Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-20


She looked up with a wild hope in
her eyes, and then. although neither
was conscious Of making any move
ment, she was clasped in his arms,
her face hidden against him.
"Oh. have wanted you so;
have wanted you so9
The words were wrung from her
She clutched at his coat with des-
pcrate fingers; she would have iallen
but for his upholding arms. and
there followed a silence that seemed
to hold all the sorrow OF the world.
Above Elizabeth's bowed head
Royston looked out into the room
with tragic eyes. He was white to
the lips and his mouth was set in
hard lines of pain.
The small hands that clutched at
his coat so frantically seemed also 70
be tearing at his heart; and yet his
one thought was for her, how best
he could help her and save her pain.
She was so young, so UNITED TO
battle with world that hitherto had
shown her little but kindness.
How best to help and not hurt
her! The knowledge Of his impotence
tortured him; and then suddenly he
felt her slight figure relax, and, look
ing sharply down, saw that she had
tainted.
He put her into big chair, and
fetched water and bathed her fore
head: he chafed her hands gently
watching her with passionate pity
until at last her eyes opened and
rested upon him, at first with blank
unrecognition, and then with such a
growing, intolerable shame that 1t
was more than he could bear.
He laid his hands on her shoul-
ders, holding her gently against tn:
back OF the chair SO that she could
not turn away froul him or hide her
face, and the bitterness OF his soul
found vent in broken words.
"If only I might say, 1 love you,
l love you"
He saw the color creep slowly
back to the whiteness of her face;
saw the shamed. bewildered look in
her eyes give place 10 such incffable
joy that the gulf between them no
longer seemed tangible thing. but
only foolish imagining; and the 81
lence came throbbing back, beating
them about with unspoken, hopeless
desire.
Then Royston turned sharply
away. He paced the length of the
room twice before he could COM
mand his voice sufficiently to speak.
81 had no idea you were here to-
night" he said hoarsely.
Elizabeth made no attempt to an
swer.
Did you know | was here'" he
asked.
"No." She gave little broken
laugh. Il don't think | should have
come if | had known
She was sitting forward now, tear
ing nervously at her gloves. her eyes
looking anywhere, everywhere but at
him.
rs Nine. Senestis hcre?'
Elizabeth nodded; she was afraid
to tell him the truth, that she had
come alone with Farmer and that
she did not believe madame had ever
promised to meet them.
Royston stopped his agitated pac-
ing for moment to ask harsh
question.
"Vhat had happened when you
came in here? Who had frightened
you? Someone had frightened you"
"Yes - = mol! It was my own
fault. was silly. l suppose-it was
all my own fault" :
She did not dare to tell him what
had happened; she knew how much
he already hated Farmer.
There was a sound OF footsteps
outside the door-footsteps that hes
itated, then passed on.
Elizabeth looked up. Meta"
she asked family.
"She has gone home; her foot was
painful; she ought not to have
danced tonight"
Il am sorry" Elizabeth said.
Royston seemed not to hear; he
had begun that restless pacing to and
fro again; once he passed hand
over his eyes as if in deep distress.
Presently he came back to where
Elizabeth sat, white-faced and silent
He bent down to her.
Let me find Nine. Senestis. She
will take you home"
A1 Te