Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-05
CHAPTER xxvu-contlnued.


She closed her eyes with a wild longing
that the wind might last forever. that that
moment like the ecstacy Of an opium
dream might draw Itself out to infinite
length Slowly she felt the breath Of the
tempest ebb about them. then suddenly
felt herself lifted from her feet and her
eyes opened into Daunts Her cheek lay
against his breast, as II had done in that
short moment IN the Embassy garden. She
could feel his heart bound under the rough
tweed. once more the wind caught them,
but he staggered through It and into the
high, rock entrance OF the cave.
inside It's dripping rim the sudden cessa-
ton OF the wind seemed almost uncanny,
and the boom OF the surf was a duh thun-
derous roar. He sat her ON her feet on the
damp rock and laughed wildly.
DO you realize" she said that we
have tiansgressed the most sacred tenet
OF Ben-ten by coming here together? We
are doomed to Misunderstanding
Now that / rccollect, that applies only
20 lovers" he answered. Then We
"Aro quite safe" she quickly finished for
him. Come, / want to the shrine.
We must find q candle"
lie poered into the gloomy depths. Il
think 1 see one burning" he said. I'VE
will explore"
A little way inside they came to a small
we'll with a dipper and rack Of thin
blue-and- white towels to cleanse the hands
Of worshipers. On a square pedestal stood
stone Buddha, curiously incrusted by
drippings from the roof. Near It was a
wooden booth. it's front hung with pen
tents OF twisted rice-straw and strips of
white paper folded in diagonal notches. 1t
held number OF tiny wooden toril strung
with lighted candles, above each Of which
was nailed paper prayer. A few copper
coins lay scattered beneath them. Daunt
thrust two Of the candles into wooden
holders and they slowly followed the mar
rowing fssure guttered by the feet OF cen
turtles, between square posts bearing carven
t9xts and small images, coated with the
spermy droppings from imumerable
candles.
She held up her winlSlng light toward
his face. what desperate absorption!
she said laughingy you haven't said a
thing for five minutes" .
I'm thinking we had better explain at
once to Ben-ten that we're not lovers.
Otherwiy we may get the penalty. Per-
haps we'd better just tell her II was an
accident and let II so at that. What do
you think2'
THAT might be the simplest"
IAN right then, I'll say 'Ben-ten. dear,
she wanted to come alone she really did
We didn't intend II at ALI So be a nice
gracious goddess and don't make her quar-
rel with mel
what do you suppose she will answer?
"She viii say Young man. in the same
circumstances / should have done exactly
the same myself
The passage had grown so low thsa they
had to bend their heads then all at once
Il widened into a concaye chamber. The
,annonading OF the wind rumbled fainter
and fainter lie took her hand and drew
her forward. There is Ben-ten," he said
The Goddess of Love sat in a barred clef
Of the rock. enshrined in dull golC
silence. Beads OF moisture spangled he
robe, glistening like brilliants through tn,
messy darkness. Poor deity!' said Bar
bara. ITO have TO live forever in sea
cavern! It's a clammy idea, isn't it?'
That's" He paused. Il could maxi
a terrible pun but / won't"
zone shouldn't joke about love- sh
said.
Have you discovered that too?'
She gazed at him strangely. without an
Bwering. In the wan light his face locke
pale. Her unresisting fingers still lay il
his: he felt their touch like a breath o
fire through all his veins. Her eye
sparkled back the Gerry witch glow OF tn
candle flames .You are green golde
gnome- grill" he said unsteadlly, And
am under a SPELL
yes, yes" she said Il am Rumpty
budgets daughter! l have only to wav
my candIestick-so!-to turn you into
staiagmitel"
She suited the action to the word-an
dropped her candle which was Instant
extinguished on the damp floor. Bendin
forward 10 retrieve IT, Daunt slipped. Th
arm he instinctively threw out to say
himself struck the wall and his own eand
flew from it's socket AS he regained h
footing confused by the blank, enfoldin
darkness he stumbled against Barbara
and his face brushed hers. In another II
slant the touch had thrilled into a kisti.
A moment she lay In his arms, passiv
painting. her unkissed mouth singing wit
the burn OF his lips. The world was
dense backness, shot with fire and fun
pealing bells, and the beating OF h,
heart was a great wave Of sound tn,
throbbed like the iron-shod fury OF Il
seas
Il love you. Barbara" he said simpl
- Il love you'll"
The stammering utteranee pierced II
SWIFT, confused sweetness OF that TIT
kiss like a lance OF desperate gladnes
Through the tumblng passion Of Il
words he poured into her heart, 81
could feel his hands touching her fac
her throat, her loosened hair.
Barbara Listen, dear! I must say
It's stronger than l ammo. don't pui
me away! Love me- You must To-
met
With her arms on his breast, she hi
made a movement 20 release herself 'N
are mad. l think" she breathed
Then may we never be sane!"
'I-you have known me only two day
What"
"Ah, no, I've known you oil the
years and have been loving you witho
really knowing ID. 1 made woman o
OF my own fancy, that dreamed aliN
In the long winter evenings when
worked at my models in the little hou
IN Aoyama. 1 used 20 see her face In d