The Parma herald., 1916-06-08

| Madame, It's Abou-Y Yakoud who
ventures before you," he said in his
soft Arab French. "Abou-Yakoud,
who has seen Mecca and who reads
Destiny as an open book Give me
your hand. madame. For little franc,
will tell you good and evil-what
was and what Is to come"
Sylvia Arnaud started slightly and
turned.
you shall not come in here" she
said impatientIy, and yet not without a
childish touch OF hesitation. BEG
ging Is forbidden. Now be goner'
She tossed handful OF money on to
the white stone flags. Each coin rang
out like a note Of jangling laughter.
which still echoed after her as she
passed into the shadows of the gate
day.
AbouYakoud bent and gathered the
nickel pieces from the ground. When
he looked up again he stood straight
and erect. and the beard had vanished.
Gabrielle" he said softly.
She turned little. The warm gold
of evening was on her face and soft
ened the stern lines to mild and
noble serenity.
Il know" she seid. "Your voice
betrayed you. And then-sooner or
later | felt that you would come.
though for what purpose God knows"
Let us hope he does not" he an
swered sardonlcalIy. II am here on
my own business. and my own busi-
ness has no sanctity about it. must
keep control IL am to win through to
the things want"
"The things you wantr' she echoed
with deep sadness. what are they
now, Stephen?'
He knelt on the marble edge of the
fountain and caught her hand.
"Gabrielel" he repeated hoarsely
"Gabrieller'
She looked down at him. Her free
hand she laid quietly upon his
"You are cruel to YOURSELF" she said.
why have you come, Stephenr'
God knows. l have lied so much In
all these ghastly years. Gabrielle.
have lied most of all to my own con-
science. | have called you an episode
"a folly. | have heaped contempt on
you, on my memory of you, and al
ways you have risen as now-the one
pure thing that have loved. my one
virtue. my own fidelity"
Hush. Stephen, we have buried our
dead"
you have-I cannot. tried. AT
first 1t was remorse that would not lei
me-the knowledge that l have ruined
you-dishonored you"
"That is not true" she interrupted
proudly. "No woman-no man-has
ever been dishonored by one action
Honor is not a possession to be lost oil
broken. 1t is ourselyes-what we are
II you had dishonored me | should bt
different; but | am not different.
have grown stronger-that is all.
see clearer. | am happy"
Happy? And your name-your po
sition-your people--all lostr'
She smiled family.
'Those griefs are old and healed
Stephen. have name and n posi-.
tion. They are my own, and am a
little proud of them. | owe you my
knowledge of myself and my own
strength-some hours illusion, broad
er outlook, a deeper understanding of
other women's failures. Let that suf-
fee between US"
Il cannot" He sprang up with a
wild gesture of protest. at is not re-
morse that haunts me. | am not the
man to feel remorse. half loved and
half despised you. Then-that night
when ! came back and found that Won
knew me for what was-a liar. a
cheat common spy. to be bought and
sold by every man-and had left me
on the very eve of my atonement TO
you-then knew my own madness.
From that hour wanted you"
ITS too late. Stephen" she said.
too late. have buried my dead.
dear. cannot call the dead to life.
We are free and we stand alone. We
must go our ways. Stephen"
II won't plead. Gabrielle. | know
you better" Then suddenly he turned
and stumbled bllndly into the dark
ness of the passageway.