Middletown transcript., 1912-11-02

Il was wrong, tnen; but, his eyes
continued to meet hers, Il am not
wrong now"
Behind her, my lady's hand closed
hard on the rock
''Deny 1T" his voice went on. ain
so many words!"
"Why should II" She caught her
breath quickly. Il denied something
to you once, and you did not believe"
"I1l believe you now!"
'T should feel very much fiattered, I
am sure; but after" A spark Of de-
fance began to gleam in her eyes.
"You are sure one moment, and not,
the nextl You are ready to believe,
or not to believed" More certain now,
she lifted her head; she, whose assur-
ance and wit had never failed her at
court, would not be put to confusion
by him!
His answer was unexpected; to her;
to himself. Perhaps it was the peas
ant-the untamed half-peasant-in his
blood that caused it; that made a sud
den, unceremonious act, his reply! He
caught both her hands; drew her to
him. He knew she could never care
for him-she, the beautiful lady! But
he forgot himself for the moment;
thought only Of what she had done;
her courage, her f1neness, her delicate
loveliness! Her life for his. To pay
a fancied debt, perhaps? And all the
while he had thought Self-reproach-
es fell from his lips; were followed by
bolder, more daring words. All he
would have said the night on the
beach, when he had borne her from
the fiery rock to the ship, now burst
from him; all he had felt when he
had held her in his arms-motionles
unresisting, the still, white face up
turned, offering itself freely to his
gaze!
At the neck Of the rock, beneath his
feet, the waves thundered; near them,
wild birds circled, wheeled and were
borne on by the strong breath of the
wind. Had he spoken; what had he
said? A gradual consciousness Of the
beating of the sea smote his senses,
as with rhythmical regularity it arose.
He listened; slowly in his eyes that
light that demanded-claimed, as it
were, it's own-was replaced by an
other; his hands released hers. My
lady made no sound; her proud lips
trembled. Very pale, she leaned back.
So silence heightened. Pardon, my
Lady," he said at last, very humbly.
f'It had not occurred to me my secret
was not safe; that I, master Of ships
and men, should not be master Of my.
self! But I had not expected to be
alone with your Ladyship, and"
shadow Of smile crossed the strong,
reckless face, your Ladyship can
weigh the provocation! If the excuse
will not serve, have none other to.
offer. Certainly, will 1 retract moth
Ing: What's said, is said, and-no lies
will unsay it,"
He looked at the water; the tide
was nearly in; he turned. She would
never see him again, for which she
would be very glad, since the sight Of
him must always have been hateful to
her. Had not fate decreed-bitterly-
she should look upon him only as an
enemy? 1t might be, in time, she
would condone his presumption, when
his presence would no longer Vex her!
He was going one way; she, another
soon, with
"You-you are mistaken, Monsieur!~ -
My lady's tone was tremulous.
Mistaken"
"The-Marquis de Beauvillers left
last night on a fishing bark"
"Left!" abruptly he wheeled.
''Why?" She did not answer. you
mean?" Before the sudden swift ques-
ton that shons from his eyes, hers
fell.
Speak" He seized her hand; his
dark, eager face was near hers now.
"You have sent him away? He will
never return?" She lifted her head;
answered not in words; but new
light in her eyes met the flash Of his.
my. LADY," he cried, bewiIdered for
the moment at what that glance re-
Vealed. An instant she seemed once
more striving to combat him, whens
drawing her gently toward him, he
bent lower; kissed softly her lips.
'Is it, then, true"
"You find it so hard to believer
"That you love me? That I seem no
longer your enemy?''
my enemy? You? Who risked SO
much-saved my life!~ All, no, no! Do
you not remember" softly, 'he, too
said-'Forget!'
Il only remember I have long loved
you! For me have you ever been the
princess-who dwelt in the clouds-iR
palace, enchanted" Her faeaI
changed. 'That saddens you! For
give mel"
'It seems like a dream-that life.
then! ALI made up of ightness and
gaiety; courtiers and fine masques,
until" Beneath the bright gold Of
her hair, my lady's brow knit.
"Until?"
May; I know not until-just when!
Only. for long, seem to have lived in
world, unreal and false. Last night,
when in the garden, felt stifed. This
marriage! Arranged-for what?" She