Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-09

She turned 1.-THE door opened. She took
one step farther-the next she would be
gone forever.
"lIIona!'
She stopped, stiffened, gasped ard her
eyes closed. The hand that held the knob
slowly relaxed and she turned fearfully
back TO the room.
Tokoramo had risen. but he was not
looking at her, His gaze was directed
out of the window and his face worked
with the tumult of his soul Still with
averted. eyes he advanced toward her
with the jerky, uncertain steps of an au-
toma tomas if impelled by a force against
which his will and reason vainly strove.
She waited. her lips parted, her bosom
heaving fearful JOY in her eyes. Near
er and nearer he came until she could feel
the closeness of his tense body. Then
with choking cry he threw his arms
about her and crushed her to his breast
"Illona IIlona! IIlonal" he cried, bro.
kenly, as he hurt the woman with the
violence of his caresses. 81 can't let you
90! can't let you go! can't! | can't"
Then, as suddenly he released her and
threw his clenched fists above his head.
God of my people," he cried, in a fren-
" of love and despair I'm ruined"
The woman moistened her dry lips and
leaned against the table facing him Her
eyes cleaned with a cruel joy Like Lin
dener, she lived only for sensations, but
more than like him, she was an emotional
glutton She drained the rarest sensa-
lions as drunkard might toss off rare
wine with no thought for its value to
the epicure, no palate for its delicate ia
vor. And this was a rare cup For if she
was drunkard. Tokoramo was a total
abstainer-and she had him at her feet
Great as had been her despair, she had
found bitter but real joy in the SEN
sation of loving a man that she could
not conquer. She had drained that sen
sation to the dregs and here was a new
drtnk-mastery of a man who had all
but conquered. She moistened her lips
again at the thought of what was to
come,
Tokoramo was literally at her feet
His arms clasped her knees and he was
shaken with dry sobs.
"So!' she exclaimed, in low bitter
voice. You have heart"
There was a muffed. anguished af-
f1rmative from the kneeling figure
So You suffer-"
YES! Yes! 1 love you, nlona. l love
youY"
You love met" she repeated slowly.
looking down at him with a curl of the
lip. And yet you would have thrown
me out-kicked me out like a dog"
"Illona"' he pleaded brokenly But I
would have called you back"
He raised his haggard face and slowly
regained his feet For him at that mo-
ment nothing mattered but that he loved
and had the " nan he loved
SO you would have called me back.
eh?" she exclaimed and burst into a low
laugh, the meaning of which escaped him.
He had not the barest suspicion of what
was passing in her mind as, with a final
gesture of surrender he turned back to
his desk switched off the light and mo-
toned toward the portiere hung door.
She watched him with cruel little smile.
but did not move.
You viii stay. nlonae" he said.
gently
q must think-if want to stay" she
returned, coolly The next instant he
was beside her.
A Word Too Much.
"Illona nlona!" he cried. cut to the
heart
"Oh, don't whiner" she exclaimed. with
another contemptuous laugh. Nothing
Is lost-yet! Perhaps ! will take pity on
you! Perhaps I will be a little kind
Possibly l may forgive you! Perhaps I
may even remain-if you ask me nicely"
"iIonaw he exclaimed, in a low,
strained voice that told of passion that
must have frightened another woman.
"Do not Iestl"
She eyed him scornfully and laughed
again. The laugh startled him and she
saw terror in his eyes!
oIllona. tell me. tell me that you love
me. You love me?"
Love your" she cried, with decisive
laugh.
"Donr laugh lllona!" He was bending
farther and farther toward her and his
eyes burned with a dark fire.
Why should I love-" she asked, mock
ingly.
You love me, Illona?"