him to pause and raise his eyes to hers.

For an instant they stood thus, the eyes of the man sinking deep into the

eyes of the maid, and then hers closed and with a little sigh that was half

gasp, she swayed toward him, and the Devil of Torn folded the King's niece

in his mighty arms and his lips placed the seal of a great love upon those

that were upturned to him.

The touch of those pure lips brought the man to himself.

"Ah, Bertrade, my Bertrade," he cried, "what is this thing that I have

done ! Forgive me, and let the greatness and the purity of my love for you

plead in extenuation of my act."

She looked up into his face in surprise, and then placing her strong white

hands upon his shoulders, she whispered:

"See, Roger, I am not angry. It is not wrong that we love; tell me it is

not, Roger."

"You must not say that you love me, Bertrade. I am a coward, a craven

poltroon; but, God, how I love you."

"But," said the girl, "I do love -- "

"Stop," he cried, "not yet, not yet. Do not say it till I come again. You

know nothing of me, you do not know even who I be; but when next I come, I

promise that ye shall know as much of me as I myself know, and then,

Bertrade, my Bertrade, if you can then say, 'I love you' no power on earth,

or in heaven above, or hell below shall keep you from being mine !"

"I will wait, Roger, for I believe in you and trust you. I do not

understand, but I know that you must have some good reason, though it all

seems very strange to me. If I, a De Montfort, am willing to acknowledge

my love for any man, there can be no reason why I should not do so,

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