over him; he could not tell
why, but he was sure that some one else was beside him, some one who
was not the soldier. Something soft and delicate and sweet came into
existence, permeating the darkness with its undeniable presence. A queer
power seemed drawing him toward the other end of the seat. The most
delightful sensations took possession of him; his heart fluttered oddly;
his head began to reel under the spell.

"Who are you?" he cried, in a sort of ecstacy. There was no answer. He
remembered his matchsafe, and with trembling, eager fingers drew it
from the pocket of the coat he was wearing. The next instant he was
scratching a match, but as it flared the body of his companion was
hurled against his and a ruthless mouth blew out the feeble blaze.

"Oh, why do you persist?" was cried in his ears.

"I am determined to see your face," he answered, sharply, and with a
little cry of dismay the other occupant of the carriage fell back in
the corner. The next match drove away the darkness and the mystery. With
blinking eyes he saw the timid soldier huddling in the corner, one arm
covering his face, the other hand vainly striving to pull the skirt of
a military coat over a pair of red trouser-legs. Below the arm that
hid the eyes and nose he saw parted lips and a beardless, dainty chin;
above, long, dark tresses strayed in condemning confusion. The breast
beneath the blue coat heaved convulsively.

The match dropped from his fingers, and, as darkness fell again, it hid
the soldier in the strong arms of the fugitive--not a soldier bold, but
a gasping, blushing, unresisting coward. The lithe form quivered and
then became motionless in the fierce, straining embrace; the head
dropped upon his shoulder, his hot lips caressing the burning face and
pouring wild, incoherent words into the little ears.

"You! You!" he cried, mad with joy. "Oh, this is Heaven itself! My brave
darling! Mine forever--mine forever! You shall never leave me now! Drive
on! Drive on!" he shouted to the men outside, drunk with happiness.
"We'll make this journey endless. I know you love me now--I know it!
God, I shall die with joy!"

A hand stole gently into his hand, and her lips found his in a long,
passionate kiss.

"I did not want you to know! Ach, I am so sorry! Why, why did I come
to-night? I was so strong, so firm, I thought, but see how weak I
am. You dominate,--you own me, body and soul, in spite of
everything,--against my will. I Love yo