The Indianapolis times., 1928-12-31

couldn't be, Mona. You're too beau
tiful!"
The French woman smiled.
Il have lived" she said. And
have loved. I am not going to be
old.'
She smiled again, and Shivered.
And they were silent for a while.
Then she said, 1.-The fire of my
life burns low. 1t is a light that
will go out sometime, like all lights
everywhere"
She drew Ashoreth's fingers to
her lips.
81 am not afraid" she whispered.
Il like the dark"
Ashtoreth was trembling violently.
A horrible fear obSeSSed her.
AS if death had come On stealthy
feet across the shining sea, and
entered, unbidden, their little cabin.
She seemed to feel its presence.
Mona lay on her back now. There
were bright spots on either cheek,
burning redly. And her eyes were
blazing blue.
Her skin was hot, and very dry.
Presently she dropped her lids, and
remained SO still that Ashtoreth
thought she slept.
Ashtoreth stood up then, and went
to the portfolio. She saw the moon
on the water, making it SO magical
ly lovely that there seemed nothing
real anywhere about.
The night was full of beauty and
mysticism. And AShtoreth'S spirit
was troubled with vague imaginingS
that had never come to her before.
Monas Swinbrne lay, open, on
the couch. Ashtoreth took it in her
hands, and saw that it was open to
the marked passage she had read
the night before:
From too much love of living,
From hope and fear set free :"
NEONA opened her eyes.
1V1 You love poetry?" she whis-
pered.
Ashtoreth was almost afraid to
trust her voice. 1t was so charged
with tears.
Il don't know very much" she
confessed 1--we been reading
ing this one you've marked. It's
awfully brave"
Mona seemed to rouse herself.
Il found a little poem" she said.
speaking with Slight difficulty. "It
is called To a Certain Gentlemans.
I would like to send it to Meester
Smythe. 1t is in the little drawer
under the mirror"
She motioned toward the wash
stand. Ashtoreth found it between
the sticky pages of book of
stamps, under on of Mona's big
powder puffs.
Read it," whispered the sick
woman.
And Ashtoreth read aloud:
1T may be so. good sir. it may be so.
Not all who sin are tempted-that we
1t may be darker things than this are
And vet, upon my soul. if were you
A man. no longer young. at peace.
From ali that tempting women have
OF poverty and ignorance and fear
And joy that make youth terrible and
If I we're you. before took my pen.
And wrote those words to hearten other
And give them greater sense of moral
In the long score of common sins like
If I were you, I would have held my
In fire
did you write it, Mona?" eX-
claimed Ashtoreth incredulously.
"No-non!"
Mona shook her head weakly.
81 am not clevaire, ma cherie.
can not write what is in my heart
I find it in a magazine, and copy
it. A lady by the name Of Madame
Alice Duer Miller write it. Read
the last again, sill vous plat"
Ash toreth repeated slowly:
If I were, you, I would have held my
hand
In fire.
All. well; you would not under; tand.'
"Non," murmured Mona. "He
would not understand"
Ashtoreth folded the paper.
"And you want Jack to have it?"
she asked.
Mona nodded.
Put it in an envelope, and ask
the steward to give it to him. Day
after tomorrow we reach Antigua.
and he goes"
II Il n