Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-04-12
CHAPTER ~.

cisely just what O'Rourke thought 10
discover, when after punctilious re.
turn of Captain Won Einem's salute, he
reopened his door and. closing 1t quick
ly as he entered, turned the key in the
lock.
His mood was exalted, his imagina.
ton excited: the swift succession OF
events which had made memorable the
night. eliminating with his open IN
vitation to a challenge from the most
desperate duelist in Europe, had IN.
spired volatile vivacity such as mol
even the excitement of the Casino had
been potent to create in him. or all
mad conjectures imaginable the mad
dest was too weird for him to credit IN
his humor Of that hour. Eliminating
all else that had happened. IN the
course of that short evening, his near
had been stirred, his emotions played
upon by a recrudesence OF passion
which he had striven with all MS
strength to put behind him for time;
he had first heard the voice OF the one
woman to whom his love and faith ane
honor were irretrievably pledged, ne
had then seen her Tor another who re
markably resembled herr for the scant
lest of instants; and finally he had
mysteriously received letter whicr
could. he believed. have been convey
ed to him by no other hand but ners
And now he was persuaded beyond 9
doubt that the person of the alcove
the eavesdropper for whose fair repute
he had chosen to risk his life, was no
Lody in the world but that same one
woman.
But lore than all else, perhaps, he
expected and feared to find the room
deserted; for the balcony outside the
windows afforded means of escape
too facile to be neglected by one who
wished not to be discovered.
His first definite impression was Of
CONSERVATION and despair; for the
lights had been shut off in his alb
sence. Then quickly he discerned
with eyes dazed by the change from
the lighted hallway to the lightless
chamber, the shadowy shape OF WON
an. motionless between him and the
windows, waiting.
An electric switch was at his ell
bow With a single motion he could
nave drenched the place with light
For an instant tempted. some strange
scruple of delicacy, abetted it may be
by his native love of romantic mystery
stayed his hand.
Madame" said he, "or mademoi
selle, whichever We may be-the win
dows are open, meself's not OBTAINING
We. If we choose, ye may go; but
ye'd favor me by going quickly.
| give ye," he continued, seeing that
she neither moved nor replied, this
one chance. In thirty seconds turn
on the lights"
The woman did not stir; but he
thought he could detect in the still
ness her quickened breathing.
What we've TAKEN" he amended
sd thank We to leave as ye go-if We
came to steal. 'Tis little have tc
There was no answer.
He touched the switch with an i'm
patient hand, stepped forward a single
pace, caught himself up and stopped
short, now pale and trembling who had
a moment gone been flushed with
calm.
"Beatrix!" he cried thickly.
IL g Il l.
offered herself to him. unutterably
lovely, unspeakably radiant.
1t were worse than waste Of time
to- attempt a portrait of her as she
seemed to him. Seen through her hus-
bands eyes. her beauty was incompar
able, immaculate, too rare and fine, toe
delicate thing to be bodied forth in
words, dependent upon the perfection
Of no single feature. Not in her hair,
fair as sunlight on the sea. not in he1
wonderful fneness Of her skin or in
the daintiness of her features, not in
the graciousness of her body, did he
find the beauty of her that surpassed
expression, but in the love she bore
him, in the sweetness of her inviolate
soul. in the steadfastness of her, i'm
pregrable heart.
But it's doubtful if ever he had an
alyzed his passion for her so minute
". Mostly, | think. at that moment OF
her abrupt disclosure to him, he long
ed unutterably for her lips and the
proffered wreath round his neck of her
slim, round, white arms.
Yet he would not. Trembling though
ne was, with every instinct and every
iber of his being straining toward her,
with the hunger for her keen pain in
ais heart, he held himself back: or his
of honor held him back.
That which be had voluntarily forfeit
I'd and put away from him for his hon.
IRIS sake, he would not take back
.hough it were offered freely to him.
80" he said, after a bit. shakily:
then pulled himself together, and
his voice-"So twas your
ielf. after all. Beatrix! Ne heart told