Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-08

She felt him shuddering again. and his
clasping arms strained her so close they
almost hurt.
THANK God. I came in time." she
heard him whisper.
But you did come in time" she re-
minded him. for she could still feel him
with the horror Of the thing.
You brought me back. and I'm not even
afraid any more" She paused and there
was little silence. Then she added.
And I'm quite warm now"
HIS arms slackened for q moment and
then once more they clasped her close.
"I-I-don't want to let you Co." he
said, and his voice had a note in 1t which
she had never heard before. Jeanne
Jeanne. dear, can you forgive me-forgive
me that It's true? Forgive me for telling
you? have the whole world in my arms
when hold you like this. And life and
death and promises, and past deeds, and
right and wrong, are all swallowed up,
just in the love Of you. God forgive me,
Jeanne; it's truer' Then he unclasped
his arms. "Can you forgive me, too?"
She caught her breath in a great Sob
turning little she clasped her own
young arms around his neck and held
him tight.
It was a long time after that before
either Of them spoke. Finally. Jeanne
asked a question::
But why her voice broke in an
unsteady little laugh. "but why do you
ask to be forgiven? You told me the
yacht mad gone. that you-loved me- me-
That's why allowed you to stay"
Eyes. but there's an infinity Of ways of
loving. Jeanne. dear. I had q right to
love the soul Of you. for that was what
had given me my own soul back and my
through this winter in the hope Of a res
cue, the hope that when another day
came 1t would bring ship to take you
Dack into your own real world. couldn't
go back with you. you know. I q man
with stain upon him. Since that was
so. hadn't any right to love you this
other way. I wonder II you understand
even now. I love all Of you; from the
crown OF glory you wear down to the
print your boot has left In the snow. 1
love your lashes. your wistful lips. The
touch Of anything that is warm with your
hands can thrill me. And as for the
hands themselves-oh, I can't make you
Yes" she said. very softly, IT under
And yet" he began after awhile, Il
haven't any right, when I must give you
up some day 80
She laid her fingers on his lips.
We'll not talk Of rights she said.
Not now. not tonight. But there's some
thing more to say. Philip. it wasn't the
that made me think I wanted it all to
end. That was the excuse made to my
self. but 1t was only an excuse. The real
despair came when saw you flying, saw
how gloriously free you were up there,
and thought it wasn't love that kept you
here beside me- hut 0nlv nifv- We'll
a sort Of love. perhaps. but not what 1
not what I felt for you. 1 seen
you draw away when I touched you.''
She heard a sound in his throat that
might have been sob. though. 1t seemed
meant for laugh, and she felt his arms
tighten about her with a sudden passion
that almost hurt. SO she said no more,
just kissed him and lay still.
It was a good while after that that she
made a move to release herself
Let me go now" she said. and I'll
get you some supper, or breakfast, or
whatever we decide to call it-only you'll
have to 60 down into the ice cave to get
some more supplies. We've nothing much
left up here"
There were a dozen small employments
she might have availed herself Of while
he was gone. but she found 1t hard to fix
her mind upon any Of them. Somehow, in
the immensely Of that moment, the de-
tails OF life were hardly important enough
to engage her interest.
She dropped down on q heap of bear
ing out at the black velvety patch of sky
which capped the snow tunnel. Even
when she heard Cayley coming back UP
the ice chimney she did not Immediately
turn to look at him. It was, in q way, q
sort OF luxury not to: to think that il she
come nearer and feel his hands upon her
shoulders.