The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-29

claimed. "Are you mad? He may
be here at any moment now. Go.
at once!"
II shall not go!"
my house is my own! I am my
own"
you know it is not true, Ma
DAM"
l saw the slow shudder. that
crossed her form, the fringe of wet
which sprang to her eyelashes.
Again the pleading gesture of her
half-open fingers.
"Ah. what matter?" she said. cit
is only one woman more, against SO
much. What is past, is past, Mon
sieur. Once down, a woman does
not rise"
You forget history-you forget
the thief upon the cross"
The thief on the cross was not q
woman. No, I am guilty beyond
hope!"
Rather, you are only mad be.
yond reason, Madam. l shall not
go so longd as you feel thius-al
though God knows I am no confes.
sor"
81 confessed to you-told you my
story, so there could be no bridge
across the gulf between us. My
happiness ended then"
ut is of no consequence that we
be happy, Madam. l give you back
your own words about yOn torch OF
principles"
For time she sat and looked at
me steadily. There was, l say
some sort Of radiance on her face
though l, dull of wit, could neither
understand nor describe it. l only
knew that she seemed to ponder
for long time, seemed to resolve
at last. Slowly she rose and left
me, parting the satin draperies
which screened her boudoir from
the other room. There was silence
for some time. Perhaps she prayed
I do know.
Now other events took this situa-
ton in hand. I heard football or
the walk, cautious knocking on
the great front door. So, my lord
Pakenham was prompt. Now
could not escape even if l. liked.
Pale and calm, she reappeared at
the parted draperies. l lifted the
butts of my two derringers into
view at my side pockets, and at a
glance from her, hurriedly stepped
into the opposite room. After a
time l heard her open the door in
response to a second knock.
l could not see her from my sta.
ton, but the very silence gave me a
picture of her standing, pale, forbid,
ding, rebuking the first rude ex-
clamation of his ardor.
Come now, is he gone? Is the
place safe at last?" he demanded.
Enter, my lord" she said simply.
"This is the hour you said," he
began; and she answered.:
MY lord. it is the hour"
But come, what's the matter,
then? You act solemn, as though
this were a funeral, and not-just a
kiss" | heard him add.
He must have advanced toward
her. Continually l was upon the
point of stepping out from my con.
cealment, but as continually she
eft that not quite possible by some
word or look or gesture of her own
with him.
''Oh. hang it," heard him grum.
BILE, at length; chow can one tell
what a woman'll do? Damn it,
Helen!"
Madam you mean"
"Well, then, Madam, why all this
hoighty-toighty? Haven't | stood
flouts and indignities enough from
you? Didn't you make a show of
me before that ass, Tyler, when
was at the very point of my great
est coup? You denied knowledge
that | knew you had. But did dis
card you for that? | have found
you since then playing with Mexico,
Texas, United States all at once?
Have | punished you for that? No,
| have only shown you the more. re-
gard"
my lord, you punish me most
when you most show me your re-
gard"
Well, God bless my soul, listen
at that Listen at that-here, now,
when Tve-Madam, you shock me,
you grieve me. could | have a
glass of wine?"
| heard her ring for Threlka,
heard her fasten the door behind
her as she left, heard him eulp over
his glass. For myself. although
did not yet disclose myself, | felt
no doubt that ! should kill Paken-
ham in these rooms. | even pom
dered whether | should shoot him
through the temple and cut off his
consciousness, or through the chest
and so let him know why he died
After a time he seemed to look
about the room, his eye falling upon
the Uttered floor.
my key he exclaimed;
broken. Who did that? l can't
use it now"
You will not need to use it, my
lord"
But thought it, yesterday. Had
| given you all of the Oregon coun-
try it would not have been worth
twenty thousand pounds. What I'll
have tonight-what I'll take-will
be worth twice that. But | boughl
that key. and what | buy | keep
| heard a struggle, but she re-
pulsed him once more in some way.
Still my time had not come. He
seemed now to stoop, grunting, to
pick up something from the floor.