Evening star., 1922-12-27

Al tho note.
with by girT He. to whom all
women were but toys! He, the Sultan
Of El-Ammeh!
lie Breton was like one plunged sud
denly into an Icy cold bath.
The unexpsctedness Of It all lett
went through him. finally leaving
She had dared to scorn hiw. this
English girl! Dared to hurl his love
and protestations back into his tooth.
ProtestationS such as he had made
to no other woman.
1t was the greatest shock and sur
prise lie Breton had had during the
course of his wild life Of unquestion-
ed power and limitless money.
He was in no mood to see the love
fact-that he had been cast aside.
A woman had dared to act toward
him as he had often acted toward
women
to grasp the almost Incredible truth,
the cruel look about his mouth deep
ened
Putting the note into his pocket. he
poured himself another cup Of coffee.
Then he sat on, staring at the purple
pansies. no longer lost in dreams of
love and delight. where his one aim
was to be all the girl imagined him
to be: but in a savage reverie that
had love in it. perhaps. but of quite
another quality than that which he
had already offered.
Full of anger and injured pride as
LIE Breton was. it did not prevent him
from going over to the hotel and in
quirins for Miss Langham.
He learned that she was out on
bt ard her yacht. And 1t seemed to
him that she had ned from his wrath.
Pansy had gone there knowing he
puld be sure to come and inquire
into the meaning OF her note. On
board her yacht there was more pri-
vacy; privacy she wanted for lie
Breton's sake: not her own. Consid-
ering his fiery Latin temperament, he
might not take his congo in the man
ner of her more stolid nation. There
might be a scene.
She never imagined he would take
about him as if he had never been
thwarted in any way. She was pre-
pared for some unpleasant minutes
minutes. nevertheless, that she had
no intention of shirking, which she
knew she had brought upon herself
by her impetuous promises.
She was sitting alone in her own
special sanctum on the yacht.
1t was a large saloon-boudoir,
music room and study combined:
white and gold and purple. like her
self, with a grand piano in one cor
ner. deep chairs upholstered in yellow
with purple cushions. yellow car
pet and white walls and ceiling.
In the midst of it she sat cool and
collected. in simple white yachting
suit.
AS lie Breton entered she rose.
scanning him quickly She had never
seen him so proud and aloof looking,
his face so set and hard. But there
was a look of suppressed suffering in
his eyes that cut her to the quick
Neither said a word until the door
closed behind the steward
Then LIE Breton crossed to the girls
side
What nonsense is this:" he asked
in cold. angry voice, holding her
note toward her. You promised to
Your promise. I'm not going to be
put lightly to one side in this man.
ner."
Il haven't put you lightly to one
side" she answered. II think I ex-
planned exactly how things were in
my note
"Explanations, Pm not here for
explanations he said. with cold inn
patience: but to insist that you full
fill your promise
quietly.
With the air of still moving in the
midst of some incredible truth, he
stared at her.
You've been flirting with me-" he
said presently. note Of sayagery
true English demievierge. You rouse
a man without the least intention of
satisfying him.
Pansy flushed under his contempt
She hated being called "a flirt"; she
was not one. She did not know why
she had acted as she had done the
previous night. But once. in his
arms. she had wanted to stay. And
once he had started talking of love,
she wanted to listen. With him she
scheme OF life and her cherished lib
erty.
She knew she had not played the
game with lie Breton. From the bot
tom OF her heart she was sorry. She
did not blame him. but herself.
I've never let any man kiss me be
fore. I'm sorry for all that happened
last night"
He laughed in a harsh. grating
manner.
Good God, Pansy! there are 4 hun
dred women and more plotting and
scheming to try and make me feel
for them what feel for you. And
you say you're sorry"'
He broke off, his proud face twist
eQ with pain ana Cnd&rlD.
Pansy knew hAs was no Idle boast.
An army of women must lie in wait
for a man of his wealth combined
with good looks and such powers Of
fascination.
I'm only sorry you picked on me-"
voice. More sorry than I can say.
You know / hate giving pain"
Like one daZed, the Sultan Casim
Ammeh listened to woman saying
she was sorry he had favored her as
he had no other of her sex-to an
would favor any woman, so that he
was ready to change his religion. his
whole mode of life, for her sake.
But I couldn't give up my lib,
erty." her voice was saving: Il
perfect right to change my mind"
ITS not a privilege l intend to al
low YOU he said in a strangled voice.
We'll. it's one ! intend to assert"
she answered. suddenly goaded by his
attitude.
you've deliberately fooled me-" he
said savagely.
NO, 1 haven't. really" she replied,
patient again under the pain in the
fierce, restless eyes watching her
II like you immensely. but not enough
to marry you.
II suppose l ought to feel nattered."
he said cutringly.
Pansy laid hand on his sleeve
with a little soothing. conciliatory
gesture.
Don't be so horrid. Raoul. Do try
and see things as l see them. l didn't
mean to say yes last night; but when
YOU held me i'll your arms and kissed
me there was nothing else l could do
His name on her lips. her touch on
his arm. broke through his seethe of
cold anger.
And if 1 held and kissed you again,
uhat tbeop'' he a SIX ed Sllddenlv melt.