Arms and the Woman by Harold MacGrath
page 58 of 302 (19%)
page 58 of 302 (19%)
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"It is not too late to back out," she said.
"I would face a thousand kings rather," I replied. We could see at the gate the carriage which was to take us to the station. Now came the moment when I was tried by the crucible and found to be dross. I committed the most foolish blunder of my life. My love suddenly overleapt its bounds. In a moment my arms were around her lithe body; my lips met hers squarely. After it was done she stood very still, as if incapable of understanding my offence. But I understood. I was overwhelmed with remorse, love, and regret. I had made impossible what might have been. "Your Highness," I cried, "I could not help it! Before God I could not! It is because I love you better than anything in the world--you cannot be of it!--and all this is impossible, this going away together." Her bosom heaved, and her eyes flashed like a heated summer sky. "I will give you one minute to leave this place," she said, her tones as even and as cold as sudden repression of wrath could make them. "I trusted you, and you have dared to take advantage of what seemed my helplessness. It is well indeed for you that you committed this outrage before it is too late. I should have killed you then. I might have known. Could ever a woman trust a man?" She laughed contemptuously. "You would have made me a thing of scorn; and I trusted you!" "As God is my judge," I cried, "my respect for you is as high as heaven itself. I love you; is there nothing in that? I am but human. I am |
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