The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-08

She saw that he looked pale, worn, as
he bad not been last night, and, what
struck her most strangely, angry. The
hand that held hers shook with the
violent pulse that was beating in it.
He turned to Clara.
will you pardon us, Mrs. Britton?"
Then after another patient moment,
Miss Gilsey has something to say
to me-" Still he made no motion to
move away, and at last Clara seemed
to understand what was expected of
her. She flushed, and in the middle
of that color her eyes flashed double
steel. For the first time in Flora's
memory she was at loss. She passed
them without a word
Kerr looked after the little brilliant
figure. moving daintily away through
sun and shadow, with deep disgust in
his face. But whOn he turned to
Flora disgust lifted to high severity.
why didn't you come, last night?"
II couldn't. He was there, Harry,
outside my door"
In Gods name! What did you tell
him?"
Nothing. We did not speak-but /
couldn't get past him!" The suspic-
ion in his face was more than she
could bear. You must believe me-
| for, if you don't, we're both lost!"
He had her by both wrists, now, and
gently made her face him. 81 have
believed in you to the extent of COM
ing alone to a place I know nothing
of, because you wanted me. Now that
am here, what is it you have to say
to me?"
"Oh, nothing more than have said
before" she pleaded; "only that, ten
times more earnestly"
you extraordinary child" At first,
he was pure amazement you've
brought me so far, you've come so far
yourself-you've got us both here in
such danger, to tell me only this?
How could you be so mad-so cruel?"
She had locked her hands in front
of her until the nails showed white
with the pressure. 1T was more dan
| gerous there than here. You don't
know what has happened since saw
you. And thought if you and could
only be alone together, without the
fear of them always between us,
could show you, l could persuade
YOU" Before his look she broke
down. "Well-you see, they followed
us-they are here"
Grant it, they are" He seemed to
laugh at them. You have still your
chance Give everything to me and
can save you still"
"'Save me?' Oh, nothing could hap
pen to me so terrible as having you
break my heart like this! If l should
give the sapphire to you l should
lose you-even the thought of you
for ever. Nothing could ever be right
with us again! Won't you" she
pleaded, won't you go?" and lifting
her hands, taking his face between
them, Wont you, because l love
your"
He stood steady to this assault, and
smiled down upon her. Without you
and without it will not bulge. Come
now, this is the end. l never meant
| to do another thing"
She covered her face with her
| hands.
Come, come" His voice vas urg
| ing her, now very gentle. Its more
| for your sake than for the jewel now"
| And his arm around her shoulder was
gently forcing her to walk beside him
| JY.iu hut int
the tree-grown sheltered wing of the
| garden. BY interlacing paths, from
| the tremulous gray willows under the
somber, clashing eucalyptus spears,
under dark wings of cypress they
were moving. She was bracing in
every nerve against the unnerving of
! his presence.
It had been always so Even across
| the distance of a room the mere sight
of him had had for her the power to
summon those wild spirits of the soul
and body that turn reason to va
por. And now so close, with his arm
around her, that same power she had
, felt when she saw him first, the power
that had made her come out and be
herself then, the power that had over
whelmed her in the little restaurant,
was leagued against her again to make
her do this one more thing, which she
wouldn't do. Never, never! Despair
ing, she wondered that such an evil
motive could have such strength.
"Where have you got it now?" she
heard him asking, and she pointed
downward toward where the pouch
at her knee was swinging to and fro.
Take it up then" and like hipno-
tized creature she gathered it into her
hand. But, once she had it, she held
it clenched against him.
you're going to give it to me-" he
prompted, aren't you?-aren't you?"
and looking steadily in her face his
hand shut softly on her wrist, and
held out her clenched hand in front of
her. And still they walked, slowly.
Like a pendulum the long gold chain
swung from her clenched fingers. To
| the tree-top birds they seemed as
quiet as two lovers speaking of their
wedding day She felt her tension
give way in this quiet-her hand re-
lax.
Dearest" The word brought up
her eyes to his with start of tender
ness. open it," he said, and her
hand, involuntarily, sprung the pouch
wide. They stared together into it.
The little hollow golden shell was
empty.
For moment it held her incred-
ulous. Then, faint and sick, all the
! foundations of her faith reeling, she
slowly raised her eyes to him in ac'
cusation. She was not ready for the
terrible sternness in his,
Have you lied TO me?" he asked