Evening star., 1911-06-11

into his haggard face. How should you
be aware Of that? Is my private life so
public then?"
You misunderstood me-" he said, striv-
ing to cover up what he felt to have
been q wanton piece of brutality. Il
only mean you must for the same reason
that I must-because circumstances have
linked US inseparably together, and be-
cause"
He broke off. The tall figure of the
rajah had passed the alcove and he had
seen Beatrice sink back in her chair. AS
the figure moved on she broke into one Of
her harsh, jarring laughs.
Good heavens, Capt Stafford" she ex-
claimed, your arguments haven't leg
to stand on! What are you marrying me
for?"
II have tried to explain he said,
swinging himself clumsily UP to the great
lie of his life-'because need you-and
hope you will come to need me-"
haps do" She sprang to her feet and
held out her hand to him. There!
seal the bargain. I warned you. but you
would not be warned. Vogue Ia galere!
Tell the whole world-it is better So"
He took, the small firm hand and
pressed 1T. At the same moment he saw
the rajah approaching for a second time.
Il will leave you now" he said, in
low. earnest whisper. Il fancy the rajah
wishes to speak with you. It would be
oOOA
engaged"
She drew back her hand hastily.
"Yes-Of course I shall tell him.
Stafford bowed tremendously, making
saw Lois enter the hall at Mrs. Car
michaers side. The two women bowed
to him, the elder in a way which he had
learned to understand. He drew aside
out of their path, avoiding the genuine
kindness which Lois eyes expressed for
him.
Pray God you believe the worst of
me" was the thought that flashed
through his mind. Pray God I have
taught you to forget!'
Nehal Singh had meanwhile taken Stat
fords place at Beatrice's side. AS he
had entered the alcove she had made an
effort to pass out, but her eyes had met
his. and the look in them had held her
rooted to the ground. The color died and
deepened by turns in her cheeks, and
the hand that clasped the ivory fan shook
as 1t had never shaken before IN the
course OF a life full of risks and dangers.
But then no man had ever looked at her
as this man did. She had outstared in
science and snubbed sentimentality. She
had never had to face such an honest,
pure-hearted worship as this young prince
brought and laid silently at her feet No
need for him to tell her that she en-
bodied every virtue and every perfection
OF which human nature is capable. She
knew 1t. and the knowledge broke the
very backbone Of her daring and stirred
to life in her sickened soul emotions
which she could scarcely recognize as her
own.
He stood quite close to her. but he did
not touch her. In all their acquaintance
he had never, except when he had taken
her hand in farewell. made any attempt
to draw nearer to her than the strictest
etiquette allowed. Other men-men whom
she hardly knew-had taken the oppOr-
tunity which q ride or drive offered to
kiss her. and had been offended and sur
prtsed at her contemptuous rebuff. (What
girl in Marut objected to being kissed p
This man had treated her as though she
were holy. an object to be respected and
protected, not to be handled as common
plaything; and her heart had gone out to
him In gratitude and admiration. But
tonight his very respect was painful to
her. For moment she would have
given the best years Of her life to know
that he despised her and that all was
over between them; and then came the
revulsion. the wild longing to hold him
to her as though his trust in her were
her one salvation.
.'Lakshmir' he said. in voice broken
with feeling. ''Lakshmi, you are the
most perfect woman God ever sent to
earth. Every hour grow to know you
better / feel how pale and empty of all
true beauty my life was until you came.
How can thank you for all you have
given me?
"Hush!' she said. "You must not talk
to me like that. You must not"
why should I not tell you what is
true?'
"Because-oh, don't you seer'-she gave
q short. unsteady laugh-"we English
don't tell people everything that is true
A man does not say that sort of thing to
a woman
ITO one woman!' he said.
(To be continued tomorrow.)