The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-07

INJURED.
| obeyed, and at her nod re-
sumed my chair. She closed mel
eyes and for a long period was
deathly still. Her lovely face was
extraordinarily pallid. Then
thought her in the throes OF re-
awakened grief for Cavanagh S
death, and my pain to watch her
was intense. Now l know that In
her silence she was struggling
with herself. Or rather that pity
in her.
"Sir VIM. Dagmar does not
know that you can speak French!
she murmured. you have de-
ceived him, monsieur! That is
wrong. 1 think that you should
go away"
Thrice triple fool l was. Her
pity had cajoled her conscience
and she was offering me a chance
to escape. l, in my fatuation, only
thought that she chided me Tor
my deceit.
"Ah! mademoiselle," I muir
INJURED. at is true that / deceived
him, but when l did SO / was pen
niless and starving. l pray you
from my soul that you will not bid
me leave you nor inform Sir. Wm.
Dagmar of my SIM
"You do not wish to go?"
"Mademoiselle!" l cried, mot
though it were to Paradise as
sured!" rH a.
She blushed deeply, nevertheless
her eyes hardened and she frown-
ed. She was doubtless thinking
Gle has had his opportunity.
His fate henceforth must be upon
his own head! wash my hands
of it,"
dreamed she was offended at
my too ardent gaze. l lowered
my eyes at once in had humility.
"Stay, then!" she said, and her
voice assumed a tone of witching
tenderness.
I looked up in quick delight to
meet dazzling smile. With
such a smile Judith lured Holofer-
mes to destruction. But it need
ed not that with me, l was de-
stroyed already.
"My friend" she said, and she
extended me her hand. II thank
you for your company, but, alas!
the hours speed, and have much
to do. Good night"
/ tried to reply, but I could not.
She permitted me to kiss her
hand, however, and even smiled
again. I left the room in a de-
lirium of happiness, poor fool, and
not one of my enraptured dreams
that night disclosed to me the pre-
cipice upon whose brink / stood.
The days that followed were
over full of strange, untried ex-
periences for me to properly de-
scribe. Marion was by my side
whenever chance allowed. But
every hour she showed to me a diff
ferent mood, varied and elusive
distortion of her Utmost self. One
moment she was sad and stepped
in cold unbending gloom. Again
she was both grave and friendly at
a time. Sometimes, yet more in
frequently, she forced upon me
quarrels in caprice, to give her
scorn.
So another week elasped and a
third began. My masters life no
longer stood in any danger, it
seemed also that his suspicious
had long ago been utterly eradi-
Gated. Sometimes I wondered If
his penetrating insight had re-
marked my love for Marion.
One morning Marion came to
me and said: Monsieur, Sir Chas.
Venner, who has just departed
has ordered me to take holiday
tomorrow"
st trust, mademoiselle, that yon
that you will enjoy yourself,
I muttered in a trembling voice.
She gave me swift, shy glance
that cast down her eyes, folding
and unfolding her hands before
her.
"How could I enjoy myself
| do you think-alone?" she whis.
lpered.
"Let me go with you," I blurt-
| ed out. "I am not needed here
All! I am mad to dream that you
would condescend SO far. For.
give me of your pity, and forget
| the insolence of my presumption!'
But she clapped her hands and
laughed as blithely as child
l"Will you Gomez" she cried.
'sThen, listenl We shall go By
train to Hampton, and there We
| shall take boat. The river Is mos
lovely thereabouts aud you shall