Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

i 210 continued to look at him, and her eyes seemed to search his soul. “This is the end,” she murmured. “I have known it from the beginning, that it must end this way. You found love in the smile of your princess, and she— What of her? Did she return that love?” ‘ She could not have been freed from her tower otherwise.” ‘But supposing she was afraid to be free? Supposing she had lived so long be- hind those walls of brass that she feared the world outside?” His gaze was very serious. She did not know that he was fighting an impulse to reach out and touch her. “Shall I tell you what would have hap- pened if she had been afraid to leave the tower?” he asked in his deep, vibrant voice. She appeared a little miserable, a little pathetic, as she stood there in her almost regal beauty and gazed up at him. “Yes,” she murmured. * She would not have let down that lad- der,” he said. “You mean that I have gone too far to retreat?’’ she asked. ““T mean that I love you, and that you will not retreat.” Thoughtfully she gazed upon him. “No,” she said at last, “ I will not. You have spoken the truth—-when you said that it is only to the brave that the gates of life are open. Yet it is an exceedingly great thing you ask of me.. You ask me to trust you, whom I know less than my _ father’s humblest servant. You ask me to throw in my life with yours, and I am to give up my family and all the life I know—however stifling it may be—to plunge into a worid I have never seen. Can you see how much you are asking?” “JT do not ask it. You must desire it, or our love must come to nothing. And yet [ tell you that even if I were to prove unworthy and our love should break upon the rocks of stark reality, you would be happier for having left your tower, because you will have lived, and you will find strength and gladness in misfortune out of the bravery of your decision.” She still gazed into his eyes. “T knew this would be the end,” she ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. told him. ‘‘ When I met you in the gar- den, I knew it. I knew that I loved you, and that this would be the end.” “It is the beginning, my splendid prin- cess,’ he said, and took her into his arms. “I’m glad,” she murmured. ‘‘ I am very happy. When shall we go?” “When do you desire it?” “To-morrow. Father will be down Sat- urday, and I want to go while I am still brave.” “You mean that he might be too much for you?” ‘““T mean that he will be too much for me.” ‘““ Nonsense. I know you too well.” “But you don’t know father.” “Very well, then. To-morrow.” She considered this seriously, bravely. ‘‘ And father must forgive us afterward,” she said, doubting it. He laughed. “Can you doubt it?” he asked. She could. Then he became mysterious. “You trust me, don’t you?” he asked her. “You don’t know how deeply I have proved it,”’ she assured him. “Then believe me, your father will for- give you,” he said. There was a moment when she was in his arms again; then she pressed him away. ‘You must go now,” she said. ‘“ Come for me to-morrow at eleven in the morn- ing.” : ‘* At eleven,” he said. He kissed her again, and she felt helpless in his arms. XV. ALICIA saw him disappear in the darkness beneath her balcony, and then, having promised, she withdrew, closing her window behind her. But she sat in a tension of nervous expectation, awaiting the sound of his car. She remembered that shot from the darkness below her, and she feared for him. , She strained every nerve with listening. And at last it came. Not the sound of his car, but a shot. A gunshot from the dark. COMIC KOOKS (C@