The Washington times., 1922-05-31

Her eyes were shut. the long
dark lashes quivering on her pale
cheeks 30 that she could not see
his face, but she felt him draw
her closer to him and then his
fierce kisses on her mouth. She
struggled frantically. but she was
helpless, and he laughed softly a.
he kissed her lips. her hair. her
eyes passionateiy. He stood
quite still. but she felt the heavy
beating Of his heart under her
cheek. and understood dimly the
passion that she had aroused In
him. She had experienced his
tremendous strength. She realised
from what he had told her that
he recognised no law beyond his
own wishes, and was prepared to
60 to any lengths to fulfil them.
She knew that her life was In
his hands. that he could break
her with his lean brown fingers
like . toy is broken. and all At
once she felt pitifuily weak and
frightened. She was utterly In
his power and at his msrcy--the
mercy Of an Arab who was msrci-
less.
She gave in suddenly. lying
quiet In his arms. She had
touched the lowest depths Of
desradatiop; he could do nothing
more to her than he had done.
For the moment she could fight
no further. she was worn out
and utterly weary. A numb
feeling of despair came over her
and with II q sense Of unreality.
as II It were a hideous nightmare
from which she would wake, for
the truth seemed too impossible.
the setting too theatrical. The
man himself was q mystery.
She could not reconcile him
and the barbaric display in
which he lived with the svi-
dences Of refinement and educa-
ton that the weii.worn books in
the tent evinced. The fastidious
ordering of his appointments
puzzled her; II was strange to
find in such q place. A dozen in
congruities that she had noticed
during the day crowded into her
recollection until her head reeled.
She turned from them vearily;
she was too tired to think, too
spent in mind and body. And
with the despair a kind Of in
difference stole over her. She
had suffered so much that moth.
ing more Inattered.
The strong arms around her
frightened slowly. Look at me-"
he said in the soft slow voice that
seemed habitual to him. and
which contrasted oddly with the
neat. clipping French that he
spoke. She shivered and her
dark lashes fiickered for q mo-
ment. Look at me-" His voice
was just as slow, Just as soft,
but into It had crept an infleo-
ton that was unmistakable.
Twenty.four hours ago Diana
Mayo had not known the meaning
Of the word fear, and had never In
all her life obeyed any one against
her inclination. but In twenty.four
hours she had lived through years
Of emotions. For the first time
she had pitted her will against a
will that was stronger than her
own, for the first time she had met
an arrogance that was greater and
a determination that was firmer
than hers. For the first time she
had met q man who had failed to
bow to her wishes, whom q look
had been powerless to transform
into a willing slave. In a few
hours that had elapsed she had
learned fear, q terrible fear that
left her sick with apprehension,
and she was learning obedience.
obedient now, she forced herself
to lift her eyes to his. and the
shamed blood sursed slowly into
her cheeks. His dark. passionate
eyes burnt into her like a hot
flame. His encircling arms were
like bands Of fire, scorchins
her. His touch was torture.
Helpless, like a trapped wild
thing, she lay against him. pant
ing, trembling, her wide eyes fixed
on him, held against their will.
Fascinated. she could not turn
them away, and the image Of the
brown, handsome face with Its
flashing eyes. straight, cruel mouth
and strong chin seemed soaring In.
to her brain. The faint indefinite
scent OF an uncommon Turkish 70.
bacco clung about him. enveloping
her. She had been conscious Of the
same scent the previous day when
he had held her In his arms dur
Ing the Wild ride across the dessrt.
Hs srniied down at her suddenly.