The Washington times., 1922-06-05

What III the nignts sPoht away
from you were passed in my
harem-what then?"
Then may Allah put 1t into
the heart Of one of your wives
to poison you so that you never
come back" she said fiercely.
Allah So beautiful and SO
bloodthirsty." he said in banter.
ing reproof. Then he turned her
face up to his, smiling into her
angry eyes with amusement. II
have no harem and. thanks be
to Allah, no wives. cherie. Does
that please your"
why should I care? 1t 10
nothing to me-" she replied
sharply. with a vivid blush.
He held her closer. looking
deeply into her eyes. holding
them as he could when he liked.
In spite Of her efforts to turn
them away-a mesmerism she
could not resist.
Shall I make you carer Shall
I make you love me? I can
make women love me when I
choose"
She went very white and her
eyes flickered. She knew that he
was only amusing himself. that
he was utterly indifferent to her
feelings, that he did not care
II she hated or loved him, but it
was a new form Of torture that
was more detestable than any
thing that had gone before II. II
infuriated her that he could even
suggest that she could come to
care for him. that she could ever
look on him as anything but q
brutal savage who had committed
q hideous outrage. that she could
ever have any feeling for him
except hatred and loathing. That
he should class her with the other
women he spoke of revolted her.
she felt degraded, soiled as she
had never done before. and she
had thought that she had felt
the utmost humiliation OF her
position.
The color rushe ed back into her
face: II would rather you killed
me-" she cried psssionately.
80 would l." he said drily.
''for II you loved me you would
bore me and should have 20 let
you 90 While as It is"-he laugh
ed softly-"as 1t Is I do not re-
sret the chance that took me
into Biskra that day"
He let her 60 and got UP With
. yawn. watching her approx
ingly as she crossed the tent. The
easy swing Of her boyish figure
and the defiant carriage Of her
head reminded him Of one of his
own thoroughbred horses. She
was as beautiful and as wild as
they were. And as he broke
them so would he break her. She
was nearly tanned now, but not
quite. and by Allah! II should be
quite! As he turned his foot
struck against the Jade necklace
lying on the rug where she had
thrown It. He picked II up and
called her back. She came re-
luctantly, slowly, with mutinous
eyes.
He held out the necklace
silently, and silently she stared
not at It t At him. Her
heart began TO beat faster, and
the colour slowly left her face.
Take II. wish IT," he said
quietly.
No" It was little more than
gasp.
You will wear II to please me-"
he went on in the same soft voice.
and the old hateful mockery crept
into his eyes, Ito please my artistic
soul. have an artistic soul even
though I am only an Arab"
II will notr'
The mockery was wiped out Of
his eyes in q flash. giving place to
the usual ferocity. and his fore.
head knit in the dreaded heavy
scowl. Diane, obey mev'
She clenched her teeth on her
lower lip until rim of blood
stained their whiteness. II he
would only shout or bluster like
the average angry man she felt
that she could brave him longer,
but the cold quiet rage that
characterised him always was
infinitely more sinister, and
paralyzed her with It's silent force.
She had never heard him raise his
voice in anger or quicken his
usual slow, soft tone. but there
was an infection that came into
his voice and a look that came into
his eyes that was more terrible
than any outburst.
ITO Be Continued TomorrowJ