The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-25

dream, but she felt the pacEf Sc II
her bosom and she knew that wa
no dream.
She did not weep. Her eyeE were
dry and hard. She slowly unws appel
that medallion and looked at thE loci
of glossy hair. The portrait I hel
own child and lock from herr head
She depressed her feelings res5 lutely
and left the room with a firm step
She passed through several hooms
nodding now and then to the saeople
she met, until at last she arris ed a
her own door.
She entered and locked tibet door
and sank into chair; not to ei1Ea way
to her sorrow and sob, not to IoEy fol-
consolation, but to curse theesfcrue
fate that had robbed her Of ht ! only
child. the only pure, clean, ind ocent
thing in her life.
She looked at the clear, smilin eyes
gazing at her from the exquisite little
portrait Still she did not weeI. her
mouth was tightly closed. ank the
corners slightly dropped
| you have taken her from meg" she
Kissed to the invisible foe. "You
wanted to crush mel" She sno@lk heI
clenched hand toward that hEnton
pictured in her brain. but JOIN can
not. am stronger. Until todaylt Fhere
was one pure spot In my soul; had
one being whom / loved unset ishly
whom / wanted with me alwaysI yet
/ would not let her live in my limos
phere, because l wanted her to be al
that / was not. And now sSie is
gone!" She groaned in anguish.
God! Are you the God OF 4 Love
that Christ told of, or are ye the
vengeful. terrible God who veri his
wrath till the seventh geners Jon?
You have taken my love; moo my
heart is black and empty of all save
hatred"
She became calm her pale ia Z was
expressionless, her movements Fneas
ured.
Nobody sshall know that TT have
suffered" She stepped before tn mir
ror and looked at herself. "BlH mil
lions shall suffer. I-will--ma! r the
whole world suffer for my lost
mo more love, not another thndel
feeling shall creep in my heart II Hel
eyes glowed fiercely.
II swear, by all the devils II The
underworld, that I will plungf the
world into mourning, that riVeSs Of
tears shall flow to repay me fC8' my
hearts blood"
After a few minutes work Eefore
her mirror, she emerged from hel
room as rosy-cheeked as eye19 and
smiling. At first her steps were SLOW
but they soon quickened, and BIZ the
time she arrived at the concert nal
nobody could have told that She nae
gone through terrible ordeal
The last entertainer was leaving
the stage when she entered tue Foom
No one, save Mr. Hale, knew of hel
long absence from the hall. When
she met Astra she felicitated per on
the success of the concert.
4 When the guests had left and
the countess retired into the little
room that was reserved for family
occasions.
You will soon be the hhppies;
woman on earth. my DEAR remarked
Rositta, casually.
II am happy now, my dear girl
smiled Astra.
"The gods have given you a won
derful temperament, my dear Astra
You, with your calm, serene nature
were created to be happy. You sim
ply shed the difficulties of life"
why. dear, are you unhappy"
Unhappy" A sigh escaped the
countess lips, a spark of fire CLEANED
In her eyes, then a smile parted hel
coral lips. "A person with a tempera
ment like mine never could be happy
My selfish mind Graves just the thing
some one else has, and II | SHOULD
rob that person / would get tired o.
looked at Astra, but Astra only smiled
serenely, not taking Rositta's remarks
seriously.
Such is my fate, my dear. Tel
me, am | responsible for being sucf
an unhappy combination? Am t
be judged by the same measure al
you, who cannot help but be good?"
I'VE all have passions. Mine arr
for liberty. peace"
Liberty, peace" repeated Rositta
then relapsed into thought, Had Astri
been able to read those thoughts. sh'
would have had cause for alarm. He
brain was filled with war, destruction
and mourning all over the world.
The next evening ROSETTA returnet
to Ciryne, with Santos at the whee
Of the aerodromone.
Napoleon and Astra watched tn,
great bird disappear in the western
sky, and then they walked silently t,
seat that overlooked the city. Ma
poleon talked for the first time abou
his love for her. Astra was calm, blu
she rose quietly and stood looking a
the pulsating city below them. Thei
love had been understood between
them, although they had never spokel
Of it. Yet it made her heart thro'
with happiness to hear his tende
: words. He rose and gently takin;
. her arm, they walked among tn
plants that grew on the roof. A fam
, sound of music came to their ears.