The Mena weekly star., 1910-06-30


 SO exquisite that 1t was almost pain. l He sat her down presently on the sand and knelt before her. The sun light sprang through the gray haze | on the horizons edge and lighted her lace as he peered into it. Suddenly he threw himself prostrate before her and his lips upon her feet.
 Not there" she whispered, laying | her hand upon his bent head. but nere. here in my arms. upon my heart. for Man, Man, love youl" Then kneeling by her side he took her once more within his arms. But you have not said!" she began at last, that you loved me-"
 There is no word," he said. softly
 in that speech that you have taught me which is equal to what feel. You don't know how l have looked upon you and longed for you ever since you made me know and feel that was a man with a mans soul Night after night have watched you as you went to your nook in the rocks. But that you have taught me honor and consid eration, what 1t is to be a gentleman. [ had followed you and caught you fin the dark within my arms"
 She laid her hand upon his breast and looked at him feelingly. entreat- lngly, with touching consciousness of his strength and her weakness.
 What I have taught you" she asked, you will not forget?"
 "Neverl Neveri"
 He released her waist and took her hand and kissed 1t There was as much passion in the pressure of his lips upon her hand as there was in the beat of his heart against her own. she felt.
 You" he continued, Twill say what Is to be done"
 Not L. she answered, piteously, but you. have no strength when you are by Since that moment when you kissed me, you are the master and the man, but you will respect me in my helplessness?"
 "As if you were God in heaven" cried the man, raising his hand as one who makes a VOW. You are to me everything that is pure, that is holy. that is lovely"
 "Noi No," she whispered a look of terror coming into her face.
 Yes" he said. Through you know God. through you know woman. You are sacred to me Never again. unless you give me leave, will press my lips to yours never again, unless you say I may. wirrI take you fin my arms; never again wpl even touch your hand. Indeed. indeed, I cannot do these things And yet I will love you in ways of which you cannot dream so long as can draw the breath of life.~
 He rose to his feet az he spoke and turned away from her and stood with clasped hands and bowed shoulders. In one moment the whole course of an earthquake shock to do 1t. but so terrific had been the submerged fires of mutual passions that whisper op- portunely uttered would have effected the same revolution. She sat and watched him wondering what would be the end of 1t. She knew at last what love was, not the pale phil osophical emotion she had experienced in the cabin of that yacht. God, how she hated that recollection. How she wished that it had never been If un- touched by man she could have been cast upon that island to be given to this man who looked upon her as goddess She had told him some of her history, but not the part which was vital It had been easy not to enlighten him wholly as to that. He knew nothing about conditions. He had never seen a ship or boat within his recollection, and the story she had settled upon and told him was one that received instant acceptance from him Indeed there was nothing that she had told him. or could have told him. that he would not implicitly have accepted and believed. The king could do no wrong She was incarnate truth. And she would have to tell him all now She would have to put into that pure soul, alive with passionate devotion. admiration. respect. every feeling that can make up the sum of mighty love, this story of evil and shame. There was no help for it. She would have to tell him.
 But she could not tell him now, not on this day. She would have few perfect hours. She would stand for a little while within the vale of Eden. She would look for a little time through the gates of heaven. To-mor- rowl Today she would have and she would enjoy to the full. She rose softly to her feet as well and stepped closer to him. She laid her hand upon his shoulder. She could see the mus cles in his arm tighten as he clenched his hands the harder. She turned him gently about and lifted her perfect lips l to his. She kissed him again. Her hand sought him: her fingers parted his iron grasp. She drew his arm about her and nestled against him.
 q trust you" she said, "as love