358 THE STRAND

and partly to keep his money n the family.” “Vou are the devil's self!” she exclaimed.

i ;

4

0 2y

-~ =" -

hn Y LA

• B 2\ it ’” "“

AT g 3.3 s 28 s 010 e 4 o g/, L /:

-

4

7%,

CUOLMER AND GETHA WERE THE ONLY WEITNESSES,”

“But you shall not ruin him as you have ruined others. He shall know-——"

“\What? ‘That he has been trapped into marrving a scarccrow whom he believes to be a Venus? How do you think he would bear the knowledge? Be sensible, Nasha, and keep a still tongue. Thank the saints vou have so skilful a brother. One word from me, and you losc Tvo for ever!”

T aunching this shaft Volmer left the room, laughing softly and glancing at his sister with a certain furtive expression, which was very feline. Nasha sat plunged in thought. At first she had accepted the de- ception for her own sake, but very quickly her longing and desire had become intensi- fied by the realization that Ivo would gain more than she could by the love that united them. Before he met her wealth had been degrading him, and he was beginning to feel not only cnervated, but disgusted by life. ‘The old enthusiasms which illummed his days of poverty and obscurity had flared

MAGAZINE.

out fruitlessly in the ecarly days of his sudden prosperity. He had uncexpectedly inherited a large fortune, and in the mdul- aence of every fancy and of cvery gencerous 1m- pulse he had lost his hold upon himsclf; and bhecome the casy prey of thosc who make hife an \ ivnoble chase alter sen-

suous satistaction -

MIs- called happiness. Nasha knew that she had re-

called him to his better scelf; knew that her love N, had rekindled the high = thoughts and aims of the = days before he became a mere votary of pleasure ; knew that if he learnt the truth he would, in losing [aith in her, lose faith n cverything human and divine, sink 1into a deepening despondency, and end a despairing sceptic. Could she, dared she, risk this? No! Her first wrong had given her future wrong the guise of “the only practicable

right.”

Volmer heard no more from his sister on the subject of Ivo’s illusion, and when he announced his intention of returning to Paris, and taking Ivo with him, Nasha made no sign. But alone with her husband, a wild desire came upon her to test Volmer’s ifluence over him, to pit her power against her brother’s. Surcly, love like hers was stronger than any mesmeric spell. She put her arm round Ivo's neck, and turned his face towards her OWIn

“Alust you go to Paris, love? so lonely without you !”

“Tt 15 Volmer's wish; 1 darling 17

“Ah! T sce how it s, weary of this life—of me.”

“ Nasha! I implore you! Tave I not told you a thousand times my happiness S here with you— that T never knew what at was to be truly happy till I loved you?”

“'Ihen why leave me 27

“ Because Volmer has asked me to go to Paris with him. It will only be for a few weeks.

I shall be

~,

must go, my

( C

You arc growing