Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-06-03
Continued from last week
xI.
REVELATIONS.

had stopped. then, stepping to the bal
ustrade. he stoed booking off. The
night was warm In the sky stars
seemed trying TO maintain their places
between dark. fioatlng clouds. The
sound of music was waited from with
in. John Steele listened They were
beginning once more TO dance He
stepped toward the window ard paus-
ed. His eyes seemed searching the
throng. They found what they sought
"a slender. erect form. the gown soft,
white, like foam; a face animated. joy
ous. For an instant only, however. he
Joeelyn turned in the dance around
her waist glimpsed a black band tip
ped by slender masculine fingers;
above, a cynical c~ountenance. Or was
it all cynical now? A brief glance
showed more than the habitual ex-
preston, a ~sedulousness, some passion
ate feeling. Lord Ronsdale's look
seemed once more to say he held and
claimed her-tlat she was his or soon
would be.
The moments passed. A distant buzz
replaced melody-the human murmur
the scraping of strings. From the
forest came a faraway cry, the mel
ancholy sound of some wood creature.
He continued m~otionless. then sudden
ly wheeled swiftly.
''That is you. Mr.. Steele?" A voice,
young, gay. sounded near. Jocelyn
Wray came toward him. From her
shoulders foated a white scarf. You
have come out for the freshness of
the garden? Although" she added.
''you shouldn't altogether seclude your
self from the madding crowd"
MOP
Did she note the strangeness of the
look she seemed to have surprised on
his face? Her glance grew on
the instant slightly puzzled and show
ed a passing constraint. Then her
manner became light again. mo. Es-
p~ecially as You are leaving tomor-
row, l believer"
Eyes" He tried to speak in conven-
tional tones. but his gaze swerved from
the graceful figure with its dim. white
LILIES lIdl O1idh6CA LII III tlAS
faint breath of air, stealing SO gently
by them and away. MY time is al
most up-the allotted period of my
brief Elysium!" he half laughed. 81
have enjoyed myself immensely-much
more than l deserve"
"Have you?' She glanced at him.
A flicker of light touched the strong
face.
1t seemed difficult for him to speak.
Finally he said:
81 have neglected or forgotten the
pleasure" with a slight laugh, "of con-
graduating you. Is that the word?
Or Lord Ronsdale-he, l believe, is the
one to be congratulated"
Congratulated" Her face had
changed, grown colder. His hand
grasped the stone balustrade, but he
forced "a smile to his lips. Il cannot
imagine who has started-why you
speak thus. Lord Ronsdale is an old
friend of my uncle and mine, too. but
that is all. You are mistaken"
"Mistaken?" The word broke from
him quickly. The strained expression
of his face gave way to another be
could i'll conceal.
"Goodbyr!' he said slowly. 81 an
leaving rather early in the morning. l
shall not see you again."
"Goodby-at least until we meet in
London" she ended lightly.
THAT may not be-"
"Why, you are not thinking of de-
sorting your dingy metropolis?"
He did not answer.
Did she realize he was saying good
by to her for all time? She held her
head higher, pressed her lips slightly
closer; then she sought to withdraw
her hand, but he. as hardly knowing
what he did or yielding to sudden, ir-
resistible temptation, clasped for an in
slant the slim fingers closer. They
seemed to CULVER in his.
John Steele breathed deeply. He
continued to regard her. so fair, SO
beautiful. An instant and he bent. A
breath or his lips swept the delicate
white fingers: then he dropped them.
Her hand swung back against the cold
stone. On her breast something bright,
an ornament, huttered, became still.
Behind a bird chirped. Her glance
turned toward the ballroom.
up
Other voices. loud. merry. coming
from one of the open French windows
interrupted.
"Jocelynr' they called to her. Faces
looked out "Jocelyn!"
"Yesr' She was walking rapidly
from him now, a laugh. a little forced.