The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06
Continued From Last Week

Ter for you from Prince Theobald, and
thought you ought to have it tonight. 1t
has Just come from Gailima by special mes
senger."
Evadne thrilled. Her sutor had chosen
his moment well. 1t was night for love
letters. Moreover, the fact that his message
did not arrive through the post gave an eff
feet Of urgency, of desire that would not be
denied. AS NADIA slipped away she saw,
with satisfaction, that her mistress had
lit her electric lamp and was sitting in its
light upon the xeranda opening the en-
yelope.
Theobald enlarged upon the lovers age
long plea that, although she did not love
him as yet, his love must eventually COM
pei hers. Before his urgency and his de-
votion the pricking thought of the two
warnings paled and grew distant.
She sat forward, elbows upon her knees,
chin Graded in her hands, and felt the cur
rent of her being swing pereeptibly in the
direction of consent.
Rising to her feet she extinguished the
lamp and re-entered her room. She closed
behind her the light wrought-iron gates,
beaten out in forest forge by a member
of the forest guard.
AS she lay down in bed she felt convinced
that the approaching storm would keep her
awake for the remainder of the night but
il came up very slowly. She recalled its
distant menace hour after hour upon the
night of that bewldering voyage Of hers
through the Closter Current.
Perhaps the wind veered, or the capri
cious electric disturbance changed it's in
tentions. For some cause or other the
storm, instead of advancing, receded NUT
terng ever lower and more distant, and
as it sank into silence the lids dropped over
the dream haunted eyes.
Evadne slept.
What awoke her was a tremendous crash.
The thunderstorm, after the manner of its
kind, had travelled in circle and re-
turned 1t bursting just Flore-
war in all is grandeur.
After some breathless minutes of tumult
nhich was like the walls of Jericho falling
down, the princess became conscious that
she afraid
Her heart was beating in slow, heavy
strokes. She covered in her bed, hiding her
eyes from the piercing brilliance of the
lightning.
Raising herself with spring to up
tight position she stretched out her arm
toward the lamp on her bed table-and her
wrist was grasped, not roughly, but very
firmly, by strong hand.
The moment she felt the concrete touch
panic left her and her pluck revived To
her right, just within easy reach on the
wall at her bed head, dangled the push of
her bell.
IF you cry out you'll have life on your
conscience. Keep still-listen mo-
ment-"
She broke in, whispering also. LET me
go Cease to touch me. Tell me what you
want"
'Mistitch is just outside. He tracked me
all the way. If you betray by the least
sound that am here / am a dead man.
She answered in the same smothered
tones.
MY hand is on the bell. By the least
touch l can summon help. Now tell me
who you are"
He seemed offended.
Just now you were wholly in my power.
and ] released you-"
That is ridiculous. You know I had
only to scream"
Don't deceive yourself. should not
have let you scream. Too much at stake.
But | haven't come to threaten you---only
to say something that you must lear"
There was Ominous pause. She stood
there, bell in hand, his tense fingers gripped
hsr arms; then an answer flashed through
the b!ackness like blow.
az am your husband
Certain faint rustlings suggested that the
sat,. bod CHI h,al ho