Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-14
CHAPTER XVIII.-Continued.

"Cynthia?" he cried. brokenly. and
tried. impetuously. to catch her hand and
bend his lips to it. But she withdrew it,
Guiding him
No she said. patiently. without re-
proach. Not again. dear heart. Never
kiss me again. Bruce. Only remem-
her. always and always. and like meas
| shall-with gladness. DO you re-
member that fret night-in the res-
taurant, when you quoted Henley to
me?''
He nodded. mute. unable to endure the
calm beauty of her gaze, then bowed his
head. staring blankly away into the light
less murk of a world darkened by self
And do YOU remember the quiet
voice went on. and quoted:
80 may i; he: that dear Yesterday
No sad-eyed ghost hut generous and gay.
May serve yOu memories Ike almighty vino.
When Won are old y
Don't 49, he begged, in the voice
of a man on the rack.
She hestated. affected by his distress,
troubled and questioning But dear
so. We must be content with
memories SO dear and sweet That
is the spirit of lOve-isn't ito be con-
tent with itself. to ask nothing but to go
on loving. to endure all things and sur
vive. to say: am love eternal and un-
changing. death itself cannot change me.
/ love and | am beloved: that is
enough. Isn't it so, dear; isn't it
true?''
He shook his head in somber negaton.
You don't understand" he said. slowly.
seeking painfully words with which to
express himself: "or I don't or can't.
] don't know: it's all dark to me:
| seem to myself the blacklist scoundrel
unhung. ! have no right to look at you
even to breathe the air YOU breathe,
cynthia ! haven't played fair. I'm not
playing fair now. Over and above every
wish ! own there is the desire. almost
stronger than my strength to resist. to
go on loving you. to go on making love
to you. ! can't he with YOU second
without wanting to snatch you out of the
world. into my arms to have and
to hold - From the beginning it has
been SO with me. and from the begin
ming ] foresaw this end. this remuneration
am not strong enough. but must draw
on your strength. to make. And yet |
went on. waiting and seeking your love.
And all the while ! knew myself
for cur: /, married to a woman who
despises me and whom | lOathe-a woman
not fit to be your servant: |. a failure in
life, without means either to support a
wife were l able to marry. or to secure
my freedom that | might marry a
broken. worthless. embittered man-mak-
ing love to YOU -
With a low. quivcrinE cry of rage and
self-contempt, Crittenden broke off. "Oh,
am an unspeakable blackguard. You
must see that now. Hate me, learn to
scOrn and despise me-and so be true to
yourself and save yourself!
The voice of the woman. responding.
was gentle and indulgent as his had
been rude and impassioned. and as ten
der and soothing as the hand that touch
ed lightly his lowered head las if I
could"' she chded him. LAS IL. were You
thrice as black you have tried to paint
yourself to me, it could make differ
ence. . / love you and from the first
i know now-I wanted you to love me.
You did not seek melt was l who sought
and demanded you always. You didn't
win one step into my confidence save by
my own invitation. II either of us is to
blame for anything it is I. Not that
admit that we're blamabIe: Love blows
as the wind blows dear, love blows into
the heart. So 1t was with us. ." = AS