The San Francisco call., 1909-10-31

And ask whether you dec7ded al once 10 push
her gently to side in my favor?
"Helas" sighed the baron, II practical
did not think of anything or OF any one-but you
until the countess made me know my false posi-
"Yoursp I exclaimed. 81 don't suppose mine
of any consequence?
"Your charming mother spoke only of my injustice
to myself" he smiled ,reminiscently when she and
1 considered the advisabihty of divorce before
went away last spring.
my mother and your I sat erect intent scarcely
believing l could have heard Alright "Consid-
ered'- The enormity OF my undertaking IN pit
ting myself against woman as resoureeful as my
mother flashed suddenly upon me. DO you mean
do you dare tell me that my mother knew OF this
disgracefu plan of yours?
HIS TALE OF DEVOTION
Dear lady of mne would it not have been a far
greater disgrace to remain the husband of another
when it was you loved you desired-more than
life?
He was behind my chair and had drawn my rigid
figure against its back before could resist His nm
gers scared like fire and 1 struggled free my
self "Can you not understand what is to love as
love you? His head was bent over mine and his
breath on my face stihed me- l wanted TO shrek TO
cry out for relief what does the world-yShat does
life itself matter-when every thought every breath,
every burning fiber of you
Baron de Berenzig" interrupted half strangling
myself to utter the words calmly, Il am not in
terested in minute of the processes of your
emotions Will you kindly release me-
I shall not (his grip on my shoulders tightened)
listened. You would have loved me as 1 desired
Your mother admitted to me your tears, your heart
break when you discovered l was already married.
1 remembered that first interview with my mother
and the tears of chagrin had shed with thought
of the baron either lover, and rage the
injustice of it all again shocked TT for that
| went abroad he went on, "for that divorced the
woman for whom had long since ceased 10 care, who
no longer understood or sympathized with me-
Who is to be congratulated" interpolated, "as
the gamer IN the affairP
But he continued unheeding DO you suppose
that now 1 mean to release you-to sacrifice my
"You desecrate the namel" cried eff were to
consent to marry you now, providing you would
waive the million or two OF dowry necessary, I've no
doubt, to repair that impractical bent you deplore,
how would you receive me-?
with arms open wide" he whispered, his lips al
most touching my ear, then closed hold you tight
tightp
"A prisoner against my villas you.have me now
to be released when ransom had been paids"
''You choose to laugh" He came around in front
of ma and 1 sighed with relief Struggling my shou-
ders 70 rid them of the impress of his contact Quite
had looked up, intending TO defy him. but mock
cry dropped from as found myself gazing into
face that had lost all of and with its
sharp cheek bones and high brdged nose had taken
the look of satyr.
"a year ago." he rushed on. @you were willing to
accept my love and married How do
you think the world would look upon that? Do you
think, perhaps. it would believe you were unaware
No. will choose rather to accept the Interpretation
/ mean to give it-that you knew / not free.
YOU accepted nv devotion permitted your name to be
amusing game-a play. Brand yourself so, If you
will, but warn you the mark viii burn deep and
you shall suffer"
started to my feet though felt like dead thing
unable to stand upon them "You couldn't cried
FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE
81 could not7" He peered into my face. you know
only your American love-hat, colorless
shall show you what love means to my blood Give
your hfe to me; and IN return you shall have hapPi-
No but ourselves need know of the
wife who is dead to me- who never existed for the
world this side of the Yet you refuse it
aware of her existence You we'll know what they
will say" And then delicate shrug: uplft Of the
eyebrows and smile that spoke volumes
sank back into my chair, shuddering / knew how
right he was and my blood went icy at thought OF
what his suggestion meant might have been
rabbit caught IN the coils OF boa constrictor-it
didn't much whether the latter represented the
world or the baron. was bound. it seemed, to be
the tears that drowned my voice, remembering my
resolution to exhaust all the sraegies OF war before
how terribly difficult it was going TO be.
IF you .really-loved me- as you say-you do,
succeeded in gasping at last, you would try TO win
girls are not like the foregn-they can be subu
gated by threats Whatever my summing up of you
and your deception last winter had at least judged
you gentleman, not coward
Ny thrust told He came my side and leaned
over me, his voice softened somewhat Then you
will give me the opportunity to try' It IS all ask
for the present"
Trembling-and fearful thought il best to submit
to temporary arbitration met his eye poor effort
at challenge IN my own, yet even then the man re-
PEELED me:
1y as you have tonight" warned f will be
creed would would fight frs to the last drop OF
blood in me-
rose, though had surrepttiously grasp the
chair to steady myself, and, drawing up measured
him as he had
The baron's eyes shone 1t IS so 1 love you .
bestp he exclaimed
But felt that in one moment more my poise would
collapse on its weak foundation, and dreaded
vealing the fear that held
81 rather think" I suggested, I'VE have stayed
away from the others quite long enough VIII you
take me back them2
(Continued Next Sundayl