Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/159

“That’s the most unique production I’ve seen for a long time”, he said musingly. But his strange attitude and the brief silence that ensued unnerved the girl, and for a long time after puzzled her—until weeks later when she read his sonnet ‘Betwixt the Sun and Me”.

“Now listen, Mr. Kabel!” she remarked. This isn’t the time for idle fantasies. Those things are stolen, and your presence here with them in your possession ought to sober you up, because you’ll have to explain how and why you got them”.

“Yes, I suppose I ought to be serious if you are”, he rejoined conclusively, turning towards the golden cups. “You say these are stolen, but I say they are found. And since you are the first one to pay me a congratulatory visit, I’m going to give you this pretty small one”.

“Now, Mr. Kabel! Take your hands off that chalice and let it alone”, she urged excitedly.

“Oh, drop that Mr. Kabel stuff and make it plain Hilair. Rimes better with Claire anyhow. I’m just thinking that those two would make a passable couplet”. He looked at the treasures of his find while saying that, but she knew it was not of them he spoke. “I’m telling you”, he continued, feeling complimented by her acknowledging smile, “You can have one of these as a souvenir. Perhaps, you would like this larger, lidded one better”.

“You let those be, I say. They’re consecrated”, she shot at him, and, stepping closer, briskly slapped his outstretched hand. “If you wouldn’t look so dense and silly, I’d surely believe you ‘copped’ them from the convent a week ago”. He merely looked at her like a school boy, nursing his whipped hand. Then stretching it forth he touched her fingers which, however, she quickly withdrew.

“Are those consecrated, too?” he teased, grinning roguishly. She did not feign ignorance with “Those what?”, but with a frank and comprehending smile answered. “I wish they were, so I could without a scruple take the sacred vessels where they belong”.

Claire found him both interested and interesting, and as briefly as she could, explained the sacredness of a consecrated chalice; and also how dearly the Sisters valued this present of appreciation from the Cardinal. He listened attentively, and if he distracted her in any way, he did not do so with words.

The twilight shadows were thickening in the quiet valley when the girl started at the sound of footfalls on the sand without.

“They are coming already”, she whispered alarmingly, her hazel eyes looking excitedly into his blue ones.

“They, who?” he asked, his friendly, calm gaze hinting to the girl that other feelings than those of guilt occupied his soul. “They’re coming to arrest you for this theft”, she continued, her ruby lips accentuating the paleness of her cheeks. “Oh, I should have warned you and taken you away—I was the one who told them you were here. Oh, forgive