Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-11
BOOK II.
CAPTER XIX (Continued)

II Nh OMIT said, ana my voice was
IL whisper; don't, Charmian"
For a moment her clasp frightened about
me. she was all tenderness and clinglng
warmth then I heard a sudden gasp, her
arms loosened and fell away, and SO
presently raised my head and, supporting
myself upon my hand. looked at her. And
then I saw that her checks were burning
"Peter"
Eyes. Charmian?"
"Dld you" She paused, plucSing
nervously at the grass, and looking away
from me.
well Charmian?"
"Did you-hear-" Again she broke off,
and still her head was averted.
~ heard your voice calling to me from
great way Off, and SOL came, Char
mlan."
Were you conscious when-when l.
found your"
very deep black pit" Here she looked
at me again.
81 thought you-were-dead, Peter"
MY soul was out of my body-until
you recalled it,"
''You were lying upon your back by the
hedge here, and-oh, Peterl your face
was white and shining in the moonlight
-and there was-blood upon it, and you
booked like one that is-dead!" and she
shivered.
"And you have brought me back to
life" said l, rising; but, being upon my
feet. I staggered glddily, to hide which
laughed and leaned against a tree.
Indeed" said l, 81 am very much alive
still and monstrously hungry-you spoke
Of rabbit | think"
"A rabbit" said Chairman i'm a whis-
per. and as / met her eye I would have
given much to have recalled that thought
less speech.
I'll think you did mention a rabbit"
a.d /, f1oundering deeper
go. then-you deceived me. YOU lay
there and deceived me-with your eyes
s shut and your ears open, taking advan-
tage Of my pity"
4 mo. no--indeed, mol thought myself
still dreaming; it-it all seemed so un-
4 real, $3.50 beyond all belief and possi-
biity and" I stopped. aghast at my
Grass folly, for, with a cry, she sprang
1 10 her feet and hid her face i'm her hands.
while stood dumfounded, like the fool
was. When she looked up her eyes
seemed TO scorch me-
And ! thought Mr.. Wharf a man of
honor-like a knight of his old-time ro-
mances, high and chivalrous-oh!
hought him a-gentlemanu
Instead Of which," said ]. speaking
Ns II were), despite myself instead of
which you find me only a blacksmith
low, despicable fellow eager to take
saFantage of your unprotected woman
1000 She did not speak, standing tall
ahd straight, her head thrown back;
Hnereiore, reading her scorn of me I'm
per eyes, seeing the proud contempt Of
aef mouth, very demon seemed sud
ernly 70 possess me, for certainly the
augh that rang from my lips proceeded
nom no volition of mine.
and yet, madam" my voice went on,
ms despicable blacksmith fellow re-
Iseo 100 guineas for you today"
reterF she cried, and shrank away
ron me as If | had threatened TO strike
Ah!--you start at that-your proud lin
nshDles-do not fear, madam-the sum
not Tempt him-though a large one"
releri she cried again, and row
mere was a note of appeal I'm her voice
A inueed, madam, even so degraded a
He9W as this blacksmith could not very
nsi sell that which he does not possess
u
a-oegging and you are still unsoldg'
tonk before | had done she had covered
iaee again, and, coming near, / saw
"afs running out between her 1h-
~ ana sparkling as they fell And
~. AGAIN the devil within me laughed
! ie1 a.u m harsh. But while IT still echoed
c nep nung myself down at her feet
~, naIlhian' ! cried, forgive me-you
~ you must" and kneeline before
~ 4 strove to catch her gown and KISS
nehi' but she drew II close about her
a. e turning, fed from me through the
needless Of all else but that she was
shs me, | stumbled TO nv feet and
me trees seemed 10 beset me
4 q ~ ana bushes TO reach out arms
'ay me, but / burst from them run-
ns Wildly, blunderingly. FOR she was co
r,so, onainian was leaving me. And so.
IA and painting, ! reached the cottage
"a net Nharmian at the door. She was
~ ~ me long cloak she had worn when
nm, sA,ae and the hood was drawn close
4, 'ss9a ss,. painting In the doorway barring
LET me pass. Peter"
~ God-nol'' ! cried ana .a,o.,....
...u o.su the door, and leaned INV hack
~. ana after we had stood thus awhile
sol oohing upon the other, reached
Is,o bands TO her. and my hands were
%.n ana bloody. "e'o
aHt r.Ht 80. CHAIRMAN" mumblsd
fds,, 20. Oh, Charmian-rm hurt
hs. want you to know, but you mustn't
Ihint am not--welli II Is my head.
% sir,, met Black George, and he WAS
~ ',long for me. I'm deaf, CHAIRMAN.
Is At blnded-oh. don't leave me
A1l' 'sa,a, s. charmiani" Her figure grew
I1.r .,uIfed and indistinet, and ! sank
~ N upon my knees but IN The dimness
a..ssd y cut and found her hands, and
A.t snem, and bowed my head upon
seemed 10 me. e'e-s N"ne'
~, ,sseeasy, ,sssesesnuy, through the mist. her
n, sssil viii not leave you-lean
~. thtfe-there'" And, little bv
= M .Pse strong. gentle hands drew
81. 49, more % |iFhf and life. Ana
y. me 70 a chair and brought
~ ft and ueahcd The bIooa ana
||"m me. ae aIa Haa .n..,.. I...l....