The Southern herald., 1910-11-04

a Ieeling that she had not heard the
worst yet, and when he turned back
to her from the other end Of the room
there was something so haggard, so
harassed, so fairly guilty about him
that If she had ever thought OF tell
ing him the truth of how she came by
the ring she put it away from her
now.
But beneath his distress she reeog-
nized a desperate earnestness. There
was something he wanted at any cost.
but he was going to be gentle with
her. She had felt before the poten-
tiality of his gentleness, and she
doubted her power to resist It. She
famed up all the fame Of anger that
had swept her into the room. She re-
minded herself that the greatest gen
teness might only be a blind; that
there was nothing stronger than want.
ing something very much, and that
the protection of the jewel was very
thin. But when be stood beside her
she realized he held a stronger
weapon against her than his gentle
ness, something apart from his inten-
ton.
He was speaking. almost coaxingly,
as If to a child. Il understand" he
was saying. Il know all about it. It's
q mistake. But surely you don't ex-
pect to keep it now. 1t will only be
an annoyance to you"
She turned on him. What could it
be to you?"
Kerr, planted before her, with his
head dropped, looked, looked. looked,
as if he gave silence leave to answer
for him what it would. 1t answered
with hundred echoes ringing up to
her from long corridors of conjecture,
half-articulated words breathing of
how extraordinary the answer must
be that he did not dare to make.
What will you take for it?" he said
at last.
She was silent. With a sick dis
trust II came to her that 1t was the
very worst thing he could have said
after that speaking silence.
She stepped away from him. "Thls
thing is not for sale"
He stared at her with amazement; I;
then threw back his head and laughed
as If something had amused him
above all tragedy.
"You are an extraordinary crea-
ture," he said, but really / must
have It. can't explain the why of it;
only give the sapphire to me, and
you'll never be sorry for having done
that for me. Whatever happens, you
may be sure l won't talk. Even II
the thing comes out, you shan't be
mixed up In IT," He had come near
her again, and the point of his long
forefnger rested on her arm. She
was motionless, overwhelmed with
pure terror. with despair,
why not give it to me now," he
urged, Since, of course, you can't
keep it? I could have it now in spite
Of you"
Everything in her sprang up in
antagonism to meet him. II know
what you are" she cried, "but you
shan't have it. You have no more
right to it than I. You can't get II
away from me, and l shan't give it to
you"
He had grown suddenly paler; his
eyes were dancing, fastened upon her
breast. His long hands closed and
opened. She looked down, arrested
at the sight Of her hand clenched Just
where her breath was shortest, over
the sapphire's hiding-place.
He smiled How easily she had be-
trayed herself! But she abated not a
jot of her defiance, challenging him
now he knew its hiddingplace, to
take the sapphire If he could. But he
did not move. And It came to her
then that she had been ridiculous tC
think for an instant that this man
would take anything from her by
force. What she had to fear was his
will at work upon hers, his persuasion
bis ingenuity. She thought of the pur
pie irises, and how he had drawn
them toward him in the crook of his
, cane-and her dread was lest he
meant to overcome her with some
subtlety she could not combat.
The click of a moving latch brought
his eyes from hers to the door.
, "Some one is coming in," he said II
a guarded voice. 1t warned her that
, her face showed too much, but she
: could not hope to recover her com
/ posure. She hardly wanted to. She
was in state to fancy that a secret
= could be kept by main force; and she
! turned without abatement of her reck
!. less mood and took her hand from
where she had held 1t clenched upor
her breast and stretched it out t
+. Mrs. Herrlck.
, The lady had stood in the doorway
), moment-a long-featured, whitish
modelled face, draped in dull greer
veil, tall figure whose flowing skirts
of black melted away into the back
$ ground of the hall-before she came
: forward and met her hostess hant
with clasp firm and ready.
u I'm so glad to find you here,' she
8 said. She looked directly into Flora'i
e eyes, into the very center of her agi