The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-09-16

LOT wan, MAN, love you!
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 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-
GRAFTON, what it is to be gentleman,
| had followed you and caught you In
the dark within my arms"
She laid her hand upon his breast
and looked at him feelingly, entreat-
ingly, with touching consciousness of
his strength and her weakness.
What have taught you," she
asked, you will not forget?"
Never! Never!"
He released her waist and took her
hand and kissed it. 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, will say what
is to be DONE"
mot l." she answered, piteously,
but you. I 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"
mo! Mo-" she whispered, look of
terror coming into her face.
YES" he said. Through YOU I
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 l may, will take you in nv
arms; never again will 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 l can draw the
breath of life"
He rose to his feet as he spoke and
turned away from her and stood with
clasped hands and bowed shoulders.
In one moment the whole course of
their lives had changed. It had taken
an earthquake shock to do it, 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 It. 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 1T had never been. If I'm.
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 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 a 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-
row! To-day 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
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.
i trust YOU" she said, ''as love,
you. shall be safe with you. Yos1
shall not draw away from me in such
isolation. You have waited long for
kisses like this
And then the man spoke. the man IN
him.