The Washington times., 1922-11-05

the grave. I've never hated a man
as | hated Dan Revell that night"
There was sudden intensity
of passion in his voice that altered
it strangely. The flicker of
smile touched Fancy's lips. Some
how the idea Of Billy Fanshawe
hating was family humorous. Yet
she knew that he meant it. The
hands upon her shoulders burned
her through her thin gown; and
there was a rough, hoarse note in
his voice as he went on.
81 thought he had come to take
YOU from me at the last moment.
That is-of course-how it should
have been. But-you would not
have it so. Yours waS a debt of
honor; you meant to pay it, what
ever the cost to yourself. My
dear, if I'd never loved you before
| should have loved you for that.
I'm not a gentleman; never shall
be. But-all the same-honor
means a great deal to me. Yet |
think | forfeited little of my own
when | accepted your sacri-
fee"
He paused. Still Fancy did not
stir, but the expression of her eyes
had changed. The hardness had
gone out of them; in its place was
something Of wonderment-some-
thing, too, of a new interest. This
was new Billy-a Billy whom
ing at all of a schoolboy, all a
man, She waited quietly, and
presently he went on once more.
'If-rd loved you a little less
| shouldn't have done it. You
see, I'm not fashioned in a heroic
mould. My love for you-my de-
sire for you, dominated every
thing. I'm very human, and so
very selfish. realize it acutely
now. And yet-even So" his
voice rose trife, she felt his face
pressing closer against her hair.
81 don't regret! | can't! There
is remorse in my heart because
have caused you suffering-be-
cause it is more than possible you
still must suffer. Yet there is a
certain triumph too. You're mine
Na,,,x,n 1o,.ol
you never belonged to the man
you loved! It's all the consola-
tion | have, Fancy"
He waited an instant wistfully.
Then:
at is all, perhaps, that de-
serve" Again he paused. And
now when he went on his voice
was very weary. al don't know
why | started to say all this to
you. suppose ! hoped you would
understand--feel little kinder
toward me--forgive, what may
have seemed unforgivable. But,
after all, ha only one excuse
to offer for my selfishness-and
that is that | loved you from the
beginning, on that very first night.
] wanted you as soon as | knew
the touch Of your hands. real
lied that S ould always love you
always want you."
He drew long breath and
Strengthened himself. She felt his
hands trembling upon her shoul-
dcrs. Then suddenly, unexpect-
edly, he tilted her head back, and
STOPPING, found her lips.
81 love your he said very low.
"Oh, my God - how love you!"
He held her thus for Just one
moment. Then he let her 70 and
stepped back. She sat very quiet
ly, with her hands in her lap, look
ing straight before her. He stood
uncertainty; then he turned and
went slowly out Of the room.
Fancy sat for several minutes
staring at the keyboard. Then she
brought her fingers down upon
them abruptly, and began once
more to sing. Wandering aim
lessly into the garden Billy paused
to listen--and WINGED.
IL was the "Merryman's" song
from "The Yeoman Of the Guard"
and there was a subtle Tilt of
mockery in her voice.
But to her own amazement,
when presently she rose, she found