The Danger Mark

nlight fête and dance in the forest, invitations having been sent to distant neighbours who had been enter

XVI fête-or as near to it as attenuated, artistic intelligence could manage, and they altered Duane's very clever and correct sketches to suit themselves, careless of

h Avenue ateliers sewed faster. Silken and satin costumes, paste jewelry and property small-swords were arriving by express; maids flew about the house at Roya-Neh, trying on, fussing with lace and

s in secrecy, and let it go at that, returning with embarrassed relief to cards, tennis, and the vari

eral preparations, assemble their foot-gear, head-gear, stars, orders, sashes, sword

it as a Black Mousquetier-and, by the way, there weren't any in the reign of Louis XVI, so perhaps that evens up matters. Dysart is the only ma

eggie Wye to Bunbury Gray, flourishing his property

sullen all day, reg

by the window trying to catch a glimpse of the lake to see whether any decent fish were breaking

h," he concluded. "Scott, I suppose you'll in

" said Sc

eat it. I want to try on

t tramped away down the hall banging his big sword, jingling his spurs, and flapping his loose boots. The Pink 'un and Bunbury Gray slunk off into obscurity, and Scott wander

's room, contemplated himself sullenly in the mirror whi

ate my eye-glass?" asked Dys

ntional prejudice of the times.

the Louis XVI sort more than for the XIX ce

om his bored conte

onventional?" he a

something of the sort t

ndly, "does she agre

es toward the unconventional have been th

e conquests? You mustn't

e competent witnesses. D

they lack character to corroborate them. Ask your wife to c

," returned Dysart, staring at him. A

insolently that the other stepped forward,

u can't appreciate a pleasant hint I can ea

silence fo

hance do you think you'd have

d the mouth grew whiter and the man looked suddenly older. Dua

me concern yourself. As for your ill-humour, I suppose I have earned it by being attentive

rt, and his squa

ous indifference to your wife and your rather silly reputation as a débutante chaser-I do believe, Dysart, that, deep inside of you somewhere, there is enough laten

enacing, laid his

her la

ur line. You're only a good-looking, popular, dancing man; all your deviltry is

t you would make yourself noisily ridicul

veryday life they resent it. Yes-if you do anything hysterical there will be some sort of a disgraceful noi

the chair dropped, but even when he

ese days; you're perfectly right, Mallett.

ed, watching Duane. Whatever in the man's face and figure was usually colour

esentment of the neglectful, no jealo

aid, "keep away from my wife, Malle

ly. Now

longer, as though perhaps expecting further

to trying it on, Scott Seagrave's spectacled and freckled v

n all her gimcracks and wants you

e is

ing out to the hatch

id Duane, passing his arm through Scott's

lf in full costume, painted and powdered, the blinds pulled d

explained. "Mr. Mallett, is my hair s

lain figurette! There's not an anachronism

im death to your sketch

ing," he said vaguely, "but I've got to go down to the

m before anybody could speak

most charmingly worn; your hair is exac

l I put my

ghe

er

e centre of the ro

firm, cool ivory skin with on

he held out her fascinating smooth little hands. He supported

nk you so much," she said, with a carelessly friendly pre

ingers still linked lightly in his. She bent over, knees straight, a

faultless, true to the period-very fascinatin

nding over she turned her dainty head and looked around an

traightening up and stepping back one pace, so tha

le, even the kiss, which was classical-pure-Louis XVI.... Besides, Scott was idiot en

again-if that's why you'

's th

door and then cal

we are together t

de similar observations

for him to

he obj

e real grounds for his excitement!" she said coolly, and closed her teeth with a little

're adrift. D

prepared to offer salvage? I

That's usually the first port-for derelicts. Anchors are dropped rather fre

grew very serious as sh

rage near you, Duane?

tell you something: it isn't in me to l

repeated: "Again? Ha

es

I thought only call

ll comers. That's the fledgling idea-when blighted-

ble reputation now," s

hen-because no woman I ever k

d anything intimate to remember

ll-

u or remember you with

happens?" he

could easily board me-take me in tow. I'm quite sure that something about me signals a pilot; and that keen eyes and bitter

a square deal

re whether it's a

nervous, pretty hand with both of h

epped back to the door, and, laying

I particularly take to, but I believe he's a

something in her scornful eyes in

" he said lightly, "y

wly up to him, close, closer, until the slight tremor of cont

hold her this way-every now and then, and"-he kissed her-"tell her she is incompa

pite of his weak peregrinations to other shrines; but you still care for him. And it's up to you to ma

eyes, but the deep, mantlin

"that we haven't-lived

know such things,

one. You see I have already become capabl

she set her teeth-a trick of hers; the fresh

l my life like this-without anything more than the passi

nd to happen, Rosalie. May I

he quiver of her lower lip betr

m back,"

ger care

re mis

don't. All consideration for him has died in me. H

nerless, and, like all asses, convinced that he can ta

what do

g always holds good until he thinks he has won you. Then the average man flourishes his heels. He is doing it. What won him was not you alone, or love, alone; it was his uncertainty of both that fascinated him. T

he door, looking down. Much

know,"

d

l-do

es

hink s

e husband. And every wife ought to be able to manage these lords of creation, and keep them out of harm.... And keep them in love,

ung gently ajar, Geraldine Seagra

ease its beating; then, as she passed with averted head, Rosalie caught

door-and we'll see what happens. If you don't-you had better go at once, Duane. And leave my door o

send you?'-usually something not at all resembling the awaited bonbon.... Good-bye, my al

d sauntered back toward his room wher

ne, and called to her, but perhaps she did not hear him

I seldom catch a glimpse of you except when you

keeping pace with her, he chatted on amiably about nothing

y. What is it y

g," he said

sk of-others." And she t

rong, Geraldine?" he

lied, shaking off h

r as I'm c

truth?" she asked with a

id. "Evidently somethi

riend; I for one, you for anothe

ppened to yo

always t

you te

look concerned and interested i

igh latticed window through which the sun poured over the geraniums on the sill. There was a seat under it. Suddenly her knees threatened

what it is that you believe

n returned in a flash of exasperation, but she controlled that, too, and

"Well, I am. I'm taking chances. Some people take their chances in one way-like you and Rosalie; some take them in anoth

what is worrying y

l you what annoys

ha

of not

orie

t for myself-

make it notorious?" he

your personal conduct"-there was a catch in her voic

athered and settled

wish me

can't without others

es, I

already. And I don't propose to figure with a flaming sword.

he said, smiling; an

ue me, I think. Have you anything further

you think something thr

tens you," she

is no

ugh for yo

aid in a low voice, "I know more about you than

crisping her muscles; she sat up very straigh

?" she tried to sneer, but

ast and loose with Dysart. He's a safe enough propositio

voice cleared with an im

ou. You let a man who is married come too close to you-you betray enough curiosity concerning him to do it. A drifting woman do

n his wife permits

is not

part to instruct me that promiscuous caresses are men's distraction from ennui; Rosalie evidently is in sympathy with that form of amusement-many men and women among whom I live in town seem to be qui

are w

ays that embody everything I supposed was unthinkable, let alone unutterable. But the actors utter every

aldi

cares, or is even curious after an hour's gossip has made it stale news? A divorce here, a divorce there-some slight curiosity to see who the victims may marry next time-that curiosity satisfied-and so is everybody. And they go b

one amuseme

ha

int

forget her. Your pretences are becoming tiresome, Duane.

wept over her; she felt the tears burning

money! I-I do want to keep myself above it-clean of it-but what am I to do? One can't live without friends. If I don't gamble

friends. I'

struck his knee wi

less simians if you had cared for me. You're all the friend I need. But you've become one of them. It isn't in you to take an

, exasperation moved her in tur

Mrs. Dysart with you to y

for each other," he said

her? Must I confess that I could not avoid seeing you with her in he

aw won't harm anybody. So come to your own conclusions.... But I wish you were out of all this-with your fine

nce with yo

e only chance we'll ever

l you, Duane, it doesn't matter whom people of our sort marry because we'll always sicken of our b

ss aged, less experienced. But we have, each of us, our own heritage, our own secret depravity." She hesitated,

oom for a few moments, c

admitted that you dare go any

es

eve," pointing to a closed do

es

me the

not do

u can. Y

?-Du

time is now if it ever is to

me that cannot be said here?

her feet and moving slowly along beside hi

ly, as she laid her hand on the knob a

opened the door, hesitated again, slowly cro

se and gray; a breeze moved the curtains, noisel

everal for her; she stood irresolute for a moment, then,

ng up, her face beginning to r

to marry me,

that

attend to that if you'll marry me-I'll guara

e saw the muscles tighten along the jaw; saw the grave

e." She added hastily, "I don't

ou do t

ou have done

all is square

floor, convinced,

elieve I

head, eyes sti

he truth!

think you care for me.... Yo

, too! Give me my c

"-with a fl

w you'll need me more; and the day after, and after that in perilous days to follow our need will be the greater for these hours wast

beside her, imprisoning her clasped hands on her knees.

she demanded, forcing a smile. "What is the matter, Du

r you-it isn't all for myself!-I care more for you than that. I love you more deeply than a m

she asked,

. In his eyes she read a m

t-understand,

o. Let's f

Her voice was

if you'll love

do you look at me so strangely? And you tell me that I-know.... Wh

ril that you were-ill?... And awok

t was a cr

nk I have not known-since the

desperate hands. For a moment her whole body quivered, then she collapsed. On his knees beside her he bent and tou

d not die of itself, dear. But it left its mark.... You say self-control is only depravity afraid.... That is true; but I have made my depravity fear me. I can do what I please

ide her he bent again, pressin

hat is worst in you. I'll love you so confidently that we'll kill it-you and I together-my strength and yours,

ss, still bent almost double, and covering her face wi

and talk sense, Geraldine," he

ercut her brother and me whenever her sense of fairness was outraged? The time has come

and stared at him out

lf-at your ex

ou mean? I

you know? Is that what you call my sense

n conscious that this would happen some day-that-that

apable of

must not a

ll

m her again-but the slender hands lay limply against him. So they remained, her hands at intervals nervously tightening and relaxing on his shoulders, her tearful

if I do it," she said

wh

k-what I m-m

ittle

I could ever be here speaking to you about-about the horror that has happened to me-looking into your f

ow give me the right t

silence. Then s

ught you took such

nced up at him, th

r-about an engagement-promise me that

hy

ight f

of me. But yo

myself to you-unless you promise to let me go if I think it best. You know

y you now!" he said wit

repeated,

I intend to make sure of you now. You can keep it a secret if you like. When you return to town we can have ever

whe

afte

her; a vivid colour su

so much, so truly-Oh, I-I do love you

, closer; she lifted her face; he kissed

p her reason through the delicious tumult that swept her senses. "B

sion of tenderness overwhelmed her, and h

long ago-my comrade Duane-my own little boy! How was I t

into the lad she had ruled so long ago, glorifying him-drawing them together into t

at him and looked at him as though sh

mine! Nobody else could ever have had you-no matter what you did-or what I did.... And nobody except you could ever, ever have had me. That i

g quite mad about you, Duane.... I don't think

flushed resistance, still bewildered by her own passion. Then, into her eyes came that divine beauty which comes but

ove any other man? Say it. I k

you, D

you h

in h

ediately and passing one hand across his fa

t," she murmured

e dream girl-my little brown-eyed, brown-haire

in the library? Did it hurt you, my darling-I was sure it did, but you

s breath-"I don't mind telling you now

t perfectly delicious s

hing. "If you deal me no more vital

u a-a blow

by not marrying

-I ca

d out in her eyes

-when I stop and try to think-it dismays me to understand how much in love with you I am.... Because it is too soon.

onsense you do

, d

g close, as though within the circle o

he laid her hands on his arms, gently disengaging them, and, freeing herself, sprang to her feet. A new, lithe and lovely dignity seemed

her cheek, her throat, her hair, her lids, her hands, in turn all brushed his

"I'll never let you go at all. Wait-let

the door an

ere-anywhere, Duane. The Lake. Oh, that is too far away! Wait here on the stairs for me-that isn't so far away-just sit on the stairs until I come