Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-23
II
Her Prince
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protection. For InOmenI he loA6 o'
everything but that he was alone with
her upon the island-that she was
beautiful and that she loved him with
the first passion of a young love. The
time of night, the mystery of the Sit
uation the charm of the girl, over
came him, and he held out ms arms
to her. An intoxicating sense OF bliss
overcame her as she sank into theln'
and felt his tender kisses on her cheeK.
Poor little child" he said, gently
drawing her down on the rocky seat by
the cave. You are frightened. There
lean against me, little one Let US
be happy while we can. You nave
found what you were searching for at
last. Poor little bird, shut up in cage
of gold-you have broken through the
bars and got your freedom!
She fell asleep, with her head upon
his breast, her fair young face turned
up toward the sky, her beautiful bos-
ON heaving gently with each breath
like a child in it's first sleep of lnno-
cence And the man of the world
looked out toward the sea, lost-deeply
lost-in thought. The waves rose high
er and higher She stirred in her sleep
and started at their swishing sound,
but smiled when she saw his face.
us not it beautiful" she murmured.
What, sweetheart" he asked, softly.
ooh, everything" she answered the
you"
His grasp frightened round her, his
lips were touching hers Listen to me,
little one," he whispered. This is only
a foretaste of love; this is but peep
through a half closed door. The great,
broad, unlimited valley lies beyond us.
Your little feet have never trodden
there, but, by your will, they shall yet
tread. l cannot promise you lifelong
remuneration. A past too black for
sensitive eyes like yours prevents 1t
but 1 can promise you the happiness
you have craved for. Will you come
with me, little sweetheart? Will you
risk the bitter dregs of the cup for the
sake of the sweet essence flowing at
the top?"
She listened and her breath came fast
in hysterical sobs. There was the
sound of the splash of oars in the dis
lance. Herr Goshen sprang to his feet
and a voice answered his call. The
passing sail had come.
Lady Sylvia was dressed for the
opera and her maid regarded her with
satisfaction as she pinned the spray or
pink geranium near to the full WHITE
throat. She had noticed change in
her mistress these last few days and
she went down to remark on it to the
servants.
ut isn't his lordship that she's go
ing to the opera with tonight" she
said-''his lordship's in the library-it's
another gentleman-that foreigner
that's been so much here lately. It's
wonder his lordship isn't jealous, for
her ladyship was never better looking
than she is now; and when a woman
grows suddenly good looking-well,
there's generally a cause for it,"
Lord Robertshaw was not uneasy. He
had allowed Herr Goshen to come as he
would to the castle He had allowed
Sylvia to go with him where she liked.
cast every temptation in a woman's
way" was his motto, "and let her
prove her virtue. The untried woman
is not virtuous at all" But he did not
know how sensitive were the little feet
he had placed the net for.
In the closed carriage Lady Sylvia
drove away by the side of the only man
who had brought the sunshine into her
uneventful life. They had taken the
path by the sea. The tide was high
and the moonlight was shining upon
the inwashng waves as If a white an
gel of purity had. over all, spread out
her shining wings.
It was the sight of this that awoke
the girl from her dream. The vision
came to her with startling reality. The
prayer of st. Agnes had been uncon-
sciously her prayer from birth. She had
wandered to the edge of the precipice,
like one drugged by powerful mar
cotic; and now, as she opened her eyes
to the depths beneath her, she started
back, and with a frightened cry reached
out both hands to the man who had led
her blindfolded there.