The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-10
THE STONE GODS

Then why do you stay he asked,
I gently.
Uncle had his heart broken when
he was a young man. she said. sim
ply. lie loved a woman who mar
ried another man. My father broke
nay mothers heart-so my uncle does
net believe In marriage. He, kept
me in convent until | was eighteen.
and two years ago We came here.
He has always lived in India, and
,he loves the stone gods which hs
brought from there. and he has put
them around the fountain. and
| have To look nj them every day.
He took her little trembling hands
in mis- strong grasp.
Look at me. he commanded. and
she raised her eyes and met his steady
glance. "Listen--I am going TO set
the fairy princess free from the en-
chaHted garden .Bui she must let
me do 1t In uty own way---and trust
me--~wiil SHE -
oh. yes she hreathed.
Every day after that he came.
Rosamond did not know what power
he used to charm her uncle. but the
older man grew eager for talks and
arguments with the young doctor.
They lunchsd together and dined to-
gether. and every day Rosamond sat
~ the table content to listen, and
meet the glance OF the steady eyes
which seemed to say always, Trust
me
And she did trust him, even when
one day he went by her with averted
head as he passed through the gar
den on his way TO his motor.
AT lunch she had the key 10 the
situation 4 have thought some
times" her uncle said. restlessly,
that the doctor looks AT you as Z
he loved you--it would he a calamity
II he should learn to care for you,
Rosamond.
Rosan1ond- s-nHn- heart hA4t fts-
riously, but she satd carelessly. ne
scarcely notices me at all uncle"
The next day the doctor came early
to the garden, Il must speak to Won
before Your uncle comes. he said TO
Rosamond, who had arisen st his an
proach. II love YOU want You foe
my wife~-hut--l don't want YOU to
marry me in order to escape from
bondage. You must know love. child
before YOU leave your garden"
Rosamond's eyes dropped hetors
the alteration in his There --there
is one man with whom | could 1.-Two
always in my garden she whispered.
He bent to hear her Tell me his
name, ne commanded. then caught
her in his arms as she whispers6.
''Yoa~4+'' '-r5-s
Il cant carry YOU off like a thiee
IN the night he said after a raptur
Gus moment Il shall have to beard
the lion In his den. dear"
Hell never consent she said.
fearfully
Wait here Tor me. my Rose" AMI
he kissed her and went away
Ten minutes later I'M the dim study
two angry men faced each other.
If you do not give your consent I
shall run away with her" the doctor
said steadily. You are killing her
If not physically. at least mentally
and spiritualiy-no girl can live CON
stantly with your old gods and sur
yive'
Tomorrow she goes back to Ind,,
with me-. said the raging guardian.
you cannot take her away from me-.
| love her too well TO have her hurt"
Vet YOU are hurting her. There IN
no ache like a heartache. Surely YOU
know that. sir"
been stung, then covered his face II
want 10 save her he said
Then let her love and be loved"
The younger man came over and
put his hand on the bent shoulGe rs.
All that YOU would haze been TO .he
woman YOU loved. | will be 10 Rosa
mend. Can I say more than that"
The face that was raised to his had
in it remuneration, combined with
nope. Make her happy" quavered
tie old man