The Washington times., 1922-06-30

y
smile. .s.
Saint Hubert brought q chair
for himself and dropped into II
wearily. He felt very tired. the
strain of the past twenty-four hours
had been tremendous. He had
very real fear that was fast grow
ing into conviction that his skill
was going to prove unequal to save
his friends life. and beside that
anxiety and his physical fatigue
he had fought a bitter fight with
himself all day, tearing out Of his
heart the envy and jealousy that
filled 1t, and locking away his love
as a secret treasure-to be hidden
for always. His devotion to
Ahmed Ben Hassan had survived
the greatest test that could be i'm
posed upon 1t. and had emerged
from the trial strengthened and
refined. with every trace Of self
obliterated. 1t had been the
hardest struggle Of his life. but It
was over now. and all the bitter
ness had passed, leaving only q
passionate desire for Diana's hap
piness that outweished every other
thought. One spark Of comfort
remained. He would not be quite
useless. His help and sympathy
would be necessary to her. and
even for that he was grateful.
He looked across the divan at
her, and the change that the last
few hours had made In her struck
him painfully. The alert, vigorous
boyishness that had been so char
acteristic was gone. Her slim
figure dropping nstlessly in the
big chair, her white face with the
new marks Of suffering on 1t, and
here wide eyes burning with dumb
misery. were all purely womanly.
And yet though he resented the
change he wished It could havs
gone further. The restraint she
was putting on herself was un-
natural. She asked no questions
and she shed no tears. He could
have borne them both easier than
the silent anguish Of her face. He
feared the results of the emotion
she was repressing so rigidly.
There was a long silence.
Henri came In once and Diana
reused herself to ask for CASTOR,
and then relapsed into silent
watchfulness again. She sighed
once. a long. quivering sigh that
nearly broke Saint Hubert's heart.
He rose and bent over the Sheik
with his fingers on his wrist, and
as he laid the nerveless hand down
again she leaned nearer and GOV.
cred 1t with her own.
His hand is SO big for an
Arabs" she said softly, like q
thought spoken aloud unoon.
sciously.
He is not an Arab" replied
Saint Hubert with sudden. impa-
tient vehemence. He is English"
Diana looked up at him swiftly
with utter bewilderment in her
startled eyes. II don't under.
stand" she faltered. He hates
the English"
"ouand.meme. he 10 the son Of
one Of your English peers. His
mother was a Spanish lady; many
Of the old noble Spanish families
have Moorish blood in their veins
the characteristics crop up even
after centuries. 1t is so with
Ahmed. and his life in the desert
has accentuated 1t. Has he never
told you anything about himself?"
She shook her head. Some
times I have wondered" she
said reflectively. He seemed diff.
ferent from the others. and there
has been SO much that 1 could
never understand. But then again
there were times when he seemed
pure Arab" she added in a lower
voice and with an involuntary
shiver.
You ought to know" said Saint
Hubert. "Yes!' he went on
firmly, as she tried to interrupt
him. 1T is due to you. It will
explain SO many things. I will
take the responsibility. His father
Is the Earl Of Glencaryll."
But I know him." said Diana
wonderingly. He wash friend Of
my father. I saw him only q few
months ago when Aubrey md I
passed through Paris. He is such
. Misunderstanding old man. 90
fierce and sad. Oh. now I know