Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-11-16
THE HILLMAN


upon you from the greatest men In
London. The atmosphere there stiles
me, Louise. Out here you are woman
and I a man, and those other things
fall away. l have tried my best to
come little way into sympathy with
your life. l want you now to make up
your mind to come down little way
into miner"
She felt the sudden swapping of ev-
cry nerve In her body, the passing
away Of all sense Of will or resistance
She was conscious only OF the niue
movement toward him, the involuntary
yielding of herself. She lay back IN
his arms, and the kisses which closed
her eyes and lips seemed to be work
Ing some strange miracle.
She was in some great empty space,
breathing wonderful things. She was
on the hllltcps, and from the heights
she looked down at herself as she had
been-a poor little white-faced puppet,
strutting about an overheated stage, In
a fetid atmosphere of adulatlon, with
a brain artlfclally stimulated and a
heart growing cold with selfishness.
She pitied herself as she had been.
Then sh, opened her eyes with start
Of Joy.
GLOW wonderful it all is' she MUIR
INJURED. "You brought me here to tell
me this?"
"And to hear somethlng" he insist
ed.
81 have tried not to- john she CON
fessed, amazed ut the trenible of her
sweet low voice. Her words seemed
like the confession Of weeping child.
II cannot help it. / do love youl
have tried not to so hard, but now
now | shall not try any more"
They drove quietly down the long
hill and through the dripping streets.
Not another word passed between
them till they drew up outside her
door. She felt new timldlty as he
handed her out, an immense gratitude
for his firm tone and intultiye tact.
"No, won't come in, thanks he de-
clared. "You have so little time to
rest and get ready for the theater."
"You will be there tonight?" she
asked.
He laughed as If there were humor
In the suggestion of his absence.
"Of course!"
He slipped in his clutch and drove
Off through the rain-gleaming streets
with the smile and air Of a conqueror.
Louise passed into her little house to
find visitor waiting for her there.
Eugene, prince of Seyre, had spent
the early part of that afternoon In a
manner wholly strange to him. In pdr-
suance Of an order given to his major
domo Immediately on his return from
his club after lunch, the great recep-
ton rooms Of Seyre House, the picture
gallery and the ballroom were pre-
pared as If for reception. Dust-sheets
were swept aside, masterpieces of
painting and sculpture were uncovered,
the soft brlliance of concealed electric
lights lit up many dark corners.
He was forty-one years old that
day, and the few words which John
had spoken to him barely an hour ago
had made him realize that there was
only one thing In life that he desired.
The sight of his treasures merely
soothed his vanity. 1t left empty and
unsatisfied his fuller and deeper de-
sire Of living. He told himself that
his time had come. Others Of his race
had paid a great price for the things
they had coveted In life. He, too, must
follow their example.
He was in Louise's drawlng-room
when she returned-Loulse, with hair
and cheeks little damp, but with
wonderful light in her eyes and with
footsteps that seemed to fall upon air.
"Some tea and a bath this mo-
ment, Aline!" she called out, as she
ran lightly up the stairs. "Never mind
about dinner, am so late. | will
have some toast. Be quick"
"Madame-" Aline began.
"Don't bother me about anything
now" Louise interrupted. Il will
throw my things off while you get the
bath ready"
She stepped into her little room.
throwing off her cloak as she entered.
Then she stopped short, almost upon
the threshold. The prince had risen
to his feet.
"Eugenew
He came toward her. Even as he
stopped to kiss her fingers, his eyes
seemed to take in her disheveled con-
dition, the little patches Of color in
her cheeks, the radiant happiness
which shone In her eyes.
Il am not an unwelcome intruder,
hope" he said. "But how wet you
arep
The fingers which he released fell
nerveessly TO her side. She stood
looking at him as If confronted with
sudden nightmare. 1t was as If this
new-found life were being slowly
drained from her veins.
"You are overtired," he murmured,
leading her with solicitude toward an
easy chair. zone would imagine, from
your appearance, that was the bear
er Of some terrible tidlngs. Let nue.
assure you that 1t is not so.'
He spoke with his usual delibera-
ton. but she seemed powerless to re-
cover herself. She was still dazed
and white. She sank into the chair
and looked at him.
s'Nothlng. trust" he went on, has
happened to disturb your
"Nothlng at ALL she declared hast
lily. Il am tired. I ran upstairs per-
hans a little too quickly. Aline had