[The Secret Power by Marie Corelli]@TWC D-Link book
The Secret Power

CHAPTER V
2/11

In her adoration of the strength and magnificent physique of the stranger whom she knew only as a stranger, she thought he looked splendid as a god descending from the hill.

Far from feeling god-like, he frowned as he saw her.
"Where are you going ?" he demanded, brusquely.
The rich colour warmed her cheeks to a rose-red that matched the sunset.
"I was going--to see if you--if you wanted anything"-- she stammered, almost humbly.
"You know I do not"-- he said--"You can spare yourself the trouble." She drew herself up with a slight air of offence.
"If you want nothing why do you come down into the valley ?" she asked.
"You say you hate the Plaza!" "I do!" and he spoke almost vindictively--"But, at the moment, there's some one there I want to see." Her black eyes opened inquisitively.
"A man ?" "No.

Strange to say, a woman." A sudden light flashed on her mind.
"I know!" she exclaimed--"But you will not see her! She has gone!" "What do you mean ?" he asked, impatiently--"What do you know ?" "Oh, I know nothing!" and there was a sobbing note of pathos in her voice--"But I feel HERE!"-- and she pressed her hands against her bosom--"something tells me that you have seen HER--the little wonderful white woman, sweetly perfumed like a rose,--with her silks and jewels and her fairy car!--and her golden hair...

ah!--you said you hated a woman with golden hair! Is that the woman you hate ?" He stood looking at her with an amused, half scornful expression.
"Hate is too strong a word"-- he answered--"She isn't worth hating!" Her brows contracted in a frown.
"I do not believe THAT!"-- she said--"You are not speaking truly.

More likely it is, I think, you love her!" He caught her roughly by the arm.
"Stop that!" he exclaimed, angrily--"You are foolish and insolent! Whether I love or hate anybody or anything is no affair of yours! How dare you speak to me as if it were!" She shrank away from him.


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