Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1916-06-16

| LOU. vi, RlCudTu!
He strobe across the room to her
side. He seized her hands and kissed
them in a stormy outbreak Of passion
which seemed terrify her. She
shrank from him, vainly trying to free
himself
ooh, Richard-don't-you must be
more careful-we are not alone-there
are people"
He laughed up at her. His eyes were
alight. The subdued flicker of reck-
lessness, never wholly absent, blazed
up in defiance of her white timidity.
81 know there are people-hundreds
Of them-somewher down in that dull
old world which we've left miles be-
meath. Yes, 1 dare say, am little
mad. I feel it-I'm glad of it. It's
good to be mad like this" Suddenly
her expression penetrated his intoxica-
ton. He stopped short "Sylvia-
you're not ill?" he said roughly.
She shook her head, half smiling
half fearful
"You may not care what people
think, but do-all nice women do
We are not properly engaged. You
forget that"
He nodded, his eyes fixed on her
half-averted face.
Perhaps you are right-wOmen are
| different. In their love and in their
religion they seek the outward, visible
signs. I have brought the visible signs
wi In hi hon 70
pocket and drew out small case,
which he opened and placed on the
table before her. "That is my first
gift" he said simply. AS though drawn
against her will, she turned. Her eyes
rested on the ring in it's cold, gray
setting, and their pupils dilated with
an amazed involuntary displeasure. 1t
was a single, fawless emerald, square
cut and set in a narrow band Of sap
phire.
Farquhar took it from it's case and
held it out to her.
"You don't understand 1t can't be
| just now. It's as though we were re-
joicing in the midst of a terrible grief.
Surely you have heard?"
II know that your brother has not
been found" he answered earnestly.
81 know that he" was-is very dear to
you Why should that come between
us now?"
"Because-" She made a little,
feeble gesture of despair, and then
went on breathlessly. "It's not for
myself, Richard. There is my father
| to be considered. Roberts loss has
broken his heart. He is ill-you must
have seen that can't tell him that 1
am going to leave him"
IT don't ask it Of you. I shall be
patient. / shall wait a year-two
years, but you can't keep me on the
outside of your life while wait. You
belong to me-you gave yourself to
me. I don't claim more than you gave
4 wouldn't claim that much if I
saw it was not for your happiness
and now 1 hold you above my life, my
honor"
"Oh, hush! hush!'' She looked at
him with terrified, beseeching eyes.
"Please don't say that don't want to
hear it, Richard. 1t sounds so-wild
and mad, and your eyes brighten me-
Be reasonable and gentle-dear." -
The hard lines of Violence smoothed
themselves from his face as if by
miracle. With an almost feminine ten
derness he took her icy hand between
his own and chafed it,"
"Forgive mel think have devil
in me, Sylvia, little black fiend that
drives Newell, to the very devil, in
fact" He stopped, his eyes narrow
ing as though at some vision which he
could not fully face. eff lost YOU
Sylvia, what is the matter?" He looked
at her more intently, and then, with a
sudden flash of perception. "Something
has happened-out there in Afgiers.
What?"
She did not answer. She was not
even looking at him. Following her
glance, he turned slowly on his heel. A
man who had stood hesitating on the
threshold now came toward them, his
hand extended.
"Forgive me, Miss Omney. I inter-
rupted, but understood that I should
find you here, and 1 could not wait.
You see, 1 am punctual to the hour
and to the day"
| He spoke in English, with faint
accent that was not displeasing. Rich
ard Farquhar drew back. The vehe-
mence had vanished from his manner.
leaving him curiously at ease. Sylvia
Omney glanced at him, swiftly, with
an almost childish appeal and fear.
Richard, this is Captain Arnaud
We met out in Algiers. Captain Ar
naud-this is Mr.. Farquhar."
Both men bowed. The Frenchman
smiled with cordial recognition.
II have heard your name often, Mr.
Farquhar. You are what is called an
old playfellow, are you not-a privi
legged position?"
| For an instant Faruuhar waited. his