Page 7 (1/1)

In the hour of death he must help her to be true to herself, so that no craven fear should sully her proud soul, and with this high resolve he turned to her with the little word of endearment on his lips, and laid his hand on her arm with a touch of real affection

"I will do what I have promised when the moment comes" He felt a little shiver run over her body and his hand tightened on her arm "Dear, it will soon be over Really you need not be afraid"

"Tell me"--she turned to hih--"does it hurt--death when it comes like--that?"

"No" He spoke firmly "You must not think of that It is all over in a second--and you know"--he hesitated--"after all, this life is not everything"

"No" A new light touched her eyes for asun "There is a life beyond, isn't there? My o, and I have missed her sorely," said Hilda Ryder sireat hu shook her soul--"it's hard to leave this dear life behindthe world is so wonderful, so lovely--I'm sure no other world can ever be half so beautiful as this"

A sudden clamour in the courtyard outside drove the colour fro to hi, aren't they? Is this--really--the end?"

For a second he listened, the blood running icily in his veins Then he turned to her with a smile on his lips

"Yes I think they are coht be a chance--for you!"

Instead of reassuring her his words drove her to a white-lipped terror

"You're not going to fail me now? Dr Anstice, for the love of God, do as you promised--I will be brave, I will indeed--only don't let theht, dear" He slipped his arm round her and drew her closely to hiht be a chance, but after all this is the better way"

"I knew you could be brave--for me," she said, very softly; and then, as a native voice outside the hut called an order, he felt her treood-bye--or"--she actually smiled--"shall it be au revoir?"