The Washington times., 1918-07-07
9V6ere( (9ve &sade~- by 6linor 9fn

one hour Of bliss-the angels themselves
could not grudge rs that"
One hour OF bliss out Of . lifetime!
Would 1t be terrible sin, Theodore won-
dered. terrible. unforglvable sin to let
him kiss her-to let him hold her Just
once in his arms.
There was no Hight in the eoupe-he had
seen to that-Only the great lamps naring
: in the road and the moonlight.
She clasped her hands In an agony Of
emotion. She was but q dove in the net
Of an experienced fowler. but she did not
know or think Of that. nor he either. They
only knew they loved each other pas
sionately, and this situation was more than
they could bear.
"Oh. trust you!" she said. "If you tell
me 1t is not a terrible sin win believe
you'll do not know-I cannot think-E-S
But she could speak no more because
she was in his arms.
The intense, unutterable joy-the mad
dening, intoxicating bliss Of the next houri
To have her there. unresisting-to caress
hsr lips and eyes and hair-to murmur
love words-to call her his very ownl
Nothing in heaven could equal this. and
no hell was price too great to pay-so
1t seemed to him. It was the supremest
moment Of his life; and how much more
Of hers who knew none other. who had
never received the kisses Of men or
thrilled to any touch but his!
After little she drew herself away and
shivered. She knew she was wicked now
very, very wicked-but It was again
characteristic of her that, having made
her decision, there was no VaeiIlation
about her. The die was cast-fOr that
night they were to be happy. and all the
rest Of her life should be penitsncs and
atonement.
But tonight there was no room for any.
thing but Joy. She had never dreamed in
her most secret thoughts Of moments 80
gioAaIsly sweet as these-to have lover
and suoh loveri And It was true-ft
must be true-that they had lived before,
and all this passion was not the growth of
one short week.
1t seemed as If it was all her life, all
her being-it could mean nothing now but
Hector-Hector-H And over and
over again he made her whisper in his
ear that she loved him-nor could she
ever tire of hearing him say he worshipped
her.
Oh, they were foolish and tender and
wonderful, as lovers always are!
and the chauffeur was a man Of intelli-
gence. They drove along In the most
beautiful road when they came to the
Bois-and no incident ruffled the exquis-
ite peace and bliss of their time.
Suddenly Hector became aware of the
fact it was Just upon hslf-past ten, and
they were almost in sight Of the Madrid,
which would end it all. A pang Of hideous
pain shot through him, and he did not
speak.
B In the distance the lights blazed into
the night, and the sight Of them froze
rheodora to ice. 1t was finished then
heir hour of joy.
Ny darling" he exclaimed. passion
stely. goodbye, and remember all my
life is in your hands, and l viii spend it
in worship Of you and thankfulness for
this hour Of yourself you have given to
me. | am yours to do with as you viii
until death Us do part"
And l." said Theodore, will never love
another man-and II we have sinned we
have sinned together-and now, oh, Hec-
tor me must face our tates"
Her voice tore his very heartstrings i'm
its unutterable pathos. And In that last
passionate kiss It seemed as IL they ex.
changed their very souls
Then they drove into the glare OF the
restaurant lights, having tasted of the
knowledge of good and evil.