Putnam patriot., 1909-10-22
ing certain scruples which might nave

stole through the bleak. chin corridor She found herself wondering if the
 girl waS 70 he trusted What if shs
 were leading them Into traps She wnuf3 tave whiS~-d her fnars into Glasses ear haa unt saaeP 'shs. eeus
 from the cirl who was leading Ges
 aevra felt a cueer little threh of hatred for the eirl-She eeaia not explain t. The dungeon was ea G the right
 They could hear the inSistene murmug of voices. with now and then laaeA
 from the distant evi5S Tbe guard could be heard Scotting al his charges
 With caution that seemed wholly ab. surd to the two white people. Neeaah
 guided them through the mare of nar. row pass ges. dark as Erehus and chirl as the grave. Chase checked a hyss tericsl impulse to laugh aloud st the
 proceelings II was like playing at a children's game.
 He was walking between the two women. Neenah ahead Genevra be. hind. Each clasped one of hts hands. Suddenly he found himself experience ing an overpSwertng desire to exert the strength of his arm to draw the pvincess ciceo-<loss to his insistent
 body. The tUurh of her deah. the clutch of hes cold little hand. dlied him with tho msst exquisite sense ct possession Tns magnetism cf life charged from one to the other. strik- ing nre to tho blood. He was forget. ting Neenah. forgetting himself. think. ing only of the opportunity and its fAscinati tion In another Instant he would have drawn her hand to his lips Ncenah came to q standstill and uttered . warning whisper Chase re covered himself with a mighty sfaft. chlll as of one avoiding an unseen peril sweeping over him Genevra heard the sharp. painful Intake of his breath ard felt the sudden relaxation of bis fingers. She was not puzzled. She. too. had felt the magic of the touch. and her blood was surging red. She knew then that she had been clasping his hand with fervor that was as unmistakahle as 1t was shame less
 Neenah may have felt the magnetic current that coursed through these surcharged creatures. She was smil- ing mysterieusly to herself
 Wait here" she whispered to Chase, and moved of in the blackness of the passage. .'I will bring Selim." came back to them.
 "ohi' fell faintly. tremulously. from Genevra's lips If was trap. after all, But 1t was not the trap laid hy q traitor She fell all aouiver Her heart auttered violently: her breath came quickly. Alone with him. and their blood ieaping to the touch that thrilledl
 Chase could no more have restrained the hand that went out suddenly In quest of hers than he could have checked his own heart throbs. A wave of exquisite joy swept over him-the joy of temptation that knew no fear. no conscience. He found her cold It. tie hand and ciasped it in tense fin gers-fngers that throhhed with the call to passion. He drew her close: their bodies touched and sweetly trem- bled
 Are you afraid2" he whispered h tones he had never heard before. "Yes." she murmured eonvuisively-- ''of youl Please. please, don't" Al the same time she frightened her elutci upon his hand and crept closer to him governed by an uncondnerable craving Chase had the sensation Of smethering He could not believe the senses whlef told hlm that she was responding tt his appeal
 "Genevrar he murmured, almosl gasped. in his delirium. His arms went about her slender figure sudden ly. and she was strained to his breast locked to him with bonds that seemed unbreakable. Her face was lifted tt his. The blackness of the passage
 was impenetrable, but love was thu guide. He found her lips in one wild glorious kiss.
 A door creaked sharply. He released her. Their quivering arms fell away They drew ever so slightly apart. stil
 under the control of the inhuencs which had held them for that briel moment. She was trembling violently A soft. wailing sigh as of pain cams from her lips.
 Then the glimmer of a light came tt them through the half open door at th' end of the passage. They eazed at |
 without comprehension. dumb in theil Aa H.s came out through the door. and Sellm'i voice, low and tense, called to them. Forgive me-" he murmured. ..it is too late" she replied. Thei his hand sought hers again. and, dEsz, with emotion. he led her up to th' open door As they passed into ths | huge, dimly lighted chamber he turned to look into her face. She met hi gaze, and there were tears in her eyes Selim was ahead of them. She shool her head sadly. and he understood. Gan we ever forgetY she murmuret plaintiyely.
 .Neyerr' he whispered.
 Then we shall always regret-al ways regret. she said. wfthdra winf her hand. 'Tt was the beginning ana | the end"
 Not the end, dearest one-if we ar'
 always to regret" he interposed eager ly. But why the end? You do low me, I know fl. And l worship you oh. you don't know how l worship | you, Genevra, r.
 Hush. We were foolsi Don't
 please. do not love you. was car | ried away by Oh. can't you under | stand. Remember what l am. Yof l lxu..r and cnt rau ha xa deQraded m