The Washington times., 1928-11-24

i the face Of the EARTH
His eyes were bright, his mouth
was dry. but he was omnipotent
in his powers.
Had he chosen, his voice could
have duplicated the golden tones
OF Caruso; no expression of art
was beyond him. II called upon
he could have disposed OF q Demp-
sey or q Tunney with nonchalant
ease,
For once in his life perbaps
the last time Eddie Regain surged
with the madness of the gods and
his head reeled with that ann
brosia.
Even when he saw Marian's
form, fitting bit of white, steal
ing toward him down the moon
light lane, he was not, at once,
brought back to reality.
He arose and waited for her
and the dusty road beneath his
feet was sheer velvet.
Not until she was close upon
him and he saw her face, pale
and strained, did the spell break.
Then, in binding flash, reality
smote him, and he shuddered with
the sunhappiness over the trag-
edy that was, actually, his por-
ton.
This was their last time to-
getlaer
She came to him willingly with
ali pretense OF indifference wiped
out between them. Now, at the
last, faced with separation, all
things became basic and nn-
adorned with fancy.
II don't think they know
slipped out" she said, with a
hushed tremor. IF father found
you here--I don't know what
would happen.
II had to see you" he breathed.
81 know =. ~
had to see you even IL your
father took shotgun and blazed
away at me- Eddie declared. He
thinks I'm trying to draw you
down, Marian, but"
IF father found you here-I
don't deserve any such shameful
treatment--but what can do?
I don't want you to go away
thinking-that T. Here voice
faltered and stopped. THAT
you"
"What?,
THAT / think you are terrible
person." she managed to utter.
There is some reason, / know,
for that awful girl being here.
But / can't imagine you are as
vile as father thinks
God bless you for that" His
voice strained with emotion. I'm
in an awful mess on account of
her--but there's nothing wrong
that / know of in moral ways
il you understand"
She looked now, as though she
feared they might be overheard.
I'VE can't stand here talking in
the road like this. Somebody
might hear"
Behind Eddie a gentle hillside
rose, with green carpet of grass
and the deep shadows Of scattered
trees. There, in the cool, Sc
ciuded fragrance with moonlight
gliding the slope, they could feel
complete privacy in the dark
Swallowed pools.
Shall we go up there?" he
asked, daringly.
For an instant she hesitated.
Then she nodded.
II can't think what = would
happen If my father missed me-"
Don't think about it, dearest"
I'm nOt-much." She smiled
wanly.
Were doing the very thing
you thought we ought not to- he
urged. Standing here where
some one might see u.s.
Gently, she slipped her hand In
his-tfe touch of it was soft as a
rose petal.
If only he might hold 1t so for.
ever! His thoughts SCARED daring
ly; then fell to the depths again.
He helped her across the gully
side of the road and together they
climbed and disappeared into the
concealment of the night and sum-
mer and trees.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIx
They found a knoll and sat on
it, hidden by the shadows, two
hapless mortals seeking sanctuary
from troubled world that pressed
in too close around them. Left.
to themselves, there would have
been little distress between them
whether or not love lowered or
died a-borning. Other people, the
rigid iron barriers erected by
other hands, had created the
stress that had sent Eddie and
Marian fleeing like pair of
hunted animals TO this brief,
darkened shelter.
And now they We're free from
all human interference, it was
strange how little the seeming OBJ
stacles between them mattered.
Bewildering complications were
the product of human thinking
not the result of love. All about
them lay the spell of summers
beauty silvered by moonlight.
For while, the enchantment
was too strong to be broken with
words. 1t penetrated them, Ian.
eorous and serene, stilling the
clamor of doubt, lulling the harsh.
|, ness of morality and Judgment.
In the silyery calm, Eddie felt
q careless melting away of his