Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 106: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

896 I flushed crimson, outraged beyond ex- pression. 1 tried to move again, but I could not. ‘Peter, don’t play with me!” the prin- cess cried. * How cam you be so cruel? You made me love you—and you flaunt these women in my face. Not only the one you are going to marry—I suppose I un- derstand that—but the others—this danc- ing girl—and that odious Fay Delsarte.” ‘* Kindly leave Mme. Delsarte’s name out of this,” said the king sternly. ‘ And please control yourself. 1 cannot allow you to make such scenes.” “Scenes! Scenes!” Her voice was light and shrill, like the voice of a woman half crazed. ‘‘ You have no more use for me, so you accuse me of making scenes. You don’t love me any more, Peter. But I love you and can’t forget you. Day and night I think of vou. My life is unbearable. You used to love me. You taught me what love was. I didn’t know — married to George, when I was only a child, so that my father and Maury could pay their gam- bling debts. Peter, you’ve taught me what Jove is, and I won’t be thrown over like a worn-out glove!”’ “ Laline!” The king’s voice was full of suppressed fury. ‘* You have no right to talk like this. It is grossly unfair. You know perfectly well that [ never made love to you—any more than to any other wom- an. A flirtation with a woman of the world—it is nothing. Ever since, you have tried to fasten yourself on to me. It is impossible of you. It places me in the most awkward position. You know, in your heart, that I never pretended to love you.” I can’t remember her reply. Shé raved in a voice choked and inarticulate with raging misery. She took Heaven to wit- ness that she loved him, that she could not let him go, that she would do anything— everything—if he would only be kind. I was horrified. I knew I ought to go away, but I was rooted to the spot. That he did not love her was evident. His voice rang true. She was placing him in a most awk- ward position by her exacting passion. He tried to calm her. He implored her to be reasonable, to remember that her guests would arrive in a few moments. She only ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. went on raving. Some words she flung at him pierced through all my complex emo- tions with a pang of sheer pity. ‘Peter, my life is one great emptiness. I shall kill myself if you are not kind.” ‘Don’t be a fool!” His voice was angry. ‘““T cannot stay here any longer. I will leave you to recover your senses.” I heard his footsteps. I shrank, terrified, against the hedge. He must have gone out the other side; he did not come near me. ‘“T shall kill myself,” wailed the princess after him. “I won’t live—any more.” There was dead silence for a moment or two. Then long drawn, bitter hopeless sobs fell on my ears—not loud, but so desperate that I hesitated no more. I ran forward, round a corner of the thick hedge and then round another. There lay the princess on the ground by the side of the pool; one arm in the water. It was an attitude of such anguished abandonment that I forgot everything, and ran and knelt by her side. “You must pull yourself together,” I said sharply. ‘ People are arriving. You have spoiled your dress. You will have to go and change.” She let me help her up. She looked at me dully, her lovely face discolored by tears, distorted by grief. | “ Did you hear?” she asked. “T couldn’t help myself,” I answered. ‘“* Do please come into the house! Where is there a side door? Let me help you.” ‘‘ I hate you,” she breathed. ‘“ You don’t know how I hate you.” ‘* Never mind that now.” ‘You have triumphed over us all. You will be his wife. He can’t help it. I count nothing—I adore him, but I count nothing. The dancing girl counts nothing. Fay Delsarte counts nothing. You will be his wife because yu are rich. Oh, I hate you --I loathe you from the bottom of my heart!” She was exhausted. I prevailed on her to come back to the house. I smuggled her into the care of her maid, and announced to the guests that we had been walking in the garden and she had slipped by the side of the pool and spoiled her dress and had to go and change it. 6A COMG DOO! (©