The San Francisco call., 1907-03-24


eral times backward and forward from
the edge of the cliff 20 my door. Then
he came IN for his hat and stick.
Il am going to the sea- he said. 'Tf
Lady Angela comes. win you call me?
I shall not be out of hearing
You are expecting herr" I asked,
looking down at my work.
Yes. 1t was necessary for me to
see her somewhere, so I asked her to
found out and stopped her. Anyhow.
call me II she comes"
He stepped outside, and heard him
scrambling down the cliff. I set my
teeth and turned to my work. It was
a hard thing to have my little room.
with its store OF memories, turned into
a meeting place for these two. l at
least would take care to be far enough
away. And then l began wondering
whether she would come. I was still
wondering when I heard her footsteps.
She came In unaccustomed garb TO
me. She wore grey dress of some
soft material. and a large black hat
with feathers. Her skirts were gath
cred up in her hand. ard / heard the
jinglins of harness at the corner Of
the avenue where her carriage was
waiting. I opened the door, ana she
entered with soft swish of silk and
q gentle rustling. The room seemed
instantly full OF perfume OF Neapolitan
vio1ets, great bunch of which we're
in her bosom.
She looked swiftly around. ana I
fancied that 1t was relief to her to
find me alone.
'Is Colonel Ray here?' she asked
He is waiting for YOU, I answered,
ION the sands. I promised to call him
directly you came
/ moved toward the door. but she
checked me with an imperative ges-
ture.
wait" she said.
came slowly back and stood by my
table. She was sitting with her hands
clasped together, looking into the fre.
She looked very girlish and frail.
IT want to think-for a moment"
she said. Everything seems confu-
sion. My father has commanded me TO
break my engagement with Colonel
Ray.
1 remained silent What was there.
indeed. for me TO say?
I'm my heart she went on slowly.
'I know that my father is wrong and
that Colonel Ray is right. He has sim
ply done his duty. Blenavon was be-
ing soreIy tempted He is better away
out of the country. Oh, am sure
of that.
Colonel Ray has done what he be-
TT is hard that he should suffer for
that
often" she nlurmured. "one has to
suffer for doing the right thing. My
father has made himself poor man
because of his sense of what was
right. I do not know what to do
glanced out OF the window. For
many reasons I did not wish to pro-
long this Interview.
He is waiting" / reminded her.
II must do one of two things" she
murmured. ''I must break my faith
with my father--or with him.
Then she lifted her eyes to mine.
Tell me what you think, Mr.. Du-
caine?' she asked.
opened my lips TO speak, but I
could not. Was 1t fair that she should
ask me? My little room was peopled
with dreams of her, with delightful
but impossible visions. My very nerves
were full of the JOY of her presence.
1t was madness to ask for my Jrdg-
ment. when the very poetry OF my lie
was an unreasoning and hopeless love
for her.
II cannot" muttered. you must
not ask me-
She seemed surprised. After all.
had guarded my secret we'll. then?
"ycu Will not refuse to help me-"
abe pleaded.
SET my toeln adId tOuS So 1OE
Ray. but there were no signs OF him.
your father has ordered you to
break your engagement with Colonel
RAY" I said, "but he has done 50 un-
der Misrepresentation OF the facts.
You owe obedience to your father. but
you owe more--to the man whose wife
you had promised TO be. do not think
you should give him mp"
She listened eagerly. Was IL my
fancy, or was she indeed little paier7 2
Her eyes seemed to CLEAN with a
strange softness in the twilight Her
head dropped a little as she resumed
her former thoughtful attitude.
Thank you." she said. simply. 7
believe that you are right
caught up bundle OF papers from
my desk and stole softly from the
room. Ray was close at hand, and 7
called to him.
she is in there waiting for you"
said. II have some transcribed mat
ter, which ] am taking UP to the safe"
Ray nodded abruptly, and I heard
the door of my cottage open and close
behind him.