The Virginia enterprise., 1912-03-01
59HH3--Eff EfEH8fE-4-H59
The Stone Gods
(Copy1iRht 1917, BY Associated Literary Press)
+ + 4
By TEMPLE BAILEY

feet shadow maiden II you shut your
self up in this dark old garden"
The color came into Rosamond's
pale face until she was as vivid as
a flame. "Oh, hate it here" she
said, with her little hands clenched:
Il hate it."
"Then why do you stay?" he asked
gently.
! Uncle had his heart broken when
he was young man." she said, sim.
ply. He loved a woman who mar.
ried another man. My father broke
my mothers heart-so my uncle does
not believe in marriage. He kept
me in a convent until l was eighteen,
and two years ago we came here
He has always lived in India, and
he loves the stone gods which he
brought from there, and he has put
them around the fountain, and
have to look at them every day"
He took her little trembling hands
In his strong grasp.
Look at me-" he commanded, and
she raised her eyes and met his
steady glance. "Listen-I am going tc
set the fairy princess free from the
enchanted garden. But she must let
me do it In my own way-and trust
me-will she?"
"Oh, yes" she breathed.
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 lunched together and dined to-
gether, and every day Rosamond sat
at 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 to the
situation. Il have thought some
times" her uncle said, restlessly
that the doctor looks at you as II
he loves you-it would be a calamity
If he should learn to care for you
Rosamond."
ROsamOnd's own heart beat fu
riously, but she said carelessly: HE
scarcely notices me at all uncle"
The next day the doctor came early
to the garden. Il must speak to you
before your uncle cornes," he said tc
Rosamond, who had arisen at his ap
proach. II love you'll want you fo1
my wife-but-I don't want you tc
marry me in order to escape from
bondage. You must know love, child
before you leave your garden"
Rosamonds eyes dropped before
the alteration in his. "There-there
is one man with whom I could live al
ways in my garden she WHISPERED.
He bent to hear her. TELL me his
name," he commanded, then caught
her in his arms as she whispered
YOU"
II can't carry you of like a thief
in the night" he said after raptur.
GUS moment. II shall have to beard
the lion in his den, dear"
He'll never consent" she said.
fearfully.
Ten minutes later in the dim study
two angry men faced each other.
If you do not give your consent
shall run away with her." the doctor
said steadily. you are killing her
if not physically, at least mentally
and spiritually-no girl con live con.
stantly with your old gods and sur.
vive"
Tomorrow she goes back to India
with me-" said the raging guardian.
"You cannot take her away from
me. love her too we'll to have her
hurt"
Yet you are hurting her. There is
no ache like heart-ache. Surely you
know that, sir.
The old man stared as If he had
been stung, then covered his face. Il
want to save her." he said.
Then let her love and be loved"
| The younger man came over and
put his hand on the bent shoulders.
"All that you would have been to
the woman you loved, l will be to
Rosamond. Can say more than
that?"
The face that was raised to his had
In It renunciation, combined with
hope. Make her happy" quavered
the old man.