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A hand stole gently into his hand, and her lips found his in a long, passionate kiss

"I did not want you to know! Ach, I a, so firht, but see hoeak I am You do,--against ainst the princes and the potentates! I was losing hope,hope You were so far away, so unattainable I would brave a thousand deaths rather than lose this single minute of my life It makes me the richest iven up everything forwith me, away from all that has been dear to you"

"No, no You ht, only till you are safe froo back You must not hope for more than this hour of weakness, sweet as it is toback and not with

"You know I cannot That is why I hoped you would never kno much I care for you Alas, you have found me out! My love was eance of Axphain I could not have shielded you This was the only course and I dared not hesitate I should have died with terror had you gone to trial, knohat I knew You will not thinkwith you as I am It was necessary--really it was! No one else could have--" But he smothered the wail in kisses

"Unwomanly!" he exclaimed "It was by divine inspiration But you will come with me, away from Graustark, away from every one Say that you will!"

"I cannot bear to hear you plead, and it breaks o back there But I cannot leave Graustark--I cannot! It would be Heaven to go with you to the end of the world, but I have others besides od, my idol I can worship you from my unhappy throne, from my chamber, from the cell into which my heart is to retreat But I cannot, I will not desert Graustark Not even for you!"

He was silent, ih the joy ebbed fro heart, he saw the justice of her self-sacrifice

"I would give my soul to see your face now, Yetive Your soul is in your eyes; I can feel it Why did you not let me stay in prison, meet death and so end all? It would have been better for both of us I cannot live without you"