Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-09-30

QouDt. After saying so much, was he
going TO say nothing more? She had
a feeling hat she had not heard the
worst yet, and when he turned back
70 her from the other end of the room
there was something so haggard, sc
harassed, so fairly guilty about him
that If she had ever thought OF tell
ing him the truth of how she came by
the ring she put it away from her
now.
But beneath his distress she recog-
nlzed a desperate earnestness. There
was something he wanted at any cost.
but he was going to be gentle with
her. She had felt before the poten-
TALLY of his gentleness. and she
doubted her power to resist it. She
famed up all the flame of anger that
had swept her into the She re-
minded herself that the greatest gen
tleness might only be a blind; that
there was nothing stronger thar ant
ing something very much. and that
the protection of the jewel was very
thin. But when he stood beside her
She realized he held a stronger
weapon against her than his gentle,
ness, something apart from his inten-
ton.
He was speaking, almost coaxingly.
as if to a child. Il understand" he
a mistake. But surely you don't eX-
pect to keep it now. 1t will only be
an annoyance to you"
She turned on aim. What could it
be to you?"
Kerr, planted before her, with his
head dropped, looked, looked, looked,
as if he gave silence leave to answer
for him what it would. 1t answered
with a hundred echoes ringing up to
her from long corridors of conjecture.
half-articulated words breathing of
how extraordinary the answer must
be that he did not dare to make.
What will you axe for it," he said
at last.
She was silent. With a sick dis
trust it came to her that 1t was the
very worst thing he could have said
after that speaking silence.
She stepped away from him. This
thing is not for sale"
He stared at her with amazement;
then threw back his head and laughed
as if something had amused him
above all tragedy.
You are an extraordinary crea-
ture,' he said, but really 1 must
have it. I can't explain the why Of it;
only give the sapphire to me, and
you'll never be sorry for having done
that for me. Whatever happens, you
may be sure l won't talk. Even if
the thing comes out, you shan't be
mixed up in it, He had come near
her again, and the point of his long
fOretinger rested on her arm. She
was motionless, overwhelmed with
pure terror, with despair.
why not give it to me now" he
urged, "since, of course, you can't
keep it? 1 could have it now in spite
of you"
Everything in her sprang up in
antagonism to meet him. Il know
what you are" she cried, but you
shan't have it. You have no more
to it thar l.. You can't get it
you"
He had grown suddenly paler; his
eyes were dancing, fastened upon her
His long hands closed and
opened. She looked down, arrested
at the sight of her hand clenched Just
where her breath was shortest, over
the sapphire's hiding-place.
He smiled. How easily she had be-
trayed herself! But she abated not a
lot of her defiance, challenging him,
now he knew its hidding-place, to
take the sapphire if he could. But he
did lot move. And it came to her
then that she had been ridiculous to
think for an instant that this man
would take anything from her by
force. What she had to fear was his
will at work upon hers, his persuasion,
his ingenuity. She thought of the pur-
pie irises, and how he had drawn
them toward him in the crook of his
her dread was lest he
meant to overcome her with some
5ubtlety she could not combat.
The click of a moving latch brought
his eyes from hers to the door.
Some one is coming in," he said In
/ guarded voice. 1t warned her that
ler face showed too much, but she
could not hope to recover her com
OOSuI6. Sue HdIuIy WduJeu 10. SHc
vas in a state to fancy that a secret
could be kept by main force; and she
.urned without abatement of her reck-
ess mood and took her hand from
where she had held it clenched upon
breast and stretched It out to
Mrs. Herrick.
The lady had stood IN the doorway
/ G1oment-a long-featured, whitish,
modelled face, draped IN a dull green
7eil, a tall figure whose flowing skirts
If black melted away into the back
ground of the hall-before she came
Onward and met her hostess hand
With a clasp firm and ready.
I'm so glad to find you here" she
Che 1OOEa6 djroHtIu into E1ora'c