer were as moth
Ing to 4 white-faced, eager.looking
man, who, apparently waiting for some
one, scanned anxiously the faces or
the passengers ~alighting from each
THeES AND THOua A NtliaAucR |