The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-23

thrown over, somehow. to- come to mel.
Il made every effort to be in time. It
seems piece with the rest of my hor-
| riblc luck to-day that I was prevented.
j hope, at least, that du Laurier knows
about the necklace2, -
lie does. by this" I answered ..Yet
I'm afraid lie won't be in mood I,
/ take much comfort from it--thanks TO
that wretch You know Raoul hasn't q
practical bone in his body. He viii
think I've deceived him, and nothing
else will matter. / must But T
broke off. and laid my hand on Ivors
arm Whats that?" / whispered. DID
| you hear anything then?"
1vor shook his head. And we both
| listened.
ITS a. step outside. on the gravel
path" said !. my heart beginning to
knock against my side. II forgot tn
lock the gate. Somebody has come .ntu
! the garden. What II it should la
Raoul--what IL he has seen our.
| shadows on the curtain?'
Mechanically we moved apart. Iyos
| making gesture to reassure me. ~
account OF the position Of the lighcA,
He was right. Our shadows couldn't
lave fallen on the curtain.
AS we stood listening, there came q
knock at the front door. 1t was Raoul'd
knock! / was sure of that.
~
OF an hour earlier. at the time aps
pointed. / should have hurried him
away before this, so that ! might write
I to Raoul; but now / could not think
| what to do for the best--what to do.
| that things might not he made far
1 worse instead of better between Raoul
and me. / had suffered so much THAT
my power of quick decision on which
! I'd so often prided myself vainglo-
l. riolJSlys seemed gone.
1T is Raoul," l said. What shall
/ do?'
let him in. of course. and intro
duce me. Don't act as IL you were
/ afraid. Say that came to see yo1 OH
| important business concerning a friend
| of yours In England. and had to call
! after the theatre because I'm leaving
Paris by the first train in the morn
| ing"
mo use"
"Why not? When a man loves wo-
| man, he trusts her
mo man of Latin blood. think.
And Raouls already angry. lie has the
| right to be--or would have, Ii Goden-
sky had been telling him the truth.
And refused to let him come here.
1 said was going straight to bed, i waa
| so treL-Iets knocking again. Hide
yourself. and I'll let him in. oh. why
| do you stand there. locking at me like
that? Go into that room and
4 pointed, then pushed him towards the
\ door You can get through the win
dow and out of the garden--softly-
/ while Raoui and are talking
| IF you insist" said Ivor. Put
/ you're wrong. The best thing
"Go--go. tell you. Don't argue.
/ know best j cut him short, in
sharp whisper,>pushing him again
| This time no made no more obieo-
| tons. but went into the adjoining room.
| my boudoir. The key was in the door;
/ turned it in the lock. snatched 1t
| out. and dropped it into howl of
I flowers on table close ny. That done.
/ / flew out Of the drawing-room into
4 the little entrance hall and opened tho
/ front door.
/ There stood Raoui. his face dead
white, and very stern in the light of
| the hall lamp. l had never seen him
4 like that before
~ know why you're here began
fquckly. before he could speak. Count
4 Godensky told me what he said to you.
! I---hoped you would come.
is this why you wished TO know
| what / would do IL you deceived ma
he asked, with the bitterest reproach
Sin his eyes and voice.
NO. For haven't deceived YOU"
answered. Il haven't deceived you
now. If you loved me, you'd believe me.
\ Rnoul."
put put my hand and took his. Hs
| gave mine no pressure. but he let ms
| draw him into the house.
For Gods sake. give me back. my
\ faith In you, IL you can" he said. ITS
death 10 lose it. ] came here wanting
| to die
After you'd killed me, as you said?"3
Perhaps. l couldn't keep away. L
/ had to come. If you have any expla-
nation. for the love of heaven, tell
me what 1t is
You know me. and you know Cos
l densky--ret YOU need an explanation
4 OF anything evil said OF me by him."
4 In this way hoped to disarm Rnoul:
4 but he had been half mad, think, anl
/ was scarcely sane now. such a power
4 had jealousy over his better self
Don't play with mel" he exclaimed,
u can't bear It. You sent me away. Yet
/ You had an appointment with Goden.
4 sky. You took him into your carr:a ge;
/ and now-''
.'Marinnne was in tho carriage. VI
! could have had you with me, should
1 have packed her off by herself, alone.
4 that Knight be alone with you. OH,
Raonl. it isn't possible you believe
that r could lie to you for Godensky's
sake-a man like that! II I'd cared for
him, why shouldn't 1 have accepted
him instead of you? Could ] have
changed SO quickly. do you Think"
4 III don't think; I'm not able to tank.
i I can only feel" lie answered.
'Then--feel sure that / love Sou--not
| man but you--now and always.
ooh, MaXine!" he stammered. Am
4 a fool, or wise, to let myself believe
i you?''
you are wise" i answered, as firms
4 ly as if LStleserved the full faith / was
claiming from him as my right "If
you wouldn't believe. without my in
4 sslsting, without my explaining and de-
4 fending myself, I'd tell you nothing.
4 but you do believe. Just because YOU
.tlove mel see It in your face, AMI
4 thank God forBit. So I'll tell you this.
4 SCount Godensky hates me, because L
4 couldn't and wouldn't love him, and he
hates you because he thinks love
4 you. He" paused for a second.
!. Al wild thought had flashed like tho
Hight of a beacon in my brain.rIf r
{ could say something now which, when
\ the blow fell--if 1t did fall-nlight
i come back TO Raoul'S mind and con-