The independent-reporter., 1910-03-10

you'll leave the entire fortune to
me when you sail away. I trust" he
said. The Deppinghams were puzzled.
but you also will be sailing away"
she argued.
T? You forget that have had no
orders to return. Sir John expects me
to stay. At least. so I've heard in a
roundabout way"
aYou don't mean to say, Chase. that
you'll stay on this demmed island If
the chance comes to get awayw de.
manded Lord Deppingham earnestly.
The two women were looking at him
in amaZement
"Why noti I'm an ally. not a de-
serter."
"You are madmanT cried Lady
Agnes. "Stay here7 They would kill
you in jiffy! Absurd!'
mot after they've had another good
long look at my warships. Lady Dep
pingham," he replied, with q most re-
assuring smile. 81 think I'll take n
stroll along the wall before turning
In"
lie dEOSc anu iclSuICiJ StdiLCN " 81
indoors. The princess called to him.
and he paused.
wait" she said. coming up to him
They walked down the hallway togeth
er. ~ will run upstairs and unlock
the treasure chest. do not trust
even my maid. You shall have two
tonight No more"
you've really saved them for me-"
he queried. a note Of eagerness In his
voice, "all these daysT
IT have been your miser," she said
lightly and then ran up the stairs.
He looked after her until she disap
peared at the top with a quick, shy
glance over her shoulder. An expires
sion Of utter detection came into his
face. A haggard look replaced the
buoyant smile.
God, how love her-how l love
herr he groaned. half aloud.
She was coming down the stairs
now. eager, flushed. more abashed
than she would have had him know.
Without word she placed the two
cigarettes In his outstretched palm
Her eyes were shining.
In silence ne clasped her hand and
led her unresistlng through the win.
dow and out upon the broad gallery.
She was returning the fervid pressure
of his fingers. warm and electric
They crossed slowly to the rail. Two
chairs stood close together. They sat
nv CI nf
speech seemed to have left them alto
gether.
He laid the two cigarettes on the
broad stone rail. She followed the
movement with perturbed eyes and
then leaned forward and placed her
elbows on the rail.
"If the ship should come tomorrow
you would go out of my life-you wouN
30 away and leave me here" he began
hoarsely.
"No, mol! she cried, turning upon him
suddenly. you could not stay here
You shall not"
"But, dearest love, am bound to
stay. ! cannot go. And God help me-
I want to stay. II could go into your
world and take you unto myself for
ever-if you will tell me now that some
day you may forget your world and
come to live In mine-then, ah, then, 1t
would be differentl But without you
l have no choice Of abiding place
here as well as anywhere"
She put her hands over her eyes.
IL cannot bear the thought of-of
leaving you behind--of leaving you
here to die at the hands Of those beasts
down there. Hollingsworth. implore
you-come! II the opportunity comes
and 1t will, l know-you will leave
the island with the rest of usT'
"Not unless l am commanded to do
so by the man who sent me here to
serve these beasts, as you call them"
He leaned over and took her hand in
his. you do love meY'
"You know l do-yes, yesw she cried
from her heart. keeping her face reso-
lutely turned away from him. II am
sick with love for you. Why should
deny the thing that speaks so loudly
for itself-my heart! Listen! Can you
not hear 1t beating? 1t is hurting me
yes, 1t is hurting mer
He trembled at this exhibition Of re-
leased, unchecked passion, and yet he
did not clasp her In his arms.
"Will you come into my world. Ge-
nevra 2" he whispered. "All my life
would be spent In guarding the love
you would give to me-all my life given
to making you love me more and more
until there will be no other world for
you to think Of"
II wish that ! had not been born"
she sobbed. 81 cannot, dearest-I can
not change the laws Of fate. | am
fated-l am doomed to live forever in
the dreary world Of my fathers. But
now can 7 Give Won nn7 How can