The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-01-19

Madame" said he, "or mademoi-
Belle, whichever re may be-the win
dows are open, meself's not OBTAINING
We. If We choose, We 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 I 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,
I'D thank We to leave as we go-if We
came to steal. 'Tis little l have to
lose.
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
moment gone been flushed with
calm
"Beatrix!" he cried thickly.
Dumbly his wife lifted her arms and
offered herself to him, unutterably
lovely, unspeakably radiant. =.
1t were worse than a 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, too
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 her
eyes of autumnal brown, not in the
wonderful fineness 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.
pregnable heart.
But It's doubtful II ever he had an.
alyzed his passion for her SO minute
ly. 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
he was. with every instinct and every
fiber of his being straining toward her.
with the hunger for her a keen pain in
his heart. he held himself back; or his
conception of honor held him back
That which he had voluntarily forfeit
ed and put away from him for his hon
or's sake, he would not take back
though 1t were offered freely to him
So he said. after a bit, shakily:
then pulled himself together, and
controlling his voice-"So twas your.
self, after all. Beatrix, Me heart told
other nnnIl bav
that song as ye did"
The woman dropped her arms. your
heart. Terence?" she asked a little bit.
terly.
What else? Do we doubt it,"
She shook her head sadly, wistful
ly. How do know? How can l tell
Surely. dear. no two people were ever
happier than we-yet within a year
from our wedding you you lief,
me. ran away from me- Why"
We'll ye know why, dearest. and
well ye know twas love of We alone
that drove me from ye. Could lei
1t be said ye had a husband who was
incapable OF supporting ye? Could ]
let 1t be said that your husband lived
like leech upon your fortunes?
Faith. didn't I have to go for your
sake?"
NO. she dissented with second
weary shake of her pretty head: Il
think 1t was love of yourself a little
Terence-that and your pride.
Why should any of our world
have guessed you were not the rich
man you fancied yourself when we
We're married? Who would have told
them that your landed heritage In
Ireland had turned out profitless? Not
L. my dear"
Il know that" he contended stub
bornly, but | know, too, sooner or
later 1t would have come out, and
they would have said: There she
goes with her fortune-hunter, the ad.
venturer who married her for her
money"
And If SO? What earthly differ.
ence could 1t make to us. sweetheart?
What can gossip matter to us-if you
love me?"
I'll" he cried. almost angrily. "If!
All. but no. darling! tbs your
self knows there is no If about It, that
I'm sick with love OF ye this very
minute-sick and mad for ye :"
Then" she pleaded. with desper-
ate little break in her Incompatible
voice; and again held out her arms
to him-'then have pity on me. oh, my
dearest one-have pity on me II only
for a little while"
And suddenly he had caught her to
him, and she lay in his arms. hey
young strong body nodded to his. her
lips to his, her eyes half-veiled. the
sweet fragrance of her-too well re-
Observation-Disclosures him: lay SUI
pine in his embrace. yet held him