The Southern herald., 1916-06-30
CHAPTER VII-contInued.


eyes still on her face, and, returning
Arnaud's salute, strobe across the
sunlit courtyard and disappeared into
the shadows. Husband and wife
watched him In silence. Then Arnaud
gave a short, half-angry laugh.
When the devil goes abroad 1t is
usually to some purpose" he said.
"How did be come here%
Il invited him"
"He had not called on you"
She shrugged her shoulders prettily.
THAT was just what made me do it.
was bored and lonely, and bored
and lonely people are bound to do
something mad"
you are very often bored, Sylvia"
yes" she agreed. But does that
mean am very often mad?"
He looked up at her. his pale eyes
full of moody wistfulness. How much
can happen in a year where woman
Is concerned. A year ago you would
not have been bored, Sylvia. You
thought then that there was no more
lovely place on earth than Sidl-bel
Abbes, and that there was no other
man for you than myself. Now you
are restless and discontented. You
hate the place and-perhaps your hus
band" The last words broke from hin
with a petulant violence. 1t was the
irritable accusation Of man who does
not believe what he is saying and ex
poets contradiction. None came. Syl
via Arnaud's fair head was still BEN
over her flowers. He sprang upright
his face ashy with passion. ''DO yor
hate me, SylviaT he stammered. ShC
lifted her eyes for a moment, but no
to him. In their brown, velvety depths
there were pathos and melancholy in
fnltely touching.
"Oh, no, don't hate you, Desire,
she said In her soft voice. II havt
never hated anyone. But you don't un
derstand. How should you? You ar
a man, and not even a man of my owl
race. Women are so different. The.
live In such a narrow circle, Desire
and their dreams are everything t
them. They hold up ideals for then
selves, and the whole world Is glOrlfie
IN their eyes. How natural when
man comes to them they should ha
him as the consummation OF all the
hoped and fancied-how natural thG
they should wake up one day and fin
the glorious world a desert and the
idols shattered forever"
"Have l done that?" She made 4
answer. and he sprang at her an
seized her by the wrist in a paroxysl
Of excitement. "Have l done that
Am the broken idol?
She released herself with gentle d
cision from his desperate grasp.
ITS too late, Desire" she said sadl
when man breaks a woman's falt
1t is always beyond repair"
She moved away from him to Il
curtained door leading into the hOus
but he sprang after her, barring HI
path, his eyes pleading and full Of
worship that might have touched he
Sylvia, l will do anything. hay
been thinking-the Second regiment
ordered to Tonkin. Shall exchange
1t win give you fresh surroundings
fresh society, The climate isn't be
now. Or shall l get leave-I shc
take you to England for Il mOnth-tv
months-or we shall travei-"
She flushed suddenly.
1T is not necessary do not wa
TO take you from your duty"
His hand dropped from the curtal
Beneath the half-closed eyellds the
hickered two dangerous points of llgl
'In other words, you won't attem
TO bridge the gulf that has come |
tween us-at your wish, as l veri
believe. Very well, whatever happens
on your head be It."
he turned away, and for a nome
she hesitated, looking back at him Il
a child endeavoring to penetrate t
meaning Of some vague threat of t
future. Then the curtains fell sofi
behind her
sldl-bel-Abbes has two great stree
running north to south and east
west. ia between are the little 4