The Washington times., 1922-05-28
CHAPTER III.


The warm sunshine was floot-
ing the tent when Diana awoke
from the deep sleep Of exhaus-
ton that had been almost inser-
sibility. awoke to immediate and
complete remembrance. One quick,
fearful glance around the big
room assured her that she was
alone. She sat UP slowly. her
eyes shadowy with pain, looking
listlessly at the luxurious appoint
ments Of the tent. She looked
dry-eyed, she had no tears left.
They had all been expended wher
she had grovelled at his feet i'm
ploring the mercy he had not ac-
corded her. She had fought unit!
the unequal struggle had left her
exhausted and helpless In his
arms. until her whole body was
one agonized ache from the brutal
hands that forced her to conf
pliance, until her courageous
spirit was crushed by the realiza'
ton OF her own powerlessness, and
bv the strange fear that the man
himself had awakened in her,
which had driven her at last
moaning to her knees. And the
recollection Of her abject prayers
and weeping supplications filled
her with a burning shame. She
loathed herself with bitter con-
tempt. Her courage had broken
down; even her pride had failed
her.
She wound her arms about her
knees and hid her face against
them. Coward! Coward" she
whispered freely. Why had she
not scorned him? Or why had
she not suffered all that he hac
done to her in silence? 1t would
have pleased him less than the
frenzied entreaties that had only
provoked the soft laugh that made
her shiver each time she heard
II. She shivered now. Il
thought was brave" she muir
INJURED brokenly. II am only q
coward, craven"
She lifted her head at last and
looked around her. The room was
a curious mixture OF Oriental
luxury and European comfort.
The lavish sumptuousness Of the
furnishings suggested subtly an
unrestrained indulgence, tho
whole atmosphere was voluptu-
GUS, and Diana shrank from the
impression it conveyed without
exactly understanding the reason.
There was nothing that Jared
artistically, the rich hangings
all harmonized, there were no
glaring incongruities such as she
had seen in native palaces in
India. And everything on which
her eyes rested drove home re-
lentlessly the hideous fact OF
her position. His things were
everywhere. On low, brass
topped table by the bed was the
half-smoked cigarette he had had
between his lips when he came
to her. The pillow beside her
still bore the impress Of his
head. She looked at II with a
growing horror in her eyes until
an uncomfortable shuddering
seized her and she covered down,
smothering the cry that burst
from her in the soft pillows and
dragging the silken coverings up
around her as II their thin shelf
er were a protection. She lived
again through every moment Of
the past night until thought
was uncomfortable, until she felt
that she would go mad, until at
last, worn out, she fell asleep.
1t was midday when she
awoke again. This time she was
not alone. A young Arab girl
was sitting on the rug beside her
looking at her with soft brown
eyes OF absorbed interest. As
Diana sat up she rose to her
feet, salaaming, with a timid
smile.
II am Zilah, to wait on
Madame" she said shyly in stun.
bling French. holding out a wrap
that Diana recognised with
wonder as her own. She looked
behind her, Her suit-casss ware