Evening star., 1923-01-07

where a golden sunset edged the
golden sand, one flaming yellow sea
above another.
You're a novelty here" he replied.
"a pearl of great price. If didn't
keep you we'll guarded there would
be a hundred ready to steal you. And
l fatter myself that, on the whole.
you'd rather be with me-"
He paused, watching her with dark,
smoldering eyes.
"Am right, Hearts Ease?" he fin
ished tenderly.
Pansy colored slightly under the
Had he been as other men were
she would not have hesitated in her
! reply. She would have said in her
own impulsive, truthful way:
I'D rather be with you than any
one in the whole wide world"
But now his color and religion
were constantly befarea'her. And
pride kept any such confession from
So instead she said: h.
mo one could have been kinder
than you, Raoul; Il can ), never be
His kindness had been before her
that night, when she dressed for din
ner. Pansy had no clothes except the
ones in which he had brought her.
But. within three days, there was an
elaborate wardrobe at her disposal
the frocks fashioned like those she
had worn in Grand Canary.
In one of these dresses she now
sat at dinner with him--a misty robe
OF chiffon. but there were no dia-
monds sparkling like dew upon 1t.
All her jewels had been left behind
! in the dim, gilded room in the palace
of El-Ammeh.
When dinner was over, as they sat
together in the salon, LIE Breton re-
marked on the fact.
They've stolen all your pretty
Jewels, Pansy." he said. You must
let me give you some others"
you've done quite enough for me
already. she replied promptly. 81
can manage without jewels until !
get back to England"
At her words his eyes narrowed.
Couldn't you be content to stay
here?' he asked in a rather abrupt
manner.
"For a few weeks, perhaps. then !
should be craving change and va
riety. Tho Light of the Harem' act
long"
Then Pansy was sorry she had
spoken. She remembered that he had
admitted to having a harem, prob
ably somewhere in this very house.
But she had spoken with the idea OF
letting him see his case was hope
less. of saving him the pain Of re-
fusal.
considering how III you've been.
the Light of the Harem' act, as you
call 1t, would be the best sort OF life
Tor you for some time to come"
How do you know I've been ill?"
she asked quickly.
lie Breton saw he had made a slip,
but he covered it up snartly.
Gossip told me-" he said coolly.
Theme was silence for a time, during
which he sat with his gaze on her.
why don't you smoke?" Pansy
asked suddenly, anxious to get some
thing between herself and him.
when you're about I don't need
any soothing sirups." he replied
He was approaching dangerous
ground again. To ward him off
I'ansy rose and went to the piano.
Seating herself there she wandered
from one item to another, with
scarcely a pause between.
But the feeling of his eyes never
Off her made her stop all at once and
laugh Historically.
a crisis had to be faced sooner or
later Things might as well come TO
head now as tomorrow or next
week.
AT that moment Pansy remember
ed the man who had held her with
such herce strength and passion in
the moonlit garden of the villa. And
she wondered. not without a touch
fusal.
She got up and went to his side.
Il must give you something else
to do than just watching me. II
makes me nervous" she said.
From a box on table near she
, took a cigarette and placed It be-
tween his lips. Then she struck q
match and held 1t toward him.
In lazy, contented manner, he let
her do it. But when the cigarette
"a "a nT crit h lp,a
to draw her hand away.
He caught her wrist, and drawing
her hand a little closer, blew out the
match. When this was done. he did
one or two puffs at the cigarette, all
the time watching her closely.
II didn't give you my hand for
keeps, she said. Il want it back
again. please"
1t was hint enough for any man. but
lie Breton did not take 1t.
In a deliberate manner, and with
her still a prisoner. he got to his
feet, and put the cigarette on the
table.
Pansy did not try 10 free herself.
| The situation had TO be faced.
| When the cigarette was laid down,
ihe took the other delicate wrist into
| his keeping. Then he drew the girl
right up'te him, until her hands were
resting on his chest.
"Pansy. suppose ] ask you to re-
deem your PROMISE, he said.
| "Oh no, couldn't" she answered,
| a trifile breathlessly.
why not? I'm exactly the same
man now that was when you prom
ised to marry me. much better
man, If you knew it. Thanks to
meeting you
| "I didn't know anything about you
| then"
but you knew you loved me-"
| "I do now, Raoul," she said.
| Does the fact OF my Arab blood
make marriage between US impos-
| sible?"
| There was no reply.