Page 75 (1/2)

Clementina Alfred EW Mason 7350K 2023-09-01

"Say that you have no roohts except for me Say that you

have no scrap of love--" He dropped her hands and dreay; she caught

him to her "No, no! Say that you have no scrap of love to toss to the

woman there in Innspruck!"

"Maria!" he exclaimed

"Hush!" said she, with a woful smile "To-morrow you shall love her;

to-morroill not ask your eyes to dwell on ht love no one but me"

For answer he kissed her on the lips She took his head between her

hands and gave the kiss back, gently as though her lips feared to bruise

his, slowly as though this one moment must content her for all her life

Then she looked at him for a little, and with a childish movement that

was infinitely sad she laid his face side by side with hers so that his

cheek touched hers

"Shall I tell you ht?" she asked "Shall I dare to tell you it?"

"Tell it ht Hush! Do not move! Do not speak! Perhaps the

world will slip and crumble if we but stay still" And they re forith eyes wide