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“l BEGGED MV FATHER ON MY BENDED KNEE FOR LENIENCE, BUT LIE WAS 1^1 MOVABLE”
Berton Gregory — a man whose attentions seemed as so many insults to me. And that very Sir Berton Gregory lives today, Philip, and is near to your life. Beloved, he is Claude Hope.”
“Claude Hope ! My wife's lov !”
“Yes, Philip; the very same — and our — murderer !”
“Murderer! The ”
"Oh, hush, my beloved ; remember
to whom you speak ”
"Dorothy — mystical, wonderful ”
The white hand was raised and the distant voice continued: “We were
forced to meet clandestinely — it was winter then, and we skated together on Lake Sweetbriar, that tiny gem set in wooded banks a mile away. It seemed that our loves' rhythm matched the rhythm of our bodies as we swung over the ice on our curl-tipped, gleaming skates — the stinging wind from the downs and woods in our faces — midsummer love in our hearts ”
Philip gripped his chair-arm. “I am — remembering,” he choked. “Oh, Dorothy — I — remember— — ”
“I was forced to become betrothed to Sir Gregory/’ she continued; “I begged my father on my bended knee for lenience, but he was immovable — and the betrothal was consummated.
“From that time on, Sir Gregory constituted himself my guardian and keeper — jealous, vengeful, vicious.
"We stole our meetings — you and I — grasping our fleet, surcharged moments to our bleeding hearts — loving with the terrific abandon of a love repressed.
"One day — it was springtide again — we met in these very woods. You were importunate that day — my poor beloved — and I was weak with longing. Forgetful of all but our mighty need — heedless of everything but our hunger for each other — we clung together — and behind a tree was Gregory.
"When we parted he stole upon you — -and killed you. I heard the scuffle — your moan. I ran back to our trysting place, and you were there — dead — the life-blood leaving my heart — my heart — in your breast. I think I died in that instant, tho I lived two months or more. But I loved you, Philip, beloved, with a love that had become my very life — such a love as even eternity cannot quell nor abate.
“After your death, Gregory made my life horrible. With the torturing memory of your dead lips before me, his kisses repulsed me to the breaking point. His amorous advances sent me into revulsions unspeakable. I felt that I was harrowed beyond endurance and I longed for the sweet peace to which you. had gone.
“It became my habit to wander about our old haunts — our trysting tree — the stone bridge over the river — the orchard where primroses grew and
( Fortysix)