San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-20
CHAPTER XIV.


still. He could see dimly,
for there was a hint of moonlight
There was a settle-no much wider
than a coffin - set sidelong TO
the wall, and a narrow whiteness
sitting upright in ia whitencsS
over which black tresses fell. This
was the turret room-and in its
ancient settle the girl of faery sat
up straight as a little spear and
looked at him.
His heart began to hammer as
it had done in Sabine's chamber
when candle light and moon-mist
revealed the twice-seen face that
had driven him mad. He had been
bestial-he had been drunken,
and now he was led blindfolded
straight to this small room. He
moved forward a couple of hest
tant steps, divided between awe
and a delight that quailed like
terror.
IL thought a voice called
me-"
II called"
The two words were uttered in
a low voice that was cool as dew;
the slim. white shape in the settle
had spoken.
Gervais moved again.
ssXa,, aa1laI 10 hoxro
pardoned me?"
Eyes"
He put out his hands, and they
touched her knees that were small
and childish. She leaned towards
him. Her hands came upon his
shoulders. She kissed him upon the
mouth.
Gervais' arms were about her,
strong as a wrestler's-convulsive.
AS she lifted her face from his
he pillowed his head, with a great
shuddering sigh, against her
bosom. And so remained.
What was it-what inexplicable
thing had occurred in her heart
her soul? Sidonia herself was
shuddering strongly. She -yanted
to sob, to utter little wounded
means. Her heart seemed to ex-
pand. And then to break. A numb
ness of the mind and senses melted
as ice melts in Spring. She was
tremulous, frightened, hungry,
anguished-and translated to some
seventh heaven far above the stars.
Oh, all her short life had waited
for this soft pressure of a head.
She craved to mother it with TIE
fierce tenderness of a tigress;
she melted towards it until her
whole being seemed nothing but
soft fire; her eyes swan with
tears. She was ready to live or die
indifferently for this other life
the first that had sought shelter
in her fragile arms. She had come
into her heritage.
Time passed over them IA
soundless stream of moments.
Sidonia's arms were tight about
Gervais even as his imprisoned
her. Again and again her quick
lips dwelt against his hair. 1t was
ecstasy.
"My darling" A murmurous
whisper that OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ion, dove-fashiOn.
Gervais lifted his head. Word
lessly his mouth and the mouth
of his saint became one. The
pulses of each trembled towards
the other. Love, like a double
flame, burned in them, shudder-
ing like the wind-taken flame Of a
candle, for both were ignorant
concerning it. But the girl was
wiser than the young man.
81 worship you"
ooh, my darling, get up off
your kneesl Gervais. you shan't
kneel in the bitter coldW
His name, which she had re-
peated so often in her invocations,
was as natural on her tongue as
though she had been welded TO
him for a dozen years.
He was seated sideways on the
settles edge now, and SidOnia, en-
braced by his arms, chung close to
him.
What's your name, my saint?"
"Sidonia."
They kissed again, clasping each
other with a nervous strength that
guivered.
q worship youp said Gervais
unsteadily, and his voice had deep
eucd-there was a huskiness in II.
The girls inner self tremblcd