Cumner & South Sea Folk, Complete

py, they might never be; he was almost sure they would not be; she had long ceased to think they could be. She had told him when she married him that she did not love him. He had been willing to wa

ns to the Hebron Mountains. The wife's eyes fixed on the hills and stayed. A road ran down the hill towards a platform of rock which swept smooth and straight to the sheer side of the mountain called White Bluff. At first glance it seemed that the road ended at the cliff-a mighty slide to destruction. Instead, however, of coming straight to the cliff it veered suddenly, and ran round the mountain side

. It will be a big steeplechase." He winced, but answered slowly. "You have

is tone. Her eyes sought his face and rested

rible thought," he gravely replied; "but it is better to be fran

er feet, and a shuddering sigh broke from

e it?" he asked in a har

cheek, and her head bent forward at him. "Because," she a

"as to that!" and he shrug

raw," she said sharp

nd laughed strangely, as he answered: "Care! Good God! Care!...

said wearily. "You di

here are those rice fields out there, that banana plantation, and the sugar-cane stretching back as far as the valley goes-it's all mine, all mine. I worked hard for it. I had only one wish with it all, one hope through it all, and it was, that

were left alone. The heavy breath of the palm trees floated in upon them; the fruit of the passion-flower hung temptingly at the window; they could hear the sound of a torrent just behind the house. The day was droning luxuriously, yet the eyes of both, as by some weird influence, were fastened upon the hill; and presently they saw,

said to himself; "he se

o her eyes, but, at that moment, the horseman swerved into the road again, and was

u said about the steeplechase-I mean ab

said," was he

e is a mistake

" was her answer; "a deadly mist

e glass again on the hill, then a

r-tell me, and I'll ride it with you. If it's all wrong as it is, it's all wrong for bo

ver so frank as this. He was determined that they shoul

never told you-indeed, I thought I never should tell you; but now

the field-glass in his hand, looking bluntly at her the while. She

. "We oughtn't to live together as it is. It

with me?" she ans

t, I suppose," he

id, "that we might as well die together,

, I think it a terrible pity that you should have the thought to die; and if you could be happy living, I'd

e said thoughtfully, a

don't t

Cayley-Cayley," he

he asked, astonished.

" was the reply-"seen hi

erstand you,"

e continued, "and I've w

id you

ey to

id he t

rried you." His voice

er?" she asked. He paused a moment, lookin

been struck. "Good God!" she cri

marry you himsel

that yourself, i

e, knowing all-that he

you then, knowing a

him. "You have sinned as much as I,"

cliff-and beyond?" Her lips fr

till to-morrow,"

day?" she pa

urged, and his eyes followed the

rage?" she persisted, as t

ll to-morrow, Alice,

wered, with the indi

and watched a horseman

" he said to himself, and he mechanically li