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"Helen," said he, "O my 'Helen the Beautiful'--our wars be ended, our ti is done, I thank God! So alad to be in lad I am come to--make thee mine own at last, Helen?"

"I had died without thee, Beltane--I would not live without thee now, my Beltane See, my lord, I--O how may I speak if thus you seal oear for thee if thou wilt hold me so--so very close, Beltane?"

And in a while as the ht him into that bower he well remembered and bade hi her loveliness alway, praised the flowers exceeding much yet beheld the, yielded hiarden until Genevra found them and sweet-voiced bid them in to sup But the Duchess took Genevra's slender hands and looked within her shy, sweet eyes

"Art happy, sweet maid?" she questioned

"O dearworld is none rateful Genevra"

"Then haste thee back to thy happiness, dear Genevra, to-morroill see thee wed"

And presently came they within a small chamber and here Beltane did off his arh now the lady Helen spake little and ate less, and oft her swift-flushing cheek rebuked the worshipping passion of his eyes; insoreat cha at his feet, showed him a file

"Beltane," said she, "thou didst, upon a time, tell poor Fidelis wherefore thy shameful fetters yet bound thy wrists--so noill thy wife loose them from thee"

Then, while Beltane, speaking not, watched her downbent head and busy hands, she filed off his fetters one by one, and kissing them, set them aside

But when she would have risen he prevented her, and with reverent fingers touched the coiled and braided glory of her hair

"O Helen," he whispered, "loose me down thy hair"

"Nay, dear Beltane--"

"My hands are so big and cluht and kissed them

"Let down for me thy hair, beloved, I pray thee!"

"Forsooth roweth late, Helen!"

"Nay--indeed--'tis early yet, my lord--nay, as thou wilt, my Beltane, only suffer that I--I leave thee a while, I pray"

"Must I bide here alone, sife?"