The Washington times., 1922-06-29

out Tor her with the Same "ee
passion that had swept over MN
yesterday. He looked down long
ingiy on the pale face lying asatns'
his arm, and his features con.
tracted at the sight Of the cruel
marks marring the whiteness OF
her delicate throat, The love thf
all his life he had ionged for. hat
he had sought vainly through
many countries. had come to him
at last, and It had come too late.
The helpless loveliness lying In
his arms was not for him. 1t was
Ahmed whom she loved. Ohmed
who had walked to such a tardy
recognition OF the priceless GIFT that
that she had given him. Ahmed
whom he must wrest from the ariri
specter that was lowering near
him lest the light that shone In
her eyes should go >out in the
biackness OF despair. And yet as
he looked at her with eyes flied
with hopeless misery q demon Of
suggestion, whispered within him,
tempting him. He knew his friend
as no one else did. What chance
Of happiness had any woman With
a man like Ahmed Ben Hsssan. at
the mercy OF his savage nature
and passionate changedble moosis?
What reason to suppose that tie
love that had famed UP no sud.
denly at the thought that he had
lost her would survive the knowl.
edge OF repossession?. To him, all
his life. a thing desired had upon
possession become valueless. With
the fulfilment Of acquiition had
come always disinterest. The
pleasure Of pursuit faded witt
ownership. Would this hapless
girl who had poured out such IA ,
wealth Of love at the feet Of the
man who had treated her bru,aliy
fare any better at his hands? Her
chance was slight, II any. Ahmed
In the full power OF his strength
again would be the man he had
always been. implacable. cruel.
merciless. Saint Hubert's own
longing. his passionate. Gallo tom.
perament. were driving him rs
they had driven him the day be.
fore. The longing to save her
from misery was acute, that. and
his own love. prompted by ths
urging Of the desire within him.
Then he trembled. and a great
fear Of himself came over him
Ahmed was his friend. Who was
he that he should Judge him? He
could at least be honest with him.
self. he could own the truth. lie
coveted what was not his, and
masked his envy with a hypocrisy
that now appeared contemptlble.
The clasp Of his arms around her
seemed suddenly a proclamation.
and he laid her down very gently
on the low couch. drawing the thin
coveriet over her. and went back
slowly to the other room.
He sent Henri away and sat
down beside the divan to watch
with a feeling OF weariness that
was not bodily. The great tent
was very stili. a pregnant silence
seemed to hang in the air. a brood.
ing hush that strained Saint Eu.
bert's already overstrained nerves.
He had need Of all his calm, and
he gripped himself resolutely. For
a time Ahmed Ben Hassan lay mo.
tionless. and then. as the day crept
on and the early rays Of the warm
sun filled the tent, he moved un.
easily, and began to mutter fever
ishly in confused Arabic and
French. At first the words tina:
came were almost unintelligibIe,
pouring out with rapid indistinct.
ness. then by degrees his voice
slowed. and hesitating. interrupt.
ed sentences came clearly from his
lips. And beside him. with his face
buried in his hands. Raoul de Sain.
Hubert thanked God fervently that
he had saved Diana the added tor.
ture Of listening to the revelations
Of the past four months.
The first words were in Arabic.
then the slow. soft voice lapsed In.
to French. pure as the vicomte's
own.
Two hours south Of the oasis
with the three broken palm trees
by the well. Lie still, you lit.
tie fool. It. is useless to struggle.
You cannot get away, I shall not
let you go. - Why have I
brought you here? You ask me
why? Mon Dieu! Are you not won.
an enough to know? No! will
not spare you. Give me what
want willingly and I will be kind
to you, but fight me. and by Allah.
you shall pay the cost! ''s s.Eknow
you hate me. you have told me sc
already. Shall I make you love
me? sss Still disobedient? When