Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-07-23

! OF lifetime would Win out, anu, d.
Anne Cleeves had once remarked, she
always got what she wanted in the
end. For her sake he must not let her
see-let her even suspect how madly
he worshped her, adored the very
ground she trod.
Even as he sat there in the star
light with deep frown furrowing
his forehead, one of the tirraileurs
came tramping up to break in upon
his meditation.
"Sidi," announced the Arab with a
brief salute, "the white lalla wishes
to leave this evening"
Roberts started as though another
flissa had pierced his body and his
face turned white as he waited for the
message to continue.
"She requests that you place at her
disposal such camels as can be con-
veniently spared. She wishes to start
at moonrise."
Numbly, the engineer NODDED. Then
his forebodings had been true. Now
that the menace of the touaregs had
been removed, her yearning for the
comforts of her former life had return
ed. Only a kind of conscious-stricken
energy had dominated her during the
past days of common danger-haly-
con days never to re-occur!
Every WE'LL" he instructed the
gloomy tirailleur in lifeless mono
tone. you'll select the best of the
camels and mehara. Detail Corporal
Yusouf Ben Bekani and eight men to
act as escort. See that the lalla has
the best of food and water. You may
CO."
The tirailleur, his face mournful,
flung up his hand in salute and dis
appeared. Like a knell rang the clat-
ter of his hobnailed boots, died away
down the stair, leaving Norman Rob-
erts to look with unseeing eyes far
out over the desert.
AS Anne bent over the last of her
duffle bags to pack the remains of her
wardrobe, she struggled to fight back
the tears.
"He despises me-" she told herself
again and again. "He knows I came
to the ruins just to show him my in
dependence. He's seen just how vain,
thoroughly incompetent and selfish I
am" But in her heart was a fierce,
Unsuitable longing, and it was with diff
ficulty that she succeeded to conjure
up the vision of girl strangely like
herself who had upon that long-gone
night sworn to make Norman Roberts
propose that she might disdainfully
refuse him. To refuse Norman Rob-
erts, the unselfish toiler for man.
kind! Oh, Lord, was it possible that
she ever could have thought in that
vein? A sigh that was almost sob
shook her as she fastened the last of
the straps.
ooh, yes" she soliloquized, and
brushed back the rich copper-colored
curls that fluttered over her forehead,
cts just as Norman said. Life only
becomes interesting when you can't
get what you want And, oh dear,
how l want him." Then in the depths
of her dependency, she came to a
determination which surprised even
herself. "To the devil with PRIDE"
she murmured fiercely as she drew on
her riding coat. give lost too many
things by it in the past"
Having come to a decision, she felt
little better, and when Yusouf had
summoned her to supper, the last
supper they could have together, she
delayed long ten minutes combing
the recalcitrant copper hair and add
ing the little subtle touches to her cos
tune that make so much difference.
At the little table set on top of
the tower she found Captain Roberts
looking very grave and pensive.
He heard her step, arose swiftly,
turned, and his stern face lightened
at the sight of her fresh and smiling.
A pang pierced his heart at her light
hearted greeting.
$780," he said, you're really going
to go. l wish you could have waited
day or so more"
From across the table he studied her
while she chartered on apparently de-
lighted at the prospect of returning
to the comforts of civilization. He
made miserable attempt at eating,
but the savory CONSCIOUS that was set
before him was as tasteless as ashes.
God, how he would miss her! BY a
trick of memory his mind went back to
the VOW he had registered when he