The Washington times., 1913-06-29
CHAPTER XxxIII.
A Misunderstanding.

fingers; she sat up. Then he
saw that she. too. was agitated.
There was an unusual spot Of
color In her cheeks; her breathing YVES
certainly less regular. The variance
from her habitual placidity encouraged
him.
You'll think I'm insane" he began.
II don't care. There's Drexley heart
broken. that other poor wretch mad.
ana others that they have told me Of.
Do you know that these men are your
victims, Emily de Reuss?"
'.My-victims?'' ?''
AYE. NOW, listen. win absolve you
from blame. I win say that the fault
was theirs. that your kindness was
meant for Kindness, and nothing elisa
proof. IL you win. Of generous nature.
What does 1t matter? These men have
poured out their lives upon the altar OF
your vanity. They have given you their
I honestly believe nothing. win believe
that theirs was the fault: that you are
not heartless. nor vain, nor indifferent.
Only am not going to be as these men,
Emily.
Il love you-no one but you. you al
ways, and you shall be mine, OF ] will
leave your doors forever, and crush
down every thought OF you A curse
upon friendship and such rubbish You
are q beautiful woman, far above me
but at least / am q man, and love
you. and 1 win have you for my own.
or no other woman"
He bent down, snatched hold Of her
hands and drew her face toward his
At least she was nor indifferent Her
cheeks were flushed and her eyes mar
velously soft She did not repulse him,
nor did she yield herself at once to his
embrace. She looked up at him with
q wet eye and q curious smile.
Ny friend" she said. do you wish
to take me by storm7 What is all this
you are saying-and why do you look
because am desperate dear" he
answered Because l am alone, with
you, the woman I love. and because a
single word from you can open the
gates of heaven for me- Don't think
/ am too rough ] will not hold you
for 4 moment II you bid me let you
go See you are free. Now, you shall
answer me or l win read your silence
HIS arms were around her waist. Her
face was turned away. but he saw the
glitter OF a tear in her eyes, and he
was very bold BE kissed IT away.
Emily" he cried, you care for me
q little. You are not heartless. Dear,
like"
She unclasped his hands and drew a
little away from him. But he did not
lose heart, for. though her smile was
a wistful one. her eyes were soft with
unshed tears. and her face WAS the face
Of a woman
Douglas" she said, '.wfI you listen
to me for a moment? You spoke of
those other men; you charged me with
What, them
The brutal selfishness of love and of
youth swept from his memory Strong's
broken life an Drexley's despair.
Nothing" he cried. so long as YOU
will care for me. am not your Judge.
! want you-you. Emily, and your love.
Tonight care for nothing else"
He laid her soft fingers upon his
eager face. half caressingiy, half in
Il never wished them harm" she
said Il was interested in their work.
and to me they were merely units. So
they called me heartless. was only
selfish. let them come 10 me because
i Ike clever people about me, and So
ciety requires Just such an antidote
When they made love to me ! sent
them away or bade them remain as
friends. But that does not necessarily
mean that I am without a heart"
Il never want to think of them
again." he murmured. "All that / want
In this world is that you tell me that
you care for me"
She looked into his face. eager, pas
sionate. almost beautiful in fts inten-
sity. and smiled. Only the smile COW
cred a sigh
III 1 tell you that, Douglas" she
said. will it be kindness, / wonder?
wonderm
Say II. and / will forget everything
else in the world" he begged.
Then, / think that / do-care for
you, Douglas, f.
He stopped her words-she gave her
self up for a moment TO that long, pas
sionate kiss. Then she withdrew her
self But for him the whole world was
lit with happiness. He had heard the
words which more than anything else
he desired to hear. She could never
take them back. Her melancholy was
a miasma. He would laugh Il away
with her.
Douglas" she said, 1T was because
I fancied that you were beginning to
care for me, and becauss I knew that
! cared for you, that went a~ay-not
because was afraid" Il
He looked puzzled Then he spoke
slowly:
Emily, lis It because I am poor ond
unknown? I am not a fit husband for
You. ! know. Yet I love You. and. II
you care, will make you happy"
.It Is not that" she answered.
He rose to his feet A darker shade
was in his face. His lower jaws were
lit with fire. A new look of resolution
was In his face. his lower jaws were
knit together With siillen strength
"Emi1y," he said, there % nothing
IA this world which win suffer to come
between you and me. have be:n lone