The San Francisco call., 1909-08-29

II mean / thought it might be safer
~ around that you should not see him
hasn't asked you for 1t SINGER"
The sapphire?' she faltered. "Nci''
The more her instinct warned that it
had been the jewel Harry had returned
for, the more she repudiated the idea
to Kerr.
why should you think he came for
that? What has he to do with it," she
murmured
My God! how you do champion
him" He leaned forward sharply
across the table. What is this man
to your"
He was going too far He had no
right to that question. The man I
have promised TO marry" Her hot
look, her cold manner defed him to
command her here. Yet for a moment.
leaning forward with his clenched
hands on the table. he looked ready
to spring up and force her words
back on her. The next he let 20 and
dropped back in his chair again.
Quite So" he said. But I didn't be-
heve It" He stared at her with a dull.
profound resentment. Yet it's most
possible; since 1t isn't the sapphire It
would be that" He mused But. you
extraordinary woman. why on earth
he broke off, still looking at her. look
ing with persistent. sharp. studying
eye. as II she were the most puzzling
and. 1t came to her gradually. the most
dubious thing on earth He was verify
magician. a worker OF black magic
for under the spell of his eyes she felt
herself turning into something horrf-
BILE However innocent she was In In
tention. the ugly appearance was COW
ering her.
ssrTbar r,-bot -. -. ST 4 - -s..
the ring on your he demanded solemn
ly. Why ARE you dealing with me?
What do you think you'll get out OF tt?
Good God. women are hideousr How
can you betray the man you lover
OH she cried. with wall OF horror.
She stood up trembling and pale I
DON'T dOn't-I DON'T I've kept II
from them I'm standing against them
all. i shall never give 1t to them.
When have I ever betrayed you?"
He drew back away from her as II to
ward of her meaning. but she leaned
toward him. her hands flung out. hold
ing herself up to him for all she meant.
He got up slowly and the creeping tide
of red. dusky and violent, rising over
his face. swelling his features. darken-
Ing his eyes. hung before her like a
banner OF shame.
Il didn't know I didn't know" he
on the ground. Then with a sharp
motion. as II merely standing in front
Of her was unendurable. "Oh, Lord he
said, and turning. walked from her
toward the window. He went precipi-
lately. as IL he meant to go through
1T, but he only leaned against IL and
stood motionless; and from her side OF
the table. trembling. breathless. she
watched his stricken silhouette. back
upon the gray. fading light
The knowledge OF how far she had
gone, OF how much she had betrayed
herself, swelled and swel1ed before
her mind until It seemed to MI her
life. but she looked at It hardly and
unabashed. All the decencies in the
world should sink before he thought
her traitor. She came softly up be-
side him.
Don't be sorry for what told you"
I'm not" he said. His voice sounded
muff1ed- He did not look at her. only
held out his arm in mute sign TO
her to come. She felt II around her.
but 1t was a mere symbol OF protection
1t lay limp on her shoulder. and he
continued to stare through the window
at the street. I'm not sorry for what
you said" he repeated slowly. I'm
glad; but. child. I wish It wasn't true"
Don't, don'tl" she besOught him.
''for I don'tr'
He gave her a look That's beau
tiful OF gyou. but"-and he turned TO
the window again and spoke to him
self-'1t puts an awful face on my
business. All along you've made me
r think for you. and Of you. more than
you deserve. more than can AFFORD"
The stare she gave this forced out
of him a reluctant smile why.
didn't you know it2 Do you think I
couldn't have had the sapphire that
first night I saw It on your hand il IL
hadn't been-weu. for the way
thought OF you? I fancied you knew
that then" He made a restless move
ment- His arm fell from her shoul-
der. There's been only one thing TO
do from the frst." he said, and 1 don't
see my way to II"
"Oh, don't take II, Leave IT. she
pleaded. Leave il with me, What
does 1t matter so much2 A jewell II
only you would leave it and go away
from mei'
name. fine piece OF lOgicr Leave the
sapphire TO people who can make no
better use OF II than !? Leave you TO
go on with this business and marry
this Cressy? Even suppose you gave
me the sapphire. I couldn't let you do
that%
IF gave you the sapphire" Flora
She couldn't tell how this had come to
her, but all at once II was clear. like
3 sign OF her complete failure. but
Kerr only wondered at her distress.
Well II you don't want TO marry
him. what do you care2
"Oh. I don't. I don't care for that"
She sank back listlessly In her chair
again. She couldn't explain. but in her
own mind she knew that II she lost the
sapphire she would 50 lose in her own
esteem. so fail at every point that
counted. that she would never be able
to see or be seen IN the world again as
the same creature. Even to Kerr
even TO him to whom she would have
yielded she would have become a diff
ferent thing. She realized now she had
: staked everything on the premise that
she wouldn't have to yield and now 1t
began to appear to her that she would.
His weakness was appearing now as a
terrible strength. a strength that
seemed on the point OF crushing her.
but IL could never convince her. That
strength of his had brought her here.
Was it TO happen here. that strange
thing she had foreseen. the end of her?
Was II here she was to lose the sap
phire, and him?
She looked vaguely around the room.