mutes. Seeing that Frank was free, the man cowered near the door. He was afraid. He looked appealingly at the Princess, who motioned him imperiously to come forward. Still cowering, he came into the room slowly, step by step. But, as he ministered to Frank, bandaging his arm expertly, his apprehensive glance darted hither and thither, as though he feared attack. When he had completed his task, the man departed. There was a long silence. A clock on the mantelpiece struck three. The Princess moved about the room restlessly. “Your arm is easier now?” she asked. But he gave her no answer. She looked at him, and saw that he was leaning back with his head against the back of the low chair. His fair hair was disordered, his eyes were closed, his lips were slightly parted. “Mr Mi-chelle! Mr Mi-chelle!” she cried, for she had a sudden panic fear that he was dead. She ran to his side, fell on her knees, and put her fare close to his. There was about him a terrible listlessness. She placed her cheek against his parted lips, out she could not feel his breath. Gently she placed her hand upon his heart, but she could not feel it beat. “Oh, he is dead 1 I have killed him 1” she cried. Then suddenly she put her lips to his as though to give him life. But he did not move. Almost frantic with fear and despair, ehe rose to her feet, ran to a cupboard near the door, and took therefrom brandy and a siphon of soda water. She mixed a strong drifik, and, in a second, was back again at Frank’s side. She put the glass to and poured the liquid into his mouth. But he did not swallow it. It dribbled from his lips. So she put her arm gently round his neck and slowly tilted his head backwards. Then, a second time, she poured the lifereviving fluid between his parted lips, trembling with apprehension as she did so. He seemed to swallow it, and presently his eyelids began to tremble and flicker. He sighed gently. He lived I The sudden relief from anxiety brought tears to her eyes. Fearing that, as soon as he was fully conscious, he would once more revile her, she released his head and moved away, watching him as she did so. She saw him open his eyes wide and stare wonderingly about him. She could have cried out with gladness. Feeling this strange ioy within her heart, she recognised for the first time that she loved him. At last love had come into her life-'-a love both tender and fierce—a love that seemed to ennoble her and lift her on to undreamed-of heights of happiness. (To be continued.)
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19250721.2.231
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 3723, 21 July 1925, Page 55
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464Untitled Otago Witness, Issue 3723, 21 July 1925, Page 55
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