The Washington herald., 1910-08-13

what wanted, and drew up the team
and we waited. l heard footsteps They
seemed TO be coming straight toward the
carriage. No, they were passing to the
left of it. II was probable that this
person was quite unconscious OF our
presence but my heart was beating so
hard it seemed 10 me he surely must
hear 1t.
The footsteps stopped. I hardly dared
to breathe. Then heard the rough sound
OF a match there came small blue
spurt ar,l suddenly in the little upthrown
illumination saw the lips holding tightly
the cigarette; 4 little higher the flame
stretched. and / saw the eyes and the
black bar OF the brows. I almost scream
cd. At the same instant he looked up
and saw me.
It was just for an instant we gazed al
each other thus. Then the match went
out. the light OF the cigarette failed. and
saw II drop Ike a glow-worm 10 the
ground was looking again into nothing
but the impenetrable' dark. Could It have
been real-that glimpse Of him-or only
picture on the light?
I leaned forward through the window
and called softly into the blackness:
Come herer' had the scared. sham
ed, unreal feeling Of a child playing at
conjurer who hopes. yet knows no mir
acle can happen. The shock was the
greater then when. after a moments
interval. a formless bulk Swallowed my
window shrank back in the surprise
and JOY and fear OF knowing him there.
What can / do for your a voice
asked, proceeding from the shadow. as
courteously. as formally. as II II were
speaking in the lighted ballroom I had
just quilted.
"Oh. get in. get into the carriage"
cried, for il seemed 10 me that all the
city was spying on him. and the risk ne
ran was more than could bear. He
hesitated one more heart-breaking in
slant Then I thought. he drew back.
I reached out kindly toward him AID
clasped his wrist
Ny fingers were astonished at the great
pulse that throbbed under them like a
heart. sending a thrilling through my
veins. Then / felt the downward sway
|
serape over my feet; and 1 had released
his wrist and knew he was sitting oppo-
site me. / leaned out Of the still open
door and spoke to the cabman. Drive
over 10 Washington square. and then
around the square"
Extraordinary as this direction was. he
made no demur. only a sort Of grunt.
deep In his coat collar, and almost be-
fore l was in my seat again the wheels
were turning, and ! saw the arm OF my
otherwise indistinguishable companion
move darkly against the paler square OF
glass as he closed the carriage door, and
shut us up alone together in the dark.
He himself was scarcely separable from
| II. but I seemed 10 know how hard he
was looking at me.
Where were you going7' I said
'Nswhere that you may go. Tell me
/ quickly what you want OF me"
| II was strange that he, who so long
had been a speeches. figure-our only
/ communication by looks-novs had be-
| come a disembodied voice, like himself.
quick. strong and imperious. There were
La dozen questions which. over and over
! in imaginary interviews. I had asked him.
/ ell my auxieties and wonders and terrors
about him: why he had said those frs,
words of his to me in the police station:
| why he had encouraged me so recklessly
! with my testimony. and then fed, and
4 OF all those other puzzling Inconsistencies
/ in his behavior But now that my oppOr-
/ tunity and he were both here there boiled
up in my brain my latest. most bitter
perplexIty OF all. the one that had been
! presented to me tonight. not a question
/ but a confession. Before I realized what
I was saying was telling him. very
! incoherently. how terrible 1 felt about
I having had to give my evidence. and why
/ It had seemed the only thing 10 DO
But I know you do not think So
said. You think It strange and cruel OF
/ me that I did not keep silent"
His voice sounded very calm. almost
casual Il think nothing of the sort
You did quite right. and am glad there
is one woman who can speak the truth.
This was utterly different from any.
thing that I had ever expected. But. n
I stammered. from the way you looked
at me first when-when you ran out al
/ the door. and then again when had "a
tell them who you were! thought"
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.