The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-07-14
CHAPTER VlI-Continued.

He lifted her hand to his lips, his
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 short, half-angry laugh.
when the devil goes abroad it is
usually to some purpose" he said.
How did he come hereT
''I 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 year where a 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 Sidi-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 him
with petulant violence. 1t was the
irritable accusation of a man who does
not believe what he Is saying and ex-
poets contradiction. None came. Syl-
via Arnaud's fair head was still bent
over her flowers. He sprang upright,
his face ashy with passion. do you
hate me, Sylvia ?" he stammered. She
lifted her eyes for a moment. but not
to him. In their brown, velvety depths
there were pathos and melancholy in
fnitely touching.
"Oh, no, don't hate you, Desire"
she said in her soft voice 81 have
never hated anyone. But you don't un-
derstand. How should you? You are
a man, and not even man of my own
race. Women are so different. They
live In such a narrow circle, Desire
and their dreams are everything to
them. They hold up ideals for them
selves, and the whole world is glorified
In their eyes. How natural when a
man comes to them they should hail
him as the consummation of all they
hoped and fancied-how natural that
they should wake up one day and find
the glorious world desert and their
idols shattered forever"
Have I done that?" She made no
answer, and he sprang at her and
seized her by the wrist in a paroxysm
of excitement. Have l done that?
Am I the broken idol?"
She released herself with gentle de-
cision from his desperate grasp.
ITS too late, Desire" she said sadly
When man breaks a woman's faith
1t fs always beyond repair
She moved away from him to the
curtained door leading into the house,
but he sprang after her, barring her
path, his eyes pleading and full of a
worship that might have touched her.
Sylvia, will do anything l have
been thinking-the Second regiment Is
ordered to Tonkin. Shall | exchange?
1t will give you fresh Surroundings
fresh society. The climate isn't bad
now. Or shall l get leave-I shall
take you to England for a month-two
months-or we shall travel"
She flushed suddenly.
1T is not necessary. | do not want
TO take you from your duty"
His hand dropped from the curtain.
Beneath the half-closed eyeIids there
fickered two dangerous points OF light.
I'm other words, you won't attempt
to bridge the gulf that has come be-
tween us-at your wish, as l verify
believe. Very well, whatever happens
on your head be it"
He turned away. and for a moment
she hesftated, looking back at him like
a child endeavoring to penetrate the
meaning of some vague threat Of the
future Then the curtains fell softly
behind her
Sidi-bel-Abbes has two great streets
running north to south and east to
west. In between are the little for
gotten byways, unknown to the great
ones who saunter about the Place Car
not listening TO the band. or take their
sbsinthe on the gaudily decorated cafes
of the Algerian boulevards None the
less these unsuspected byways exist.
They are very narrow and very dirty.
On the border of this region lies the
Cafe du Tonkin. 1t is comparatively
respectable, and occasionally tourist
or newly arrived official under escort
makes his appearance in the bar in
order to acquaint himself with what
be conceives to be the real thing"
Therefore when Capt. Desire Arnaud
sauntered along the narrow. evil