The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-08

tton l was having. Then, when the tim came that could escape. I met on tn
 way to my dressing room, men carry ing big harps and crowns, baskets an' punches of flowers which had been sen up to me on the stage. pushed past hardly glancing at them, for I knev that Raoul would be waiting.
 There he was. radiant with his un selfish pride in me-my big handsom' lover. looking more like the Apollo Eel yedere come alive and dressed in mod ern clothes, than like an ordinary al plomatic young man from the Foreigr Office. But then, of course, he's reall, quite out of place in diplomacy Sincs he can't exist on a marble pedestal oi some Old Masters canvas, he ought ai least to be . poet or an artist--and SC he is at heart; not one, but both; and 2 dreamer of beautiful dreams, as beau tiful and noble as his own clear cut face, which might be cold If 1t were not for the eyes, and lips.
 There were people about, ana we | spoke like mere acquaintances until Id led Raoul into the little boudoir which adjoins my dressingro room. Then-welL we spoke no longer like mere acquaint- | ances. That is enough to say. And we | had five minutes together, before l was obliged to send him away, and go to dress for the second act.
 | hO tV0Cn Ol INdOuA AdhuS, HhN tAhVS7 1 lips of his that are not cold, gave mo strength to go through all that was yet to come. There's something almost magical in the touch--just little, fit- l tie touch--of the one we love best. For l a moment we can forget everything else. even if 1t were death itself walt. | ing just round the corner. I've hirted with more than one man. sometimes be- cause I liked him and 1t amused me- as with Ivor Dundas-sometimes be- cause had to win him for polite req sons Bit I never knew that blessed feeling until I met Raoul du Laurier. It was a heavenly rest now to lay my head for a minute on his shoulder. just shutting my eyes. without speaking word. I thought--for was worn out. body and soul, with the strain of keeping up and hiding my secret--that When I was dead. the best Paradise would be to lean so on Raoups shoulder, never nov ing. for the first two or three hundred years of Eternity. But as the peaceful fancy cooled my brain. back darted re- membrance. like a poisonous snake. reminded myself how little deserved such Paradise, and how my lover's dear arms would put me away, in a kind of unbelieving horror, If he knew what had done. and how had betray- ed his trust in me.
 For ten years I'd been a political spy--yes But owed a grudge to Rus- sia, which I'd promised my father to pay; and France Is Russia's ally. Re. sides it seems less vile to betray q country than to deceive a man you adore. who adores you in return. We women are true as truth itself to those we love. For them we would sacrifice the greatest cause. Always had known this, and had thought that I hA truest, if I ever loved. Yet now had betrayed my lover and sold his coun- try; and, realizing what had done. as l hardly had realized 1t till this moment suffered torture in his arms.
 Even if. by something like miracle. we were saved from ruin, nothing on earth could wash the stain from my heart, which Raoul believes so good. sc pure.
 What can be more terrible for a wo- man than the secret knowledge that to hold a mans respect, she must always keep one black spot covered from his eyes Such a woman needs no future punishment. She has all she deserves in this world. My punishment had be- gun, and it would always go on through my life with Raoul, knew. even if no great disaster came. Into the heart of my happiness would come the thought of that black, hidden spot; how often, oh how often would I feet 1t stiri
 I could no longer rest with my eyes shut at peace after the storm. were dry, and Raoul tried to soothe me. thinking it was but my excitement in playing for the first time a heavy ane exacting part. He little guessed how heavy and exacting 1t really wasl
 Darling" he said. you were won derful. And how proud I was of you how proud I am thought 1t would be did. But I love you thousand times more than ever tonight"
 It was true. knew. could see it in his eyes. hear 1t in his voice. Since his dreadful misfortune in losing the dia- monds. since I had comforted him for their loss, and insisted on giving him ble, he had seen in me the angel of his salvation. Tonight his heart was al- most breaking with love for me, who so i'll deserved 1t. Now, I had news for him. which would make him long to shout for joy. If I choSe, could tell him that the jewels were safe. He would love me still more passionately in his happiness, which l had given, than in his grief; and I would take all
  the secret of my treachery as long as I could. But how long would that bef How could I be sure that the theft of the treaty had not already been discov- cred, and that the avalanche of ruin was not on It's way to blot us for ever out of life and love?
 The fear made me nestle nearer to him, and cling tightly. because I said to myself that perhaps I might never be in his arms again: that this might be the last time that his eyes-those eyes that are not cold-might look at me with love in them, as now.
 Suppose all these people out there had hated and hissed me. instead of ap- plauding?' I asked. Would you still be proud of me- still care Dor me?"
 I'd love you better if there could he a better he answered, holding me very close.
 You know. dearest one, most beau tlful one. that I'm a jealous brute. I can't bear you to belong to others even to the public that appreciates you almost as much as you deserve to be appreciated. Of course I'm proud that they adore you, but I'd like to take you away from them and adore you all by myself, Why, if the whole world turned against you, there'd be kind of joy in that for me. I'd be so glad
 
 shield you from 1t always"
 Then what is there would make you love me less?" went on. dwelling on the subjeet with a dreadful fasci- nation, as one looks over the brink of precipice.
 Nothing on Gods earth-while you kept true to me-"
 And if I weren't true-if deceived you?"
 "Whv. I'd kill You-and myself nf-