The evening world., 1920-01-02

even to the lips, upturned 20 his, her
look clinging TO his, as N that steady
gaze were all that held her from
slipping into an abyss. And II was
on those cold, pale lips that he sealed
and pressed home the assurances OF
the love that would rescue her, and
hold her from the depths forever.
| Although the shock that he had
| administered with such daring wis
dom had the effect he hoped for, OF
turning her from her shadowy terror
to face a more real one, he was
| forced, by that very whirl OF hers in
the direction he had pointed out, to
act II he took into account a certain
reality also in the phantaSmal in
huence against which she struggled.
1t had wrung his heart, during the
hrst days after their tragic love scene,
( to see her eyes clouded with that
again and again:
But how can you want me TO love
you? II there's this danger
| am more afraid than ever TO love
| you!"
over and over he explained TO her,
coaxing, cOnjuring, that there was no
danger, so long as she didn't give
way" didn't let her will slip from
her keeping, didn't as he paraphrased
love, ''let herself see dreams az
ghosts walking"
"All that you've got 10 do, my
best beloved" he urged on her, "is
Ito love me with all your might and
resist dark thoughts-dark powers, II
you like-with all your'love for mel
They're, after all, less than shadows.
We are the real th!ng!"
But her attempts at smiling back
at him were desolate little failures.
II was when she said to him one day,
with the most heart breaking note OF
wistful aloneness in her voice: Then
you never really believed / had
causc--to feel so?" that he felt the
imperative need OF qualifying his po-
sition, of making her sure. once for
all. that he had never deceived her,
that II was not the truth OF her asser-
tons concerning the dark influence
that he doubted, but her magnifying
OF It,. her letting her fancy make her
ohink 1t there when 1t had been with
drawn.
He took, in his perplexity. a wound
ed, reproachful tone with her. How
could she bear the sight OF him, he
demanded, II she thought for q mo-
ment that he had fcigned TO believe
just to ingratiate himself with her?
4 How could she tolerate the idea of a
love that had been based on a cheap
falseness from the Arst7 II that WAS
her opinion OF him, he had better go
at once. He even piled 1t on, rather,
by saying bitterly that he could fight
ghosts far better than such miscou-
ceptions.
Here, to his unspeakable chagrin,
she had burst into tears, shaking like
frail sapling under the blow of an
"a hafVUnnn her
sobs:s
"Yes go go. -. 1t will
be much better for you to 30 . ="
Then lie had thought which
struck him, like 80 many OF his
thoughts about her in those days, as
inspirational.
"Melany!" he cried q viii go e..
but TO herl"
She looked stunned, staring at him
through her tears with the senseless
eyes OF stupefaction-
Il mean" he hurried to explain
himself, that / 30 believe in lher
the way you believe in her
|. that i shall try to q.
how shall put it7 to get in
touch with her. / am not afraid OF
her. / rather feel, as I've told you,
that she's afraid OF mel l shall go
and have 1t out with herr"
he wound up.
THIS amazing declaration dried her
: tears as II with hot iron-drled her
throat and lips.
You'll go How? Where p
: she got out finally.
/ ITO Her Wish by myself
i for a night"
Now she was clinging TO him as un-
; ashamed as a wife.
! mo! No! MOI" she cried mo!
Y Neverl"
They were out Of doors, In the wood
above Hilton. and he leaned against {
tree with her in his Inns. soothing
= her, caressing her, trying TO get heI
tC understand his point of view
It's this way, my dearest heart,
u he said, when she vas auieted at last
III l 20 there in this WAY
, give her her fullest chance
u II she means you harm. she'll have L
= get past me And II she can
s esnt past me why. t S9G a G%Ow oa sS
~ with you always"
'But =" the girl moaned. ''i
= she should harm your"
- MY dear child" he returned IA
~ tiently. -She simply can't hay
- ceilings he threw his bright as
in sured smile over her gloOm-"as we
AZ ybus why lot ono lulIlB, bnOQl
N she want to harm me7'
because love you," said Melan,
ID He forgot their strange trouble
ly the kiss he gave her for this
~ There's my invlncible armor!" !
cried happily, coming out OF Il
!" sweet trance
I'd "What7" she breathed.
in why, your love for me-my 10y
for you-our love. That's the hamir
"a sword that will turn any power
Iis darkness!"
She pressed her cheek against h
We arm, hooking down, twisting her IL
Ia gers in his.
ny 'Tt only :" he heard h
or murmur.
on ''If only what, dear2'
I'D 'If only you hadn't dehed h
an ."
30 II do defy herl dol dot"
I'd reiterated. isn't she tho fiery dra
I'D on I'm going TO fight for your tn
his I'm going to seal up in her da
he cavern forever and aye!"
he He drew the gir1 round In front
Is him And took her face in his han
lid as n II were a chalice that he won
lJt drink from.
nj cloak AZ ma and aaa nnCy s,,ra .,