The Washington herald., 1911-08-13

tOn Josephine heard behind her In the
hall a step. which already she recog-
nized. Dunwody greeted her at the
door, frowning as he saw her sudden
shrinking back at sight Of him.
Good morning." he said. You have,
| hope, slept well. Have you and Flea
Ear here planned any way to escape as
yet?'' He smiled at her grimly. Eleazar
| had shuffied away.
Not yet
| You had not come afong so far as de-
tails them smilingly.
You intruded too soon"
"At least you are frank, then! You
| will never get away from here except
| ing on one condition.
She made no answer, but looked about
| tie inclosed place where some gray
| stones stood upright in the grass; the
| family burial place. not unusual in such
proximity to the abode of the living in
| that part of the country at the time.
"One might escape by going there!'' she
pointed.
They are my own. who sleep there"
he said simply, but grimly. 'I wish 1t
| might be your choice; but not now; not
yet We've lot of living to do yet, both
of u.s.
She caught no note of relenting in his
voice. lie looked large and strong,
standing there at the entrance to his
own home. At length he turned to her,
sweeping out his arm once more in
gesture including the prospect which lay
= before them.
If you could only md it in your
| heart" he exclaimed, how much could
| do for you, how much you could do for
me. Look at all this. It's a home, but
it's just a desert-a desert-the way 1t
| is now
Has it always been so?"
AS long as l can remember"
so you desire to make all life desert
for me! 1t is very noble of your
| Absorbed, he seemed not to hear her.
Suppose you had met me the way people
| usually meet-and you some time had
allowed me to come and address YOU
| could you have done that, do you
reckon?' He turned to her, an intent
| frown on his face unsmiling.
That's a question which here at least
is absurd" she replied.
You spoke once of that other country,
abroad He broke off, shaking his
head. who are you? 1 don't feel sure
that l even know your name as yet
II am. as you have been told. Josephine,
Countess st. Auban. am French
Hungarian, American, what you like, but
nothing to you. 1 came to this country
in the interest of Louis kossuth. For
that reason l have been misunderstood.
They think me more dangerous than I
am, but ii seems l am honored by the
suspicious OF Austria and America as
Well. l was a revolutionist yonder /
am already called an abolitionist here.
Very we'll. The name makes little diff
ference. The work ITSELF
rs that how you happened to be there
on the boat?"
Il suppose so. 1 was a prisoner there.
/ was less than chattel I was piece
of property, to be staked. to be Won or
lost at cards, to be kidnapped, hand
cuffed, banded like a slave, 1t seems.
And you've the hardihood to stand here
and ask me who ! ami
I've only that sort of hardihood,
madam, which makes me ride straight.
If I had observed the laws, l wouldn't
have you here now, this morning
you'll not have me long. If despise
you as a man without chivalry, I still
more do so because you've neither am
bition nor any sense of morals
You go on to improve me. l thank |
you. mademoiselle-Eleazar was right |
heard him. like you as .mademoiselle.' "
What difference?" she flared out. I'VE |
are opposed at all angles of the human |
compass. There is no common meeting |
ground between us. Let me CO.
He looked at her full in the face, his |
own features softened. relenting for a |
time, as though her appeal had touched |
Then slowly, as he saw the excellence |
of her. standing there, his face dropped |
back into its iron mold. You are a
wonderful woman" he said, wonderful |
You set me on fire-and it's only s
O'Clock in the morning. I could crush |
you'll could tear you to pieces. I never |
saw your like, nor ever shall Let you
go? Yes. When I'm willing to let
my blood and soul go. Not till then. II
1 were out in that graveyard, with my
bones apart, and your foot crossed my
grave, I'd get up and come, and live
again with you-lve-again I say, I
could live again, do you hear me?"
She broke out into a torrent of hot |
speech. He did not seem to hear her.
THE wrong OF it," said he. lis that we
should fight apart and not together. Do
as you like for to-day. Be happy as you
can. Let's live in the present, as we
were, at least for to-day. But to-
night"
He turned swiftly, and left her, so that
she found left unsaid certain questions as
well as certain accusations she had
stored for this first meeting.