The Washington herald., 1908-06-08


he was putting it lamely. but 1t expressed
the way he felt.
What an unpleasant thing to say, Mr.. |
Vandrakenl Surely. never preached at
you. During the last day or two we
nave discussed transcendental subjects
In mild way, but / have not tried to
upset your belief I thought you seemed
interested In what 1 told you about Mr..
Dare's theories"
Lady Kitty" answered the young man,
lmpulsively. you are the last person in
the world who would preach, but the
effect of your personality on me disturbs
the equanimity of my-weli, I suppose you
would call 1t my materialism. 1 don't
believe in anything beyond this earth, and
don't want TO. Why should Il Here
my position is assured; II there Is any
thing worth having. / can get 1t; and
there are lots of things worth having
But II there is another world, 1 would
probably be as badly OFF there as / am
well off here. So. naturally, l don't want
TO believe in II any more than / want
to believe 1 shall be a beggar next year.
and have to work like those niggers down
below there in the street"
well, you don't have to. am not
trying TO convert you"
But, Kitty-I mean Lady Kitty-you
make me feel that 1 may be all wrong.
When I am with you l feel linked up
with remote regions where all that am,
and have, count for nothing, except as
they count against me. You make me
understand why people build churches
and eathedrais. and so there to worship.
You give a meaning to music, you"
If you please. sirr' 1t was the valet
who interrupted. He looked much hus-
tered.
What is It, Jenkins?" asked vandrak-
en-. abruptly. much annoyed at the inter-
ruptiOn.
It's something very important, sir,
and-er-private, sir. It's, as you might
say, a message from the yacift. I think
you'd best see about 1t, Mr.. Vandraken,
sir"
Lady Kitty got out Of her deck chair.
I'm sure II is something you ought TO
attend to-" she said, "and I promised
mother TO go for a drive with her this
afternoon. Farewell for the present"
And she left the balcony.
It's Mile Venestra, sir, come ashore
in-in-"
THE launch. I presume. Go ahead.
jenkins"
II was about to say tantrum. sir.
She talks most unamiable. Il was all I
could do to keep her from coming right
UP. 1 think you'd best not keep her wait
ing, Mr. Vandraken."
"Of course not-perfectly right. Jenk-
ms. Bring her right up"
To himself ne said: ''Why shouldn't
I see her? I'm very fond OF Veeda. and
certainly not afraid OF her. In fact, I'm
glad 10 see her again" The Influence OF
Lady Kitty's presence was growing dim,
or he thought Il was.
He left the balcony and entered the sit
ting-room as the Cobra glided in at the
opposite door. and they stood facing one
another.
You will come back TO the yacht with
me-yesg' she asked, in a suppressed
voice. which contained mixed notes OF
command and entreaty.
Come back TO the yacht? Hardly Mt
enough yet, what? SIT down, like a
good girl, and let's talk things over"
Non! non!" she answered, maintaining
her position. and keeping her eyes on the
young man. There is nothing TO talk
over. You win come back 70 us-yes,
or nor
"Oh, I say, Yeedal Don't be so intense
about it, 1 am sure you ali get on first
rate without me. 1 really am not up to
the racket yet"
''It is not that!" she cried, vehemently,
whose life you save. Oh. 1 have seen
her-she Is quite pretty. and what they
call a good woman. She will make you
very unhappy, Standeesh. for though you
DO not understand 1t, you belong now TO
my gods. HiultOpec and Nenuiac. the
wonderful earth gods you have wOr-
SHIPPED so we'll This girl will try to win
4 you for her gods, and between them you
will &c pulled asunder and destroyed"
! Vandraken had sat down weakly In a
/ low armchair. She came and crouched
between his knees. AS usual, she was
dressed in black. and wore the same
! ostrich feather. curling round her head
like a cobra's hood Have we not given
you all you sold yourself for. Standeesh?
/ We have not cheated you my gods and
Emo? And there Is more to come" she
went on, without waiting for an answer.
"Oh. much more-Standeesh!" She reach
ed up hersarms and put them round his
neck and he yielded 70 the seduction Of
her magnetism with closed eyes.
Yes, I'll come back TO the yacht" he
breathed. IT'S the only place for me-
Then he opened his eyes and met the
/ Cobra's narrow gaze burning into his.
and for the first time-whether 1t was
because he was partially linked up again
with hts soul. through Kitty, or because
iercer light OF evil burned in them
he felt the horror OF the demons that
danced behind those narrow bars He
felt as other men had felt who looked
into them In the Paris restaurants. and
he rose to his feet with a cry Of alarm,
the Cobra falling back on the floor from
the force Of his gesture OF repulslOn.
She understood then. and laughed look
ing up at him from the floor. half raised
on one arm
YES; 1t is as 1 thought The good
woman wins you away from us for the
moment. Well. 1 did warn you. I am
not jealous but when you leave us for
the good woman. then"-she rose grace
fully TO her feet-"then l am Jealous; and
when l am that But how foolish to
threaten" She looked at Vandraken. He
was sitting with his face covered by his
hands as though trying to shut out some
frightful vision.
please go away" he said, weakly.
Go back TO Paris. will make you the
richest Of them oil. You shall have the
palace for your very own, and as much
money as ever you want, but you must
go away out Of my life"
She laughed derisively 1T is not SO
simple as that. l have plenty money
but the man who have given himself all
10 the earth gods is not so easy to find
Noni nOni / go not out Of your life, my
friend, and you will come back into mine
When the so good woman knows why you
have the nice fresh face Of the good little