The Washington times., 1922-06-18

can you die with me-for o.
GERcUX-Bien! But the course !
offered you this morning 10 still
open. Could you yet give her up
in exchange for freedom?
ARMAND. You mean
GERoUx-That II you will give me
your word to call OF your adher.
ents from vengeance will see you
safely to the border.
ARMAND-And leave Desiree-to
your
GEROUX-That is an unhappy way
Of putting II. Leave Desiree-to
her choice!
ARMAND-Her choice! fAH0rtlyI
And q free choice she would have
at your hands! No-canailie!
Why don't you take her now from
me? am helpless. Are you
afraid, then. OF the Master of sav.
voni even locked In his own dun
geons!
GEROI'X ldn1riiv)-Not afraid Of
you. but Of your filthy adherents.
There would be too many ques-
tions asked u ! finished you. (Hs
Lasghs.) Fool! Refuse my offer
II you will. and learn. how futile
10 love In the face Of lingering
death. II is the great test, though.
my friend! fThe candle Is bHra-
ing l0tD. Soon u Oiu be out.
Desiree turHs b. her lOuer.)
DESIREE-Go. Armands. Perhaps
1T would be best.
ARMAND - Never! (He looks at
her.) We will meet what fate
comes together, my love. (Her
head sinks. Ger0ur stands re.
gardin0 the too speculdtiuely for
q moment.)
GEROUX-So be 1t. There is a rope
here beside the door that rings =
bell withOut-in the event you
should reconsider. II 1t is not
pulled the looks from one to the
other mednin0ly)-good-by! (He
goes out. The great door cldngs
to behind him NTH crmbroV'
fndIity, the bolts are heard to slip
into pioce.)
AnMAND ihWtCttHV tOcJ"O "c'
Buried with our love, Desiree:
God forgive me for this tragedy
have brought upon your innocent
head.
DESIREE (aImost frdnticdlIy)-No,
no! Arise, Armand; will not see
you thus. Only with you was the
choice. He left none for me.
ARMAND frisin0) - Because 1t
would have been useless, he knew.
The nobility Of France is not yet
dead, Desiree: 1t will live on for
centuries in the pulsing lifeblOod
of a nation that will always rue
this hour. My brother - my
friends, though cutcast, would
speedily end him II he took you
and I disappeared - unless he
could drag proofs Of my meeting
another death from somewhere.
DESIREE fquickly)-Proofs? What
kind?
ARMAND (,Ddlktn0 to centre, care.
Iessly)--Proof that I had killed
myself or had been ended in fair
fight. So long as II was not at
his hand he would be safe; my
kin are not murderers. (He stops
at the table and picks Np rusty
dd00er.) Ono!
DESIREE drumming to him)-A dag
ger! I wonder?
ARMAND-If II we're left here pur-
posely? I should not deny 1t. (Ho
sticks u In his beIt.) At any rate,
1t may serve to prevent torture.
fThe candle on the table begins
to sputter as Il nears the snd Of
, Its life. Both Ddtch u as u fdsci'
mated. Armand crosses s,piftly TO
her and catches her hands I'M
pulstpely.) Look at me once again.
dear heart, and let me lose, my
soul In the depths Of your eyes. Il
will be the last time
DESIREE-The last, Armand. Hold
me! -
ARMAND taking her In his arnts)
II shall never see your dear face
again in this life, love.
DEsIREE (feort1,Iv)--Dont - say
that! (Her eyes close; she reIdres
In Ms arn,s.) Just--kiss me, Ar.
mand! (As HE embrace ti0htens
their Hps meet In long Kiss. The
candle spatters teebIp and then
erpirea The dungeon 70 left IN