The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-12-19
fIlarter m.

Chapter III.
As he came out Of the building
he saw her on the sidewalk, about
to step into 1 vehicle. An usher
was holding the carriage door
open. 1t was an embassy coach:
Rafael approached, believing,
from the carriage, that Il stIH
might prove to be g case Of re-
>semb1ance. But, no: Il was she,
the same woman she had always
been, as II ctgi1I hours and not
eight years had passed.
s.LeonoraI You hereie
She smiled, as IL II were the
most natural thing III the world
to see him.
II saw you and heard you. You
did very well. Rafael; / enjoyed
It. : And srasping his hand IN
frank, hearty clasp size entered
the carriage.
Comet Won t you step in, too?'
she asked smiling. Join me for
little drive along the Castellana.
"A little fresh air won't do any
harm"
Rafael, to tho establishment Of
the usher, got in and the carriage
rolled off Rafael was at q loss
for words. The cold, ironic smile
Of his former love chilled him.
He wanted to say something and
vet he could not find way to
begin. At last he ventured. tim
idly,
Imagine our meeting here
What "a SURPRISE
Il got in yesterday; tomorrow
leave for Lisbon. A short stop,
isn't it. Just time for word
with the director Of the Real:
perhaps I'll come next winter 10
sing die Wallkure" here. But
lets talk about you, illustriOus
orator. But may say tn to you,
for believe we are still friends.
Yes, friends. Leonora. ] nave
never been able to forget you.
But the feeling he put into the
words vanished before the cold
smile with which she answered.
Friends: that's It, she said
slowly. Friends, and nothing
more Between us there lies a
corpse that prevents us from
getting very close to esch other
again
"a corpse?" asked Rafael. not
catching her meaning.
Yes; the love you murdered.
Friends, nothing more; comrades
united by completely in crime.
And she laughed with cruel
sarcasm.
How beautiful you arev' he muir
INJURED in impulsive enchantmenf.
THE same as you were then. It
seems impossible that eight years
can have flown by.
YES; ] admit that / bear UP
well. Time seems not to touch
me. A little logger at the dress
ing table-that's all. I'm one IF
the people who die in harness, so
to speak. making no concessions,
so far as looks go. to Did age.
Rather than surrender, I'd kill
myself. I intend to put NinQn de
Lenclos in the shadev'
She measured the deputy with
sarcastic playfulness.
Poor Rafael! I'm sorry can't
say as much for you. How you've
changed! You look almost like
knight Of the Crown. You're fat!
You're bald! And those eyeglasses
Why. 1 could hardly recognize you
iii Tic NJk1t1A1tOQIs I1OW MY III
mantle Moor has aged! You poor
dear! You even have wrinkles"
And she laughed, as il 1t filled
her with intense joy. the joy OF
vengeance, to see her former lover
SO crestfalIen at her portrayal Of
his decrepitude.
you're not happy, are you!
can see that. And yet, you ought
hn Won Tnfiaf have f7lnfFfa6
that girl your mother picked for
you. You doubtless have chill
dren. Well, why aren't you
happy?- You have all the reQui-
sites for a parsonage OF note, and
you will shortly be one. You are
rich. Your friends back home will
go into ecstasies when they read
E the Grafton their honorable deputy
has delivered; and imagine
they're already preparing fire.
works and music for a reception
to you. What more could you ask?
What more can l ask for?
Love, Leonora, the love l cnce
had with you."
He told her OF the image he
nourished in his sadness. Love!
The Love that passes but once in
a lifetime, crowned with flowers,
and followed by retinue of
kisses and laughter. And whose
ever follows him in obedience, finds
happiness at the end of the Toy.
GUS pathway: but whatsoever,
through pride or selfishness, lags
by the wayside, comes to lament
his folly and to expiate mis- cow
ardice in an everlasting life of
tedium and sorrow! He had sinned,
previously. That he would con-
fess. But could she not forgive
him? He had paid for his de-
linquency with eight long, mo-
notonous, crushing, meaningless
years But they. had met again,
There was still time, Leonora!
They could still call back the
Springtime Of their lives, make 1t
burgeon anew, compel Love to
retrace his footsteps, pass their
way again, stretching forth his
sweet hands of youth to them!
The actress was listening with
a smile upon her lips, her eyes
closed. 1t was an expression of
intense pleasure, as If she were
tasting with delight the fire of
love that was still burning in