Year: 1873

Atli' lIViihO@A hsb'N


Il. a fearful mistake" the words
died ON her lips, as he lifted his glorious
eyes, full of love, to hers. "I-you-1
release you from the promise you made me
last night, and ask you to give me back
mine"


"Cecil, in heavens name, what are you
talking about?' Then, sinking back with
an amused smile, elbow you frightened
me For half moment / thought you
were in earnest"


Another effort to quiet the unsteady lips
and voice; this time he saw the struggle.


''I do mean it, alas can be nothing to
you in future"


He sprang to his feet.


care you mad, or am 1? Were you only
acting lie last night when you put your
head on my breast and swore to be mine
Cecil, if the whole world proclaimed you
false, would cling to you and believe you
true. Take back my promise -give you
yours No, by heavens not till your own
lips assure me that you do not love me, will
believe that could be SO wholly, SO ut
terly deceived and betrayed by the woman
l adore p


"Then you may believe it now" The
tone was cold and hollow she dared not
raise her eyes to his face. For the first
time, the proud noble nature had stopped
to falsehood, and the degradation smote
her to the soul. But she knew, Heaven,
help her that only by making him think
her unworthy could she accomplish her
end, and upon herself she had no mercy.
What did it matter? All gladness was
over for her now; she could sink no further
into darkness.


"What did you say?" His face was
stern and pale as marble. She forced her
self to look at him for brief second


alt has been an awful mistake. IdC
not lODe you, except as a brother or a
friend" And then the storm burst.


Cecil had often heard that Percie Lennox
was swift to anger, but she had never
dreamed of arousing such a violence OF
temper. He showered fiery reproaches
upon her, he stung her with his scorn, and
lashed her with his satire. She heard him
out with dumb agony; she did not try tC
arrest one cruel word, one bitter sneer.


Enough ~ she cried, hoarsely, at last,
feeling that her strength was failing her
and she rose, cropping like one suddenly
blind for the staircase.


The pitiful gesture smote Percie 10 the
heart. For the first time he had beer
guilty of harsh language to a woman, ant
his remorse was keen.


"Cecil, my darling, take care; you will
fall. Trust yourself once more to my
guidance" And before she could preven
it, he lifted her slight form in his arms ant
began the descent.


A shiver shook Cecil from head to foot
as she closed her eyes and lay half-faintinl
in his embrace. She was powerless to bat
tie against this returning tenderness, and |
cry broke from her very soul:


80 Peieie, Percie, kiss me once befor'
we partp


Not once, but many times, and the no
tears fell on her upturned face. But the
were at the end of the stairs now, and h
drew her shawl carefully around her an,
left her in the shadow, as he spoke to th
keeper and thanked him for showing then
the lamps.


He put her arm within his as they wake
slowly down to the hotel, and neither brok
the silence until they reached it.


"You are an enigma, Cecil" he said
and all the anger had gone from his voice
cat one moment you tell me that you
not love me, and at the next you force m