The San Francisco call., 1909-09-05

Il
Il / could face the idea of it-but
really. really we care too much for each
other There's only one way out for
you and me and the sapphire. I'll take
you both"
Her clenched hands opened and fell
at her sides. A great wave of helpless
ness flowed over her. Her eyes. her
throat filed up with a rush of binding
tears She put out her hands, trying to
thrust him off, but he took the wrists
and held them apart and held her
moment helpless before him.
"Oh, no." she whispered.
Brit I love you"
Her head fell back She looked at
him as If he had spoken the incredible
"I love you" he repeated" though
God knows how it has happened"
The blood rushed to her heart
He was drawing her nearer.
She felt his breath upon her face;
she saw the image Of herself in his
ewes. She started to herself on the
edge of danger and made a struggle
to release her wrists. He let them go.
She sank down into her chair.
why not2 Why won't you go with
me7" she heard him say again still
close beside her
words. but for the moment she had
forgotten her reasons. She had for
rotten everything but the wonderful
fact that he loved her. He was there
within reach, and she had only to
stretch out her hand, only to say one
word. and he would cut through the
ranks Of her perplexities and terrors,
and carry her away.
Why not. If you love me?" he insist
ed Are you afraid of those people?
Are you afraid Of Cressy? He shall
never come near you.
She shook her head. No, IT isn't
that"
He stopped and looked into her face.
Then what keeps your"
She looked up slowly
MY honor"
D.. srYour honort" For moment her
answer seemed to have him by sur
prise. He mused, and again 1t came
dreamtly back to her that he was look
ing ct her across vast difference no
Will Of hers could ever bridge.
Don't YOU see what 1 am?' she
,,,-norred' scan't you imagine where
! stand in this hideous business? It's
NV trust I'm on their side; and, oh, In
epite of everything. I can't make my
self believe in giving IL to your
He pondered this very gravely.
Yes, I can see how you might feel
that way. But is the feeling really
vours2 Are YOU sure they haven't put
A. on you? Might not my honor do as
well for you, If you were mine?" 1t
struck her she had never connected
him with honor, and he read her
thought with a fash Of humor. Evl-
IDENTIFY II hasn't occurred 10 you that
I have an honor"
She looked at him sadly. In spite
Of everything I'm on the other sue.
I belong to them"
"You belong to me- His hand closed
on hers. Mine is the only honor you
have to think OF. Can't you trust that
am right? Can't you see 1t through
nv eyes? Can't you make yourself all
miner" His arm was around her now,
boI5tne her fast. but. she turned her
face away and his kisses fell only on
her cheek and hair. v
cor" she cried, "if only 1 couldT
Don't you love me?"
"Ob. YES. but that makes me see, all
the more. the dreadful difference be-
tween U.s."
ence. really.
"Ah. YES. you know it as well as 1.
You were afraid OF IT. too. All that
long time you were walking around
YOU were wondering whether you dared
TO take me"
He denied her steadily, Never
She loved him for that gallant de-
nial. for she knew he had been afraid,
horribly afraid more afraid than she
was now: but that strange quality Of
his that gave TO a double risk double
zest had set him all the hotter on this
resolution.
He sat for some long moments
thoughtfully looking straight before
him. She, glancing at his profile. white
and family glimmering in the twilight.
Y see" he said at last. TIL simply
have 10 take you In spite OF it" He
turned around to her, and reached his
hands down through the dusk She
was being drawn UP into arms which
she could not see. Her hands were
clasped around q neck, her cheek was
against a face which she had never
hoped to touch. Her reason and her
fears were stfhed and caught away
from her lips with her breath. she
was giving up to her awful weakness.
She was giving UP to the power OF
love. She was letting herself sink into
II as she would sink into deep wafer
The sense of drowning in this pro-
found unfathomable element, of shut
ting her eyes and opening her arms 20
81 was the highest she had ever
touched; but all at once the memory
Of what she was leaving behind ner,
like q last glimpse Of sky, swept her
With fear. She made q desperate ef-
fort 70 rescue herself before the waters
quite closed over her head
She pulled herself free. Without his
arms around her for the first moment
she could hardly stand. She took an
uncertain step forward; then with a
rush she reached the white curtains.
They tapped behind her. She heard
Kerr laugh, a note quiet, caressing,
almost content. II came from the
gloom like disembodied voice OF tri-
uuaph. Her rush had carried her into
the middle of the anteroom. At this
last moment was there to be no mir
acle TO save her? There was no rescue
among these dumb walls and closedup
windows The purple child gave her
n sharp, bird-like glance, as If the
most that this wild woman could want
was change" Flora looked behind
her and saw Kerr. who had put aside
the curtains and was standing look
ing at her He was bright and trium-
phant in that twilight room. He was
not afraid of losing her now He knew
In that one moment he had imprisoned
her forever! She saw him approaching,
but though all her mind and spirit
strained for flight. something had hap
pened to her will 1t tottered like her
knees.
He stopped and picked up an artif-
cial rose. which had fallen from her