Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-16

night, eliminating with his open In
vitation TO challenge from the most
desperate duelist in Europe, had in
spired volatile vivacity such as not
1eyen the excitement Of the Casino had
been potent to create in him. Of all
mad conjectures imaginable the mad
1dest was too weird for him to credit in
his humor OF that hour Eliminating
all else that had happened. in the
course of that short evening, his heart
had been stirred, his emotions played
upon by a recrudesence Of a passion
which he had striven with all his
strength to put behind him for a time;
he had first heard the voice Of the one
woman to whom his love and faith and
honor were irretrievably pledged, he
had then seen her Tor another who re-
tmarkably resembled herr for the scant-
lest of instants; and finally ne had
Hmysteriously received letter which
could he believed, have been convey
+ ed to him BY no other hand but hers.
And now he was persuaded beyond a
doubt that the person Of the alcove,
the eavesdropper for whose fair repute
he had chosen to risk his life. was no
Iuody in the world but that same one
woman.
But more than all else, perhaps, he
neXpected and feared to find the room
deserted; for the balcony outside the
Windows afforded q means of escape
1 too facile to be neglected by one who
wished not to be discovered.
His first definite impression was Of
Transformation and despair; for the
flights had been shut off in his alb
1sence. Then quickly he discerned,
with eyes daZed by the change from
the lighted hallway to the lightless
chamber the shadowy shape Of wom-
an, motionless between him and the
windows, waiting.
An electric switch Was at his ell
bow. With single motion he could
have drenched the place with light.
For an instant tempted. some strange
scrupie of delicacy. abetted it may be
by his native love of romantic mystery,
stayed his hand.
Madame" said he, cor mademoi.
sellc. whichever We may bc---the win
dows are open. meselfs not OBTAINING
We. If ye choose. We may go; but
ye'd favor me by going quickly.
l give ye," he continued, seeing that
she neither moved nor replied, this
one chance. In thirty seconds | turn
on the lights"
The woman did not stir; but he
thought he could detect, in the still
ness her quickened breathing.
what we've taken" he amended
I'D thank We to leave as We go--if We
came to steal. IT'S little l have to
There was no answer.
He touched the switch with an i'm
patient hand, stepped forward single
pace, caught himself up and stopped
short, now pale and trembling who had
moment gone been flushed with
calm.
"Beatrix!" he cried thickly.
Dumbly his wife lifted her arms and
offered herself TO him. unutterably
lovely, unspeakably radiant.
1t were worse than waste Of time
to attempt portrait of her as she
seemed to him. Seen through her hus.
bands eyes. her beauty was incomnar.
able, immaculate, too rare and fire. too
delicate thing to be bodied forth in
words, dependent upon the perfection
OF no single feature. Not in her hair
fair as sunlight on the sea, not In hel
eyes Of autumnal brown, not In til,
wonderful fneness OF her skin or il
the daintiness of her features. not il
the gracioasness of her body. did h
find the beauty of her that surpasse,
expression, but in the love she Dor
him. in the sweetness OF her inviolat