The Lamar register., 1910-03-09
CHAPTER III.-continued.


He shrugged impatiently you
know how little the last would affect
me. I am going away on longer
journey than four weeks. and ! want
you to come with me"
She withdrew her hand, which he
still held-not snatched it. but slowly
and meditatively withdrew 1t. Tenn
pest felt sensitively her complexion of
mind-he had surprised. but not
shocked her. Leaning towards her
in a low tone he pleaded with her
storming her citadel. whose weakness
he knew. Afterwards she thought in
reviewing the moment that he had
pleaded as one for life-as for raft
to be thrown to drowning man. Was
1t possible he loved her like this?
DO you realize what you are ask
ing me to do?" she said in a pause.
YES" he said shortly. give up a
London and husband whose life is
notorious, whose existence is a plag,e
to you. reputation amongst those
who have none themselves. a false sit
uation for a sincere one, for a life
with the man whom you say you love
Ormond will divorce you. and l will
marry you at once"
Lady Ormond had believed the orig
inal Tempest who had made her for
get everything but himself could not
return with the old charm and i'm
perious challenge. She had been
wrong then in her belief. for he was
talking her over again out of herself
and beyond her control.
why are you like this?" she muir
INJURED with some emotion. will you
be like this always? II I thought it. l
could not hesitate"
At her tone. certainly not the one
of brusque denial he had anticipated.
Tempest experienced curious min
Cling OF exultant victory and OF sin
cere regret
Tomorrow. Lefty" he said. and
took her hand again. you must come
with me tomorrow.
In her utter surprise Lady Ormond
was finding herself equal to Tempest's
demands. She did not hesitate for
one moment to make concession he
had never asked before. He was rich
would be richer-famous. not yet in
the zenith OF his celebrity. There was
in sharing his life Just one sacrifice.
and that she determined not to make
II she could avoid it.
'Basil!'-she leaned towards him.
lifted her head in way to reveal the
clear. pure lines of her neck and chin.
her face like flower turned to the
sun-''Basil, I am not cavilling, but
you are so impetuous and impractic-
able. Let me get the divorce from
Ormond. It is merely a form-one
can have for the asking. You don't
wish to sacrifice me needlessly. do
you? You are not so orgueilleux that
you. must see me Inundated. are you?
You are not vain-really. you know
won't you let me get out decently?"
He smiled and sighed. "Decently!"
he repeated with some scorn. Can
you. Lefty"
Il will see my lawyers tomorrow"
He frowned and hurried: Then you
refuse to come with me?"
NO" she nodded determinedly. II
don't refuse. If you are set on running
my reputation-for a whim-why. I
won't stand in the way of your ego
ISM.
He capitulated. We'll. you have
surprised me, Lefty; but then you are
a perfect type. and | fatter myself
now that I can predict the rest. You
shall take the narrow and more rep
utable way. as-you think 1t to be.
But you won't come with me. Lefty
you won't come
Nonsense" she laughed. and COW
cred his lips with her hand. You
have my word"
Under the hand which he held to
his lips he murmured something. 1t
was "Good-by-no respite
Lady Ormond was filled with salts
faction. She had been equal to the
supreme occasion with Tempest; she
was not an ordinary woman, then:
she had proved her mettle and distinc-
ton and was worth the greatest man
of the hour
Tempest took his leave early, went
to his club, and wrote her note
which she found on her dressing-table
when she went, very shortly after,
home and to her room.
Tempest was sitting in the smoking
room of the Carlton when a note was
brought and every eye was turned to
him as the pages voice called, mfr.
Basil Tempest" He beckoned the boy
and took the letter, which he thrust
into his pocket and went up to his
apartment. For a few seconds he
turned the letter over in his hands
as II he wished to defer certainty. his
face gloomy, curious, and still mock
ing. Then. going close to the electric
light SO that all its force shone on
the page. he took the single sheet of
paper from the envelope