Kiss me; it is the last kiss I shall take from the lips of
any man."
And it seemed to me that our souls met in that last kiss, melted and
became one. Her hands dropped to her side, and swiftly she sped from
the room.
She had entered the coach. The cavalrymen were perched upon the box.
There was a crack of the lash, and the coach rolled away. I watched
it, standing in the road. A cloud of yellow dust partially obscured it
from view. Half a mile beyond rose a small hill. This the coach
mounted, and the red gold of the smoldering sun engulfed it. Was it a
face I saw at the window? Perhaps. Then over the hill all
disappeared, and with it the whole world, and I stood in emptiness,
alone.
Gretchen had gone.
CHAPTER XV
I was wandering aimlessly through the rose gardens, when the far-off
sound of galloping hoofs came on the breeze. Nearer and nearer it
drew. I ran out into the highway. I saw a horse come wildly dashing
along. It was riderless, and as it came closer I saw the foam of sweat
dripping from its flanks and shoulders. As the animal plunged toward
me, I made a spring and caught the bridle, hanging on till the brute
came to a standstill.
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