The Washington times., 1914-01-19

, letter exactly" he said. 4 will tell you
The able held out his hand. No he
said, don't"
Please" said Everard. That after
noon when / met Toinette and saw her
home l made her stop and talk down
, there in the dunes. When l first came
here l heard her singing, and decided
TO make love to her just ~ pass the
time. 1t was a dogs trick. 1 got to
know her by going down to the cafe
evenings. Zhen we met every afternoon
in the sands, and I really loved her.
She loved me, too, l had never been sc
happy in all my life. To feel her in my
arms was the most wonderfulthing in
the world"
He, broke off, and his hand gripped
the pipe. Then the time came for me to
go back to England. l didn't want TO
one night II couldn't remain satisfied
with her kisses. 1 climbed up into her
bedroom. There was no excuse. l old
il deliberately. The next evening she
met me in the cave, our cave, and we
said goodbye. She was terribly moved
and couldn't believe that 1 was really
going. And then-an6 then they told
me at the golf club that she-WSs dead
saw her lying on her little white bed,
with her hands folded across her breast,
from her shoe buckle. Oh, my God'-
The able covered his face with his
hands.
And then went back knowing that
was a murderer" Everard continued
deliberately, choosing his words with eX-
treme care. I've got to tell you this
because you wouldn't let me drown.
From the time I got there I was haunt
ed, was afraid TO go to bed because I
went through II all over again in my
dreams. In the daytime things remind
ed me of it and ! went through b
There was never a moment when 1 did
not pay. / deserved to. ] bought a re-
volver. wanted to find Toinette again.
Something wouldn't let it go Off. 1
couldn't find any escape. I was like a
rat in a trap. At last, after a dance,
when 1 believed I had found the way
out went back home late. 1 think
something must have happened to me
then for 1 don't remerber anything very
well after that until 1 awoke here and
you came IN. Aren't you going to-
kill me now?'
He lay quite still, waiting.
Presently a wet hand clasped his and
then he heard the abbe speaking in a
voice that he hardly knew.
do not say that! oh, mon ami. mon
ami! I have had your throat in my
hands to kill you. read your letter.
Like Peter, 1 denied my Cod, who
am priest. went mad. 1 cried aloud
for vengeance. If you had not awak-
ened and spoken Toinette's name when
my fingers were about to st-argie YOU,
I--l-oh! my friend, can you ever for
give?"
WEAKNESS in his eyes. II was all to do
over again. Why didn't you leave me
in the sea?'' he said. What Is the good
being alive when Toinette is dead?''
An immense sympathy SIlcd the abbe's
heart. The utter hopelessness in the
mans voice was more moving than
even the haltirg story Of his attempted
suicide.
"oh! the pity Of it, he caid. Mon
DieuI Mon Dieu.'
He rose and clasped mis- hands be-
hind his back and began 10 walk slowly
up and down the room, casting a ques-
tioning look ever and again at Everard,
who lay with closed eyes.
Then the able stopped. Il have some
thing to tell you, mon ami" he said
quietly, something hat T'ill come as
q shock, a very great shock, but a glad
one. Are you strong enough to hear
Everard made limp gesture with one
hand. His eyes did not open.
What does it natter" he murmured.
Nothing matters now
You are wrong, said the priest.
Everything matters. You can begin
again. The whole world is in front of
you-life, happiness. and-anc love
Toinette is not dead"
AS IL something had hit him violent
ly, Everard sat bolt upright IN BED, his
face dead white, his mouth half open,
his eyes burning the aDbe's.
''Tofnette is not dead
The abbe repeated it softly, fearfully'
but the words doomed in EveTdrd's ears
as il the whole world with one voice
had shouted them.
He gave a sort of gasp that was a
sob, clutched frantically at the bed
clothes, and fell back imp ana uncon-
scious.
Continuation Of This Story VIII