The Powers and Maxine

d. "I can't think now. I must trust to luck-trust to luck," I said to myse

nd swift than miserable Maxine's. When Princess Hélène had died in her lover's arms, however (died as Maxine had not deserved to die), and I was able to

way-Raoul, my best beloved, whose help and protection

ady waiting at the door of my little boudoir by the time Hélène had died, the

ly in his, and kissing them over and over again. But his face was pale and sad,

inside my head another question sounded like a shriek. "What

Perhaps it's because you didn't belong to me in those days. Or is it that you were more realistic in your acting to-night than ever before? Anyway, it was awful-so horribly real. It was all I could do to sit st

would have kill

. I admit that I'm jealous. But such jealousy is a

" I exclaimed. "Even

n I love is

e rest of the men I know?" I lau

't in me. Do you despis

dering every instant, in a kind of horr

f the stage, away into some beautiful, peaceful world, where we need think of nothing but our love for each oth

with you to-morrow, away into that beautifu

it is, after that scene of your death on the stage, where I couldn't get to you-where another man was your lover-to touch you again, alive and warm, your own adorable, viv

be seen leaving the theatre together-yet, until everyone knew that we were engaged. As for letting him come to me at home, if he dreamt how my head

I've been looking forward to for days," he said,

I asked quickly, my coward co

eling, of course, I suppose all the fault of that last scene

say it,"

if I were in danger of losing you. It's just a feeling-a w

. Think of to-morrow. Meeting then will be all the sweeter." As I spoke, it was as if a voice

o the voice, and

show you-something you'll like very much. W

she was not in the least excited, because she had loyally expected me to succeed, and would have thought the sky must be about to fall if I had failed. She was as placid as she was on other, less

that nothing on earth-short of a bomb explosion-could tempt the good creature out of my dressing-room in my abs

k to her I took out tray after tray from the box (which always came with us to the theatre and went

t tassels depending from it. But the smallest stones at the back, where the clasp came, were as large as my little finger nail, and the largest were almost the size of a filbert. All were of perfect colou

ag of pink and silver brocade which lay on the table. It was a foolish but pretty little bag, which a friend had made and sent to me at the theatre a few nights ago, and was inten

from the theatre, so that there would be no danger of his seeing Count Godensky at the stage door. I was not sorry that Raoul was jealous, because, as he said, his jealousy was a compliment to me; and it is possible only for

what to say-whether truth or fiction. Still, I wished Raoul to have the necklace to-night, because it would mean all the difference to him between constant, gnawing anxiety

in two hard knots, and went out w

it, you'll be more resigned not to see me-just for tonight. But you're to write me a letter, please, and describe accurately every one of your sensations on opening the bag. Also, you may say in your letter a few kind t

ft mass of pink and silver from me, in the nice, cl

up my face to be kissed, and he bundled the small bag away in an inside pocket of h

eard, for he had me in his arms and was kissing me as if he knew

omething prec