for a few minutes. If we fell into these men's hands, their first act would be to separate us. You must go, my darling, you must."
She gave a deep, heavy, sobbing sigh, and let her head fall on my shoulder.
"It is worse than death to go alone like this."
"It is our only chance for a happier life. You must go, and even these moments of delay are imperilling everything. You must go—and at once. God knows how gladly I would have you stay with me if I dared."
"Then go with me. Captain Zoiloff will" The look on my face checked the sentence. "Oh, I cannot part with you, I cannot!" She moaned in such agony that my heart ached. "We may never meet again."
"We shall meet again with you in safety, do not fear," I said, trying to put a ring of hope into my voice, though my heart echoed her cry. "You must go, my dearest;" and I began to lead her to the door, for every moment now might turn the balance between safety and capture.
As I moved she threw herself into my arms and clung to me convulsively. I held her to my heart; her face was close to me; my lips sought hers, and our very souls seemed to rush together in that kiss.
"Till death, Christina," I whispered passionately.
"Till death, Gerald," she answered; and then with a long, trembling sigh she drew from me. "Oh, how hard is fate!"
"Come, sweetheart," I said; and without another word I led her out to the horses, to where good Zoiloff was waiting with gloomy growing impatience.
I lifted her tenderly to the saddle, and with a last yearning look and a lingering pressure of the hand I turned away, sick and sad with the sorrow of it all.
