The daily tribune., 1907-07-11

WY ~ Wv HUnVS tpRt hNitteu hRlI
4 desen tImes 4 day, he was N
enigma 10 htMse@t
suddenly he faA the presence ot
another Without looking about, hs
hnew that sytil Leith was near him,
"Whst brought you herer he cricd,
presently, wheeling about to face
her.
Il came because / couldn't help
coming" she answered. II saw you
coming this way, and felt compelled
to follow
Compelled to followl Tho thought
was one that gratifed the mans pride,
because 1t told OF the extent of his
influence over her. He was her mas.
ter And how much tho mastery OF
such woman meant. The thought
sent the blood tingling to his finger
tips.
A swift thought OF Griffith Deane,
as he had seen him last, trying to
stupefy the ache of his heart in a bout
OF drunken rcvolry, came to him, and
his face hardened under 1t.
Answer me one question, and an
swer it honestly, if you can" he cried,
In almost brutal harshness. You
love me-isn't that so?"
She lifted her eyes to his face with
a look in them that he had never
seen there before The hand that she
pressed against her breast as If to
still the tumult of the heart beneath
shook like a leaf in the wind. She
seemed trying to speak, but no words
came. But In her face, and in every
gesture he thought he read admission
of the truth. She did love him!
Il am glad of it," he cried, and his
voice had hard, cruel ring in 1t.
Now you will know what men have
felt when you won their love for the
sport of it--what poor Griffith Deane
felt when you lured him on to de-
struction, and laughed at him for the
pain it gave him to find out the
truth"
Don't you love me?" she cried
Have you deceived me, lied to me?
o, the shame of 1t! And you mani"
Her voice had ring of scorn in 1t.
Then the momentary anger died out
OF her face, and she covered abjectly
before him. Have pity. have pity."
she cried, "If men will love me, can
help it?"
Have you ever tried to keep them
from it?" he asked. amy woman
can make man understand how far
1t is safe to go. II she will. Do you
know the pleasure 1t gives me to
know that | can make you suffer as
your victims have suffered?"
She sank upon the sands, and COW
cred her face with her hands. He
turned to go. He dared not trust him
self to stay.
20 be merciful" she cried. Hate
the woman | was, but have a little
pity for the woman | am. Kiss me
once = Just once!-before you go.
Leave me the memory of that one
kiss To keep for all time to come
may live to be old-so old"
He paused moment. wavcring
The thought came to him that the
woman he had waged warfare against
was dead. This was another woman
And she loved him.
20 come back" she cried. Come
back long enough to tell me that you
have little pity for me- Will not
the thought of what have lost in los.
ing you, be punishment enough to sat.
isfy you? Come backbone back"
In that moment there came to Main.
waring thought of the future.
Through all eternity he would hear
that cry ringing in his ears II he re-
fused to heed 1t. He dared not face
such a hell as that would be. And
she loved him.
He strobe to her side. remembering
now only that love was sweet. He
bent down to her and cried as he did
so:
Il have come back, thought
was master, but ! was wrong. Love
is, Sybil; am ready to forget every.
thing but this-I love you! would
give up heaven for you. My darling,
my darling."
Then she lifted her face from her
hands and looked at him. And In her
eyes was such look OF wicked tri.
umph as he had never imagined It
possible for woman to show II
was like the smile OF serpent.
You love me. do you?" she cried.
u thank you for the greatest pleasure
OF my life in that confession. Know
this. John Mainwaring-you have been
a dupe in spite of your strong mind
and powerful will. nave made your
heart my plaything. | have forced you
to confess yourself vanquished. o, 1t
has been rare SPORT" II
And again that heartless laugh rang
across the sands. To John Mainwar-
Ing 1t was the knell OF death to hope.
but love, though wounded unto death,
could not die. That was the bltterest
thought OF all In the hour OF his
utter defeat.