em to be cavalrymen, petty officers.

ps, it would be just as well for you to go to your room and remain there till they are gone. A

They may

to that,"

" she

to see new faces,"

s you, sir,"

ey are look

y reason why I w

e deter

a

d I; "you had be

r what

offensive tactics,"

rang out

s only for his barmaid, his beer and his knoblauch? Never

cried in dismay.

s He

," sa

but a line of their beautiful blue-green could be seen,

leasant duty of punching his head." If I c

e very

things which add threef

She looked at

she knew that it was only because I clinched my fists till the nails cut, that I did not do the very thing I feared the

n furbishing up the utensils, just

resentatives of the King came in noisily. They gazed admiringly at Gretchen as she poured out their beer. She sa

. The German cannot disassociate an E

red nothing to me whether he took me for an En

ough which he surveyed m

fraulein?" he asked

hen,"

s the toll

nant started for her, but she waved him off. "Nothi

closer t

I asked, blowing the ash f

"Gretchen, we shall return to-night, so you may lay two plates at a separate table," with an eye on

said G

one;" and Gretchen m

off my pipe. They were soo

s angry," sa

wled. "What right h

wish Gretchen al

d all day, then some strangers come, and you are all smiles. You

look at me,"

e a man who didn't know whether he loved her for ce

cried, start

his tobacco, so must a woman have her coquetry. It was rather unfair of Gretchen, after what I

e world had come from Phyllis's face; a shadow had come between. Oh, I knew the symptoms. They were not new to me. They had visited me some five years back, and had clung to me with the tenacity of a creditor to a man with expectations. When a man arrives at that point where he wants the society of one woman all to himself, the matter assumes serious proportions. And a man likes to fall in l

t. I should have gone away the day after my arrival. Here I was going into my second week. My assistant in London was probably worrying, having heard nothing from me during that time. As matters stood it was evident that I could not be true either to Phyllis or Gretchen, since I did not know positively which I loved. I knew that I loved one. So much was gained. I

chen," said I, "you would h

d my impotence, for he

at my feet. I followed it with my eye till it became lost around the b

them together!

s head to one side as

rk

chen. If I could see them together, you know, I could tell positi

nd of the limb and sat down.

y don't y

et by the laughter whic

behind me st

a better confi

how much she had heard of the one-sided dialogue. "Will yo

question?" with in

Gretchen not revoke the pr

w, Herr," said

hat a beautiful woman was made to be loved." Everyth

urned as

do not go. Forgive me;

nd," she replied with

er why I asked

s to be yo

for me to ask whe

But I was a hypocr

you would say

stage." I knocked the dead ash from my pipe and stuffed the bowl with fresh wee

g down, the space o

s it leaves my throat it looks like a tangible substance. Rea

ears," sai

hand. It was a woman's love. For five years I watched it curl and waver. In it I saw many castles and the castles were fair, indeed.

following the course

ght forth the subject of affinities, and ventured to say that some day I might meet mine. I scoffed inwardly. I have now found what she said to be true. The love I

o her to whom you gave

me as disdainful. "You

m. I shall leave to-morrow, Gretchen. I shall feel as Adam did when he went forth from Eden. Whatever your place in

fugitive from-the law, the King, or what you will. You are a man; man forgets. You have just illustrated the fact. His

ove any o

sense you mean. It was not wri

re you, and what

ne? Nothing! Wh

only answer y

nly answer I

ch awed me. It was power and resolution, t

ou?" I was growing reckless because I felt awed, which seems rathe

There was no alarm in her

r forgive yours

rgive myself. But I know that if I ask you to let me kis

retched toward me. "And

t also respect you,

m so

al adieu. After supper I lit my pipe (I shall be buried with it!) and went for a jaunt up the road. There was a train at six the next morning. I would leave on that. Why hadn't I taken Gret

d directly toward the inn. Even in the dusk of twilight there was something familiar about that stride. Presently the ma

d "Jericho" distasteful an