The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-05-25
sUNDER TWO FLAGS"
BY Ouida Edgar ss.' 1 1sss r s1s' Gold Bug BY

He looked up YEARLY; could he
never be at peace?
"Milady wants to see you; Nine.
la Princess, at once!"
He crossed the breadth that
parted the encampment from the
marques Of the generals and
their guests, unseen save by the
sentinels, to the tents of the Co
roma suite. The marshal and his
male visitors were still over their
wine; she had withdrawn early;
there was no one to notice his
visit except the men on guard.
Madame. this is very merci-
full! I know not how to thank
you"
She motioned him to a seat
near her.
II only kept my word" she an
swered, "for we leave the camp
tomorrow; Africa next week"
She paused; he merely bent his
head.
First" she continued, 81 must
entreat you to allow me to tell
Philip what / know. You cannot
conceive how intensely oppres-
sive 1t becomes to me to have
this secret from him."
His eyes turned on her with
that dumb agony which once be-
fore had chilled her soul.
"Do you think, II | could speak
in honor, l should not tell you
all?"
But" she said, gently and
hurriedly, may 1t not be that
you overrate the obligations of
honor? 1t is natural for an hon.
orable man to overestimate the
sacrifice required of him. l do
not bid you decide; l only bid you
confide in Philip, who would
sooner cut off his own hand than
counsel q base thing. Yours is
magnificent magnanimity; but 1t
may surely be also false justice
alike to yourself and the world. p"
He turned on her almost fierce
ly in the suffering she dealt him.
1T isl 1t was Madness
Quixotism-the wild, unconsid-
cred act of a fool. What you will!
But 1t is done. 1 cannot change
the choice of a mailman by re-
penting of 1t with towards ca
price. All, you do not know how
you Tempt"
He threw himself down beside
her as the incoherent words
poured out, his arms flung across
the pile of cushions, his face hid
den on them.
She looked at him, moved to a
greater agitation than ever had
had sway over her.
! Answer me! Choose for mel"
he said vehemently. BE my law!"
She gave a gesture almost Of fear.
Hush, hush! The woman does
not live who should be that to any
man."
You shall be it to me! Choose
for met"
81 cannot! You leave so much
in darkness and untold"
Nothing that you need know
to decide your choice for me, save
one thing only-that l love you"
AS she heard her face grew as
white as his own.
"You give me great pain. great
SURPRISE" she murmured. "All
can trust is that your love Is OF
such sudden birth that 1t will die
as rapidly"
He interrupted her.
"You mean that under no cir
cumstances-not even were l to
possess my inheritanoe-could
you give me any hope that ]
might wake your tenderness7"
She looked at him full in the
eyes with the old instinct of refu-
sal which had made her 80 indif-
ferent-and many said SO pitiless
to all. At his gaze, however,
her own wandered from him.
Choose for me, Venetia!" he
muttered at last once more.
She rose with what was almost
a gesture of despair.
Heaven help me, I cannot
dare not! And am no longer
capable of being 1ust!"
Cecil reeled out from her pres
ence. The challenge rang on the
air:
"Who goes there2"
He never heard 1t.
Halt, or / fire!"
Another figure came out OF the
shadow, and stood between him
and the sentinel. 1t was Chateau
roy.
1T is one of my men," said the
chief. Leave me to deal with
him."
The guard saluted, and resumed
his beat.
why did you refuse the word.
lsir?"
II did not hear"
And why did you not hear?
There was no reply.
why are you absent from your
squadron"
There was no reply still.
Chateauroy's teeth ground out