The Lighted Match

He straightened up and took her in his arms. "I know how you have

settled it," he said, "but I have stolen you. The anchor is coming up.

You love me--I have claimed what is mine. It is now beyond your power,

your responsibility."

"No, it is not," she softly denied. "I will not marry you--but I love

you--I love you!"

"You mean that if I hold you my prisoner you will still not be my wife?"

he incredulously demanded.

Slowly she nodded her head.

The man gazed off with the eyes of one stunned and slowly fought himself

back into control before he trusted his voice. After a while, he raised

his face and spoke in fragmentary sentences, his voice pitched low, his

words broken.

"But you said--just now--back there on the road--you wished someone

stronger than yourself--would take you away somewhere--beyond the Milky

Way."

His tones strengthened and suddenly he almost sang out with recovered

resolution, speaking buoyantly and triumphantly.

"Dearest, I am stronger than you, and I'm going to take you away--I'm

going to take you beyond the Milky Way, to the uttermost stars of Love.

How can it matter to me how far, if you are there?"

Again she shook her head.

"No, dear," she whispered, "you are not so strong as I, in this, because

I am strong enough to say No when my heart says only Yes--and because

Fate is stronger than any of us."

"Boat ahoy!" came a voice from the crow's nest.

"They have come for you," he said, speaking as through a fog. "Show them

here," he shouted to an officer who was hurrying to the gangway.

Two figures came over the side, and slowly followed the first officer

forward. One was a Capuchin monk, bearing himself rigidly; at his side

strode a Bedouin, bedraggled, but erect and military of bearing. The

original Arab turned with a sudden sag of the shoulders and looked

helplessly out at the path of silver that stretched across the water

below, to the moon, now sunk close to the horizon. He waved one hand in

a gesture of submission and despair, and stood silent.

The gipsy girl, standing near, took a sudden step forward and stood

close to him us the others approached.

"They may take me back if they wish to, now," she said, with a suddenly

upflaring defiance. "But they shall find me like this!" And she flung

her arms about his neck and kissed him.