The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-11-29

asked. you win not forget?"
Never, Never,"
He released her waist and took he's
hand and kissed It. There was az
much passion in the pressure Of his
lips upon her hand as there was in
the beat Of his heart against her own
she felt.
You" he continued, will say what
Is to be done"
Not l." she answered, piteOusly
but you. ! have no strength when
you are by. Since that moment when
you kissed me. you are the master and
the man. but you viii respect me in
my helplessness?
AS II you were God in heaven. d
cried the man. raising his hand as one
who makes a vow. You are to me
everything that is pure. that is holy
that Is lovely"
NO, No" she whispered, a look Of
terror coming into her face.
Yes" he said. Through you !
know God. through you I know woman
You are sacred to me. Never again
unless you give me leave, will I press
my lips to yours; never again, unless
you say ! may. viii take you in nv
arms; never again viii I even touch
your hand Indeed. indeed, I canno,
do these things. And yet I viii love
you in ways Of which you cannot
dream so long as I can draw the
breath of life"
He rose TO his feet a. he spoke and
turned away from her and stood with
elasped hands and bowed shoulders
In one moment the whole course Of
their lives had changed. It had taken
an earthquake shock to do it, but SC
terrific had been the submerged fires
Of mutual passions that a whisper op
pOrtunely uttered would have effected
the same revolution. She sat and
watched him wondering what would
be the end of II. She knew at last
what love was. not the pale phil
OsOphical emotion she had experienced
in the cabin Of that yacht. God. how
she hated that recollection How she
wished that 1t had never been II I'M
touched by man she could have been
cast upon that island to be given to
this man who looked upon her as a
goddess She had told him some OF
her history, but not the part which
was vital. II had been easy not 70
enlighten him wholly as to that. He
knew nothing about conditions He
had never seen a ship OF boat within
his recollection, and the story she had
settled upon and told him was one
that received instant acceptance from
him. Indeed there was nothing that
she had told him, OF could have told
him. that he would not implicitly have
accepted and believed. The king could
do no wrong. She was inearnate truth.
And she would have to tell him all
now. She would have to put into
that pure soul, alive with passionate
devotion, admiration. respect. every
feeling that can make up the sum of
mighty love, this story of evil and
shame. There was no help for Il. She
would have to tell him.
But she coUld not tell him now. not
on this day. She would have a few
perfect hours. She would stand for a
little while within the vale Of Eden.
She would look for a little time
through the gates of heaven. To-mor-
row. To-day she would have and she
would enjoy to the full She rose
softly to her feet as well and stepped
closer to him. She laid her hand upon
his shoulder. She could see the mus
cies in his arm tighten as he clenched
his hands the harder. She turned him
gently about and lifted her perfect lips
TO his. She kissed him again. Her
hand sought him; her fingers parted
his iron grasp. She drew his arm
about her and nestled against him.
Il trust you" she said. as love
you. I shall be safe with you. You
shall not draw away from me In such
isolation You have waited long for
kisses like this"
And then the man spoke. the man in
him.
Woman" he said, yours are the
only lips that have been pressed upon
mine, save perhaps my mothers as a
child. Has any other man ever kissed
your"
She could not lie to him.
Don't ask me" she said, the futile
request.
The man had turned away with a
groan. No happiness is unalloyed: no
joy comes into our lives that some
pain does not dog its footsteps. With
love came. jealousy before the food.
AT least" she said pressing closer
to him and he did not repulse her, Il
have loved no man but you"
OH" he said. taking her once more
within his arms. that I might know
for one moment what Is out there.
how you lived. who saw you, who fol
lowed you. who loved you."
Il shall tell you" said the woman.
But you have told me-"
Not all"
When the rest them"
Tomorrow. Meanwhile let US en-
joy the day'-the old, old human
prayer. let US enjoy the day despite
the mOrrow-'1et II suffice that I love
you; that I never loved anyone else:
that no kisses like to yours have ever
been pressed upon my lips. nor / be-
lieve not upon. the lips Of mortal
woman. Let US pass the day in hap
-piness together. Come. we must
breakfast. We must see what the
earthquake has done to our island. We
have things 10 think about. things
to do
Il have nothing to think about but
you: nothing to do but to love you"
Hand in hand. they stepped across
the sand to the shade Of the trees. a
royal and a noble couple, the splendid
woman nObly planned. At mate for the
godlike man. children Of God and Ma
ture. both Of them in loose TUNES
which she had woven from the long
soft grass. which left neck and arms
bare and fell to knee and were belted
in at the waist. Unhampered by any
Of the debasing OF degrading garments
Of civilization, they we're a pair to
excite the admiration and envy OF the
gods.
CHAPTER XII.