The Washington times., 1914-01-10
CHAPTER xxxII.


~ vERARD entered his bedroom and
l. shut the door quietly and locked
it He stood there leaning
against II for a moment. and
then unlocked II, hung his straw hat
on its usual peg, and placed his stick
in the corner.
He took the parcel from under his left
arm, looked at 1t for a moment, fingered
the knot, and then laid 1t down un-
opened on the table. 1t was very stuffy.
He flung up the window. The after
room sun had disappeared, leaving a
trafl of blood-red in the sky. Everard
staged for minute looking out Then
he turned and slowly came back to the
table and stretched out a hand to the
parcel.
The knot was very tight and refused
to be undone. Everard took his PEN
knife and cut the string. The brown
paper crinkled as he unfolded it and
brought out a cardboard box. He
opened the flaps.
There were the cartridges, and there
was the revolver, blue-black, with little
numbers on it. He picked it up.
1t was very cold, like some dead
thing.
Some dead thing. He laid it down
quickly and moved away from the table
with little shiver. How had she felt
before giving herself up to the sea?
. e. - -~s .
Would it make tremendous noise?
Robinson would dash up. Of course, 70
see what was the matter. But they
wouldn't have to break down the door.
What was the best way-to hold il to
ones temple or put the barrel in ones
mouth? Perhaps it would not be quite
instantaneous wouldn't II be better to
press it over his heart-unbutton his
waistcoat, there, just where his ribs
curved away?
The light was going fast 1t was get
ting late. 1t didn't matter. There was
nothing to see. The feel was every
thing.
Evarard moved round the room,
touching things affecuonately, but all
the time his thoughts ran away back
to the thing on the table. How did
one-go out? Were there any necessary
preIiminaries-letters or anything? Toi-
nette hadn't written. There was no
one who would care.
their prayers. Did she say them? God
and he were not on speaking terms
They didn't understand each other. But
he might say a little prayer to Toinette.
She would hear him Yes, he would just
tell her he was on his way. He went
10 the window. She wouldn't have
knelt-on the sand. He stood very still,
his hands gripping the ledge, his eyes
looking over the roofs at the dark. jag
ged clouds which were massed low down
in the sky.
"Mignonne. I'm sorry you went first"
The words came very quietly. II was
as though she were just outside the
window. IF hadn't loved you, you
would have been very happy. I'm aw-
fully sorry. There's nothing left, so
me. Toinette. darling, shall be there
In a second
The street lamps were being lit one |
by one and the chauffeurs on the stand |
just down the road were seeing TO their |
headlights. Everard saw nothing of |
this. lie turned from the window into |
the almost dark room and broke open |
the box of cartridges. Two or three |
dropped noiselessly upon the carpet;
He picked up the revolver and half
the chamber turned. He slipped In |
How neat the thing was! The
chambers Surned once more under his |
hand. and he put in another cartridge, |
and ancthe.. until all six chambers were
loaded.
Mouth, temple, or heart Which?
He felt very cold. and the palms 'Ot
his hands were damp. That wouldn't
matter in a moment.
with his left hand he unbuttoned his
waistcoat. still standing near the table.
II was all so easy. really. There was
to worry about. lust a crook
Of the finger and you were all rig
His wrist bent and he felt the foresight
catch in his shirt. He released il and
moved il upward until he felt II below
his chest and just where the ribs curved
away.
Why was his heart humping like
hat? II was absurd. He was trem-
bling. too. and holding his breath. tie
put out his left hand and clasped the
ron bed r2il. His finger edged round
Look out for me?" He closed his
yes and pulled. .,s Il
He seemed to hear the splash of his
body entering the sea Ii was very
old but what did 1t matter? He was
lead, walking along the bottom OF the
we're strange noises in his' ears. Where
vas Toinette? She had gone in here.
n a moment he would find her: she
vas waiting for him. He had told her
10. and she loved him; Therefore; she
lame after he had walked little
arther, only a little farther. and then
le would see her coming toward him
With her arms outstretched and love
burning in her. eyes. Would that bit of
eaweed still be dangling from her
hoe? They would laugh about that
loY, because soon his feet would be
aught in seaweed.
But where was she? Why didn't she
ome? He couldn't see her anywhere
n the darkness. He called her name
oudly There was no answer. Had she
zone away? Had she forgotten? That
VAS absurd. How could She forget?
They, loved each other forever. and ever
'Toinette! Come quickly. am herel'
Why didn't she answer? She must he