The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-09

ped III the, SQdQe OI d CIuup OA tACSS that hung upon the edge of the stream. As they were gravely discussing the events of the night Neenah came up to them from beyond the bridge. She salaamed gracefully to the Nsahib." She had-no eyes for royalty.
 "Excel1ency," she began breathless- ly, '.it is Selim who would have pri- vate speech with the most gracious sahib. It is to be quick, excellency. Selin is under the grousd, excellency."
 "In the cellars?"
 "Yes exce1lency. It is so dark there that one cannot see, but Neenah will lead you Selim has sent me. But come nowv'
 Chase felt his ears burn when he turned to find delicate, significant smile on Genevra's lips. Don't let me detain you," she said, ever so politely.
 "Wait, pIeaser' he exclaimed. E1s Se1im hurt?" he demanded of Neenah, who shook her head vigorously.
 "Then there is no reason why you should not accompany us, princess"
 "I am not at all necessary to the un- dertaking,'' she said coldly, turning to leave him.
 "Selim has found fuses and gunpow- der laid in the cellars, excellency-in the secret vaults" began Eeenah ea- gerly, divining the cause of the white lady's hesitation.
 This astounding piece of news swept away the feeble barrier Genevra would have erected in her pique. She con scented to accompany Chase into the cellars, a spirit of adventure overcom- ing certain scrupIes which might have restrained her under other conditions. Neenah led them through the wine cellars and down into the vaults be- yond the dungeons. The princess clutched Chase's hand tightly as they stole through the bleak, chill corridor She found herself wondering if the girl was to be trusted. What if she were leading them into a trap? She would have whispered her fears into Chase's ear had not sharp "Shv' come from the girl who was leading. Ge- nevra felt queer little throb of hatred for the gfrl-she could not explain it. The dungeon was of to the right. They could hear the insistent murmur of voices, with now and then a laugh from the distant cells. The guard could be heard scofing at his charges. With a caution that seemed wholly ab surd to the two white people, Neenah guided them through the maze of mar row passages, dark as Erebus and chill
 as the grave. Chase checked a hys- terica1 impulse to laugh aloud at the proceedings. It was like playing at children's game.
 He was walking between the two women, Neenah ahead. Genevra be-
 hind. Each clasped one of his hands. Suddenly he found himself experience ing an overpowerfng desire to exert the strength of his arm to draw the
 princess c1ose-close to his insfstent
 body. The touch of her flesh, the clutch of her cold little hand, filled him with the most exquisite sense of
 possession. The magnetism of life charged from one to the other, strik- ing fire to the blood. He was forget ting Ncenah, forgetting himself, think ing only of the opportunity and its fascination. In another instant he would have drawn her hand to his lips. Neenah came to a standstfll and
 uttered a warning whisper. Chase re-
 covered himself with a mighty start, chill as of one avoiding an unseen peril sweeping over him. Genevra heard the sharp, painful intake of his breath and felt the sudden rela tian
 of his 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 a fervor that
 was as unmistakable as it was shame less.
 Neenah may have felt the magnetic
 current that coursed through these
 surcharged creatures. She was snil- ing mysteriously to herself. "wait here," she whispered to Chase,
 ever so softly. She released his hand and moved off in the b1ackness of the passage. q will bring Selim," came back to them.
 "Ohw fell faintly, tremulously, from
 Genevra's lips. 1t was trap, after
 all! But it was not the trap laid by
 a traitor. She fell all aquiver. Her
 heart duttered violently: her breath
 came quickly. Alone with him, and
 their blood leaping to the touch that
 thrilled!
 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 or eAQulSlte Joy swept over nIm-Iu0 joy of a temptation that knew no fear, no conscience. He found her cold lit- tie hand and c1asped 1t in tense fin gers-fngers that throbbed with the call to passion. He drew her close; their bodies touched and sweetly trem- | b1ed.
 Are you afraid?' he whispered in tones he had never heard before "Yeso she murrnured convulsfyelv-
 ''of you! Please, please, don't!' At the same time she frightened her clutch
 upon his hand and crept closer to him, governed by an unconquerable craving. Chase had the sensation of smothering | He could not believe the senses which | told him that she was responding to