The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-06
I Continued From Last Week J

uttered warning whisper Chase re.
covered himself With mighty start
q chill as Of one avoiding an unseen
peril sweeping over him Genevra
heard the sharp. painful intake of bis
breath ard felt the sudden relaxation
She. too hid felt the magic OF the
touch. ard her blood WAS sureing red
She knew then that she had been
clasping his hand with fervor that
was as unmistakable as II was shame
less.
Neenah may have felt the magnetic
current that coursed through these
surcharged creatures. She was smil-
ing mysteriously to herself.
"Wait4here," she whispered to Chase
ever so softly. She released his hand
and moved of In the blackness of the
passage II will bring selim," came
back to them.
"Ohv fell family, TREMENDOUSLY. from
Genevra's lips. 1t was trap. after
ALI But 1t was not the trap laid by
a traitor. She fell oil aquiver. Her
heart futtered violently; her breath
came quickly. Alone with him. and
their blood leaping to the touch that
thrilled!
Chase could no more have restrained
the hand that went out suddenly In
quest of hers than he could have
checked his own heart throbs A wave
of exquisite Joy swept over him-the
Joy Of temptation that knew no fear,
no conscience He found her cold lit
tie hand and ciasped It In tense fin
gers-fngers that throbbed with the
call to passion. He drew her close;
their bodies touched and sweetly trem-
bled.
Are you afraidY" he whispered in
tones he had never heard before.
EYES," she murmured convulsiyely-
"of you! Please, please, don't" AT
the same time she frightened her clutch
upon his hand and crept closer to him,
governed by an unconquerable craving.
Chase had the sensation of smothering.
He could not believe the senses which
told him that she was responding to
his appeal.
"Genevrar' h, murmured. almost
gasped, In his delirum. His arms
went about her slender figure sudden
ly, and she was strained to his breast,
locked to him with bonds that seemed
unbreakable. Her face was lifted to
his. The blackness of the passage
was impenetrable, but love was the
guide. He found her lips In one wild,
glorious kiss.
A door creaked sharply. He released
her Their quivering arms fell away.
They drew ever so slightly apart, still
under the control of the influence
which had held them for that brief
moment. She was trembling violently
A soft wailing sigh as of pain came
from her lips.
Then the glimmer of light came to
them through the half open door Mt the
end Of the passage. They gazed at II
without comprehension, dumb In their
sudden weakness A shadowy figure
came out through the door, and Selim's
voice, low and tense, called to them.
"Forgive me-" he murmured.
at Is too late," she replied. Then
his hand sought hers again. and, dizzy
with emotion, he led her up to the
open door. AS they passed into the
huge, dimly lighted chamber he turned
to look into her face. She met his
gaze, and there were tears in her eyes,
Selim was ahead Of them. She shook
her head sadly, and he understood.
"Can we ever forget?" she murmured
plaintively.
"Neverv' he whispered
"Then we shall always regret al.
ways regret!' she said, WITHDRAW wing
her hand. at was the beginning and
the end" -
mot the end, dearest one-if we are
always to regret" he interposed eager.
ly. But why the end7 You do love
mel 1 know it! And worship you
oh, you don't know how l worship
you. Genevra! r.
Flush! WE were fools! Don't.
pleased / do not love you. / was car
ried away by Oh, can't you under
stand? Remember what am! You
knew and yet you have degraded me
In my own eyes. Is my own self re-
spect nothing? You will laugh and
you may boast after am married
to-
"Genevra" he protested as II In
great pain.
"Excellency," came from the lips of
Selim at the lower end of the cham
Der. breaking In sharply upon their lit
tie world. there is no time to be lost. "
Time to be lost! And he had held her
In his arms! Time to be lost! All the
rest Of time was to be lost! They
may return at any moment"
Chase pulled himself together. He
looked into her eyes for moment,
finding nothing there but command
to CO. She stood straight and unyield.
ing on the very spot which had seen