The Southern herald., 1910-12-02

me the sapphire. couldn't let you
do that"
If ! gave you the sapphire" Flora
said, ~Oh. he wouldn't marry me
them" She couldn't tell how this had
come to her, but all at once it was
clear like a sign of her complete
failure; but Kerr only wondered at
her distress.
Well. if you don't want to marry
him, what do you eareq"
"oh, / don't / don't care for that"
She sank back Hstlessly in her chair
again. She couldn't explain, but in
her own mind she knew that if she
lost the sapphire she would so lose in
her own esteem; so fail at every point
that counted, that she would never be
able to see or be seen in the world
again as the same creature. Even to
ker-even to him to whom she would
nave yielded she would have become
a different thing. She realized now
she had staked everything on the
premise she wouldn't have to
yield; and now it began to ap-
pear to her that she would. His
weakness was appearing now as
terrible strength, strength
that seemed on the point Of crushing
her, but it could never convince her.
That strength of his had brought her
here Was it to happen here, that
strange thing she had foreseen, the
end of her? Was it here she was to
lose the sapphire, and him?
She looked vaguely around the
room, at the most impassiYe aspect
OF the place, as at a place she never
expected to leave; the darkening win
dows, the fast-shut door, the child
leaning on the desk, watching them
with sharp, incurious eyes-this would
be her niche forever. She would be
left forever with the crusts and the
dregs. And Kerr's figure in the twi-
hight seemed each time it moved to be
on the point Of vanishing into the
grayness. He moved continually up
and down the narrow spaces between
the tables. He troubled the dry re-
pose of the place. Sometimes he
looked at her, studying, questioning,
undecided. Once he stopped, as if
Just there an idea had arrested him.
lie looked at her. as if, she thought,
he were afraid Of her. Then for long
moments he avoided her, until, as
though he had come at last to his de-
cision, he walked straight up to her
and stood above her. She rose to
meet him. He was smiling.
Don't you know that you could
easily get rid of me?" he de-
manded. "Cressy would be too glad
to do it for you; and there are more
ways than one that l could get the
sapphire from you, if l 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 help
lessness flowed over her. Her eyes,
her throat filled 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 a moment helpless before
him.
"Oh, no." she whispered
"But l love you"
Her head fell back. She looked at
him rs if he had spoken the incred.
ible.
81 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 he- face;
she saw the image of herself in his
eyes. 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 not? Why won't you go with
me?' she heard him say again, still
close beside her
Il can't, 1 can't!" She clung to
the words. but for the moment she
had forgotten her reasons. She had
forgotten everything but the wonder.
full 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 ter
rors, and carry her away.
why not, if you love me?" he in
sisted. Are you afraid of those peo.
pie? Are you afraid of Cressy? He
shall never come near you"
She shook her head. ''No, 1t isn't
that"
He stopped and looked into face.
Then what keeps you?"
She looked up slowly.
my honor"
Your honor" For moment her
answer seemed to have him by sur.
prise. He mused, and again it came
dreamily back to her that he was
lOOlzipo ot bor onrOcc q ,yoct d;Aeo.