The Elbert County tribune., 1917-11-16

dared not analyze. Perhaps, after all
her self-dissection, there were still Sc
cret chambers. She thought almost
with fear of what they might contain.
Her sense of superiority was vanish
ing. She was, after all, like other
women.
"Yes," she promised, 81 will help.
We will leave it at that. Some day
you shall talk to me again, If you like
In the meantime, remember we are both
free. You have not known many wom-
en-, and you may change your mind
when you have been longer in. London.
Perhaps it will be better for you If
you dol"
"That is quite impossible" John said
firmly. "You see," he went on, look
ing at her with shining eyes, 81 know
now what half believed from the first
moment that 1 saw you. / love you'll"
Springing restlessly to her feet, she
walked across the room and back
again. Action of some sort seemed inn
perative. A curious hypnotic feeling
seemed to be dulling all her powers
of resistance. She looked into her life
and she was terrified. Everything had
grown Insignificant. 1t couldn't really
be possible that with her brains, her
experience, this man who had dwelt all
his life in the simple ways had yet the
power to show her the path toward the
greater thingsi She felt like child
again. She trembled a little as she
sat down by his side. 1t was not in
this fashion that she had intended to
hear what he had to say.
II don't know what is the matter
with me today" she murmured dis
tractedly. 81 think I must send .ou
away. You disturb my thoughts. I
can't see life clearly. Don't hope for
too much from me-" she begged. ''Rut
don't go away" she added, with a sud,
den irresistible impulse of anxiety.
"Oh, wish-I wish you understood me
and everything about me, without my
having to say a word"
81 feel what you are" he answered,
"and that is sufficient"
Once more she rose to her feet and
walked across to the window. An au-
tomobile had stopped in the street be-
low. She looked down upon it with
sudden frozen feeling of apprehen-
sion.
John moved to her side, and for him,
too, the joy of those few moments was
clouded. A little shiver of PRESENT.
ment took its place. He recognized the
footman whom he saw standing upon
the pavement.
sit is the prince of Seyre," Louise
faltered.
"Send him away" John begged.
ave haven't finished yet. 1 won't say
anything more to upset you. What !
want now is some practical guidance"
II cannot send him awayl"
John glanced toward her and hated
himself for his fierce jealousy. She
was looking very white and very pa
thetic. The light had gone from her
eyes. He felt suddenly dominant, and.
with that feeling, there came all the
generosity of the conqueror.
"Good-by!" he said. perhaps can
see you sometime tomorrow.
He raised her hand to his lips and
kissed her fingers, one by one. Then
he left the room. She listened to his
footsteps descending the stairs, firm,
resolute, deliberate, They paused,
there was the sound of voices-the
prince and he were exchanging greet
ings; then she heard other footsteps
ascending, lighter, smoother, yet just
as deliberate.
Her face grew paler as she listened.
There was something which sounded
to her almost like the beating of fate
in the slow, inevitable approach of
this unseen visitor.