The evening world., 1922-05-16


that she had loved him for a long
time, even when she thought she
hated him and when she had fed
from him. Sho knew now why his
face had haunted her in the little
oasis at mdday-that 1t was love
calling to her subconsciously.
All the confusion of mind that had
assailed her when they started on the
homeward journey, the conflicting
thoughts and contrary emotions, were
explained. But she knew herself at
last and knew the love that filled her,
sn overwhelming passionate love that
almost frightened her with it's i'm
mensity and with the sudden hold II
had laid upon her.
Love had come to her at last who
had scorned 1t so fiercely. The men
who had loved her had not had the
power to touch her, she had given
love TO no one, she had thought that
she could not love, that she was de-
void of all natural affection and that
she would never know what love
meant. But she knew nova love of
such complete surrender that she had
never conceived. Her heart was given
for all time to the fierce desert man
who was so different from all other
men whom she had met, a lawless
savage who had taken her to satisfy
la passing fancy and who had treated
her with merciless cruelty.
He was brute, but she loved him,
loved him for his very brutality and
superb animal strength, And he was
an Arab! A man Of different race and
color, n native; Aubrey would indis-
fortunately class him as damned
lnigger." She did not care. 1t made
no difference. A year ago, a few
weeks even, she would have shud-
dered with repulsion at the bare idea,
the thought that a native could even
touch her had been revolving, but all
that was swept away and was moth
ing in the face OF the love that filled
her heart so completely.
She did not care IL he was an Arab,
she did not care what he was, he was
the man she loved. She was delir-
lously, insanely happy. She was lying
against his heart, and the clasp of his
arm was Joy unspeakable.
She was utterly content; for the
moment all life narrowed down to the
Immediate surroundings, and she
wished childishly that they could ride
so forever through eternity. The
| night was brilliant. The stars blazed
against the lnlty blackness OF the sky,
and the light Of the full moon was
startlingly clear and white. The dis
cordant yelling of a pack of hunting
jackals came from a little distance.
breaking the perfect stiffness. The
men were riding in unusual silence,
though low exclamation or the sub
| dued Jingle of accoutrements was
| heard occasionally, once some one
| fred at a night creature that bounded
out from almost under his horse s
| feet.
But the Sheik flung a word of saw
age command over his shoulder and
there were no more shots. Diana
stirred slightly, moving her head so
that she could see his face showing
clearly in the bright moonlight, which
threw some features into high relief
and left the rest in dark shadow. She
looked at him with quckening breath.
He was peering intently ahead, his
eyes flashing in the cold light, his
brows drawn together in the charac-
teristic heavy scowl, and the firm
chin. so. near her face. was pushed
out more doggedly than usual.
He felt her move and glanced down.
For a moment she looked straight
into his eyes, and then with a low,
inarticulate murmur she hid her face
against him. He did not speak, but
he shifted her weight little, drawing
her closer into the curve of his arm.
1t was very late when they reached
the camp. Lights flashed up In the
big tent and on all sides, and they
were surrounded by crowd of ex-
cited tribesmen and servants. II
spite of the hard days work The
Hawk started plunging and rearing
Ibis invariable habit on stopping, which
|, nothing could break, and at wore
from the Sheik two men leaped to hi!
head while he transferred Diana t.
Yusefs outstCetched arms. She wal
stiff and giddy, and the young maj
, helped her to the door of the tent
E and then vanished again into tn
throng of men and horses.
\
Diana sank wearily on to the dival
and covered her face with her hands
She was trembling with fatigue an,
apprehension. What would he do t
her? She asked herself the question
!. over and over again, with shaking
= soundless lips, praying for courage
, nerving herself to meet him. At las
she heard his voice and, looking ur
saw him standing in the doorway.
His back was turned, and he wa
giving orders to number of me
who stood near him, for she coul
:, hear their several voices; and shortl
II afterwards half-a-dozen small band
- of men rode quickly away In dfferer
directions. For few moments h
70 stood talking to Yusef and then cam
in. Al the sight OF him Diana shran
70 hack among the soft cushions, hut 1
Al took no notice of her, and, lighting
M cigarette. began walking up an
,e down the tent. She dared not spea
,e to him, the expression on his face wa
NJ terrible.
IL Two soft footed Arab servan
er brought a hastily prepared suppe
I, 1t was a CHASTITY meal He nev,
at spoke or showed in any way that