The Southern herald., 1912-05-03
CHAPTER W.

II would be dif6eult to de- 'gnate pre-
eisely Just what O'Rourke thought TO
discover, when after a punetilious re-
turn Of Captain Won Einem's salute. he
reopened his door and, closing II quick
ly as he entered. turned the key in the
lock.
His mood was exalted. his magma
tion excited: the swift succession Oh
events which had made memorable sac
night. eliminating with his open n
vitation to a challenge from the most
desperate duelist In Europe. had m
spired p volatile vivaeity such as not
even the excitement Of the Casino hao
been potent to create in him. Of an
mad conjectures imaginable the mad
dest was too weird for him to credit II
his humor Of that hour. ELIMINATING
ALI else that had happened, In ths
course of that short evening, his heart
had been stirred, his emotions played
upon by a recrudesence OF a passion
which he had striyen with all nv
strength to put behind him for a timei
he had first heard the voice Of the enc
woman to whom his love and faith ana
honor we're irretrievably pledgeG' ne
had then seen her Tor another VINO re-
markably resembled her) for the scant
! lest OF instants; and finally he hae
I mysterlously received a letter which
could. he believed, have been convey
ed to him by no other hand but ners'
And now he was persuaded beyond .
doubt that the person Of the alcoVe
the eayesdropper for whose fair reputs
, he had chosen to risk his life, was no
body in the world but that same ons
woman.
But lore than all else, perhaps, No
expected and feared to find the room
deserted: for the balcony outside the
windows afforded means OF escaps
too facile to be neglected by one who
wished not to be discovered.
His first definite impression was Of
CONSERVATION and despair; for tn'
lights had been shut of In his an
sence. Then quickly he discerned
n with eyes dazed by the change NON
N the lighted hallway to the hghues'
NJ chamber, the shadowy shape OF a won
Nj an. motionless between him and tn
N windows, waiting.
y An electric switch was at MS o
bow. With a single motion ne csul
nave drenched the place with Ign
For an instant tempted, some strang
scruple of delicacy, abetted 1t may 0
" by his native love of romantic mystsr!
ad stayed his hand.
cb Madame" said he, "or mademc
ke selle. whichever ye may be-the WI
I'm dows are open, meself's not detainin
nm We. II We choose, ye may go; bI
,ed we'd favor me by going quickly.
give ye," he continued, seeing th'
she neither moved nor replied, TN
nte one chance. In thirty seconds | tur
re- on the lights"
my The woman did not stir; but !
lat. thought he could detect in the su
ness her quickened breathing.
It," What ye've taken," he amepde
al 'sI'd thank ye to leave as ye go-if
an. came to steal Tis little have
tne lose.
our There was no answer.
1all He touched the switch with an Il
be- patient hand, stepped forward sing
ore pace, caught himself mp and stopp
short, now pale and trembling who D
up, a moment gone been flushed WI
pas calm.
sap "Beatrix!" he cried thickly.
Dumbly his wife lifted her arms 4
eys offered herself to him, unutteral
r Ss lovely, unspeakably radiant.
cart Il we're worse than q waste OF III
nile to attempt a portrait of her as
pom seemed to him. Seen through her b
man bands eyes, her beauty was incomp
able. immaculate, too rare and fine.
said delicate a thing to be bodied forth
of words, dependent upon the perfect
of no single feature. Not IN her III
the fair as sunlight on the sea, not IN
ticer eyes of autumnal brown, not In
vice, wonderful fineness of her skin or
pee. the daintiness of her features, not
the graciousness Of her body, did
,ndi. find the beauty Of her that surpas
Non. expression, but in the love she b
m. him. in the sweetness of her inviol
c,,t SOUL in the steadfastness OF her
nem- pregnable heart.
,aIfe But it's doubtful IL ever he had
lnoS. alyzed his passion for her SO mini
eCis, ly. Mostly, think, at that momen
eyes her abrupt disclosure to him, he lc
ye ed unutterably for her lips and
proffered wreath round his neck OF
Mon. slim, round, white arms.
weak Yet he would not. Trembling tho
sure, he was, with every instinct and eV
ints; fiber Of his being straining toward
stak. with the hunger for her keen pail
wiFt. his heart, he held himself back; or
,leas- conception of honor held him b
That which he had voluntarily for
g his ed and put away from him for his
cock. or's sake, he would not take
nired though It were offered freely to
'Tis so" he said, after bit, shall
OBJ then pulled himself together,