The Washington times., 1911-12-11


herself from his grasp and
faced him with heightened color and
flashing eyes.
Tell you that you're wrons!" she ex-
claimed in a voice that was low and
tremulous. mo. God pity me. I CALI
not tell you that. II I could tell you
that you were wrong-if could prove
to you that, for time, at least, you
had been a self-centered adventurer,
might learn to love you.
"But-but everywhere I turn to seek
an instrument with which to punish
you, you baffie me. You prove me In
the wrong-always IN the wrong. don't
like perfect men. I hate them. I
hate"
Sparhawk's features were expressive
mad?" he murmured. "I-why. when
you get to know me, YOU"
~. And Al now You'll y. Prey prove 10y yourself ~,
woman interrupted.
Well" said Sparhawk. smiling grim
with a little. nervous laugh Barbara
IN jaii!" she exclaimed. in soft.
laughing fSsn wds Tond n6t know bs
criminal. of course. but you would have
made some great mistake as I have
The eyes of sparhawk suddenly grew
.As you have done?" he murmured.
| Yes" she answered slowly. Then,
\ still holding his hands, she drew further
face as, in a lower voice she added:
Tell me-tell me. Do you love me
| now?"
There was a pause.
bara. startled by the sudden light that
was flashing on her from his eyes,
| scarcely heard the word.
His hands, still held by hers. moved
arms. but she did not let them go.
| Ibid you tell me the truth when. on
the night became your wife, you said
you were man whose time was SO oc-
tSped with more important matters nos
opportunity to win the heart Of q wo-
man. however, beautiful or desirable
she might be?"
Il spoke as felt then" he answered.
And since that time"
The engineer shook hts head sadly.
"It was as I feared" he said. Even
ii has tns to
the time of which you speak love has
so completely filled my heart that, in a
blind sort of way, I hoped that the
| time might come Wnen IL Wouio eh'ef
'Tt did not occur to me that, in order
to be happy, I would have to win It as
| general wins his battles. More than
was right when said would be so oc.
cupied with other matters that would
be denied the opportunity"
Her lips and eyes were smiling as she
around her waist. and this time She
| made no effort to elude him.
'3ut all this does not explain why you
had no greeting for me when I met
you with the army that you brought"
"Ah! yes" She sighed. 1T explains
all that"
Again sparhawk shook bis head. Psr-
I'm almost the same breath that you
asked me to be your wife you told me
that you did not, and would not, love
You Ss tSid mf tSS eow essy Wbep
In your interests and mine, II would be
better for me to have the marriage dis
solved. I hated you for your frankness,
and l despised myself because was In
such n position that I had no other
means Of escaping from Quincatan than
by becoming your wife.
But ! believed that You. knowing me
to be the hereditary ruler OF the CO.
shans, were seeking the power over my
people that such an alliance would give
you. I am getting my liberty, and SO
not IA your interest to do my people
harm.
"Jn an unfortunate moment accused
, you of wedding me to influence my peo-
pie. Yod proved me in the wrong and
disdained to accept Coshan aid.
when 7 was abducted from here by
/ Brabant, I communicated with Mayta.
When his movement began to show
its power II promised Inc means OF
Furnishing you for disdaining Hoshsn !,
, placing all the coshans under your
: command.
81 thought that II my people aided
} \ ou in winning a triumph over your
J enemies you would respect-aye, and
right, you see. 1t wss mans game.
after ALL"
Into Sparhawk's, mind there flashed
the recollection of the bitter words he
had used to her when he had learned
, she had suspected that he had n celfisll
! motive in keeping her In Qu,ncatan;
/ ''rhe game which nay. friends and
came down here to rlay Is mans
3 game, and a woman is best out OF It"
: His face flushed hotly and his gaze
: i