Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-03-21

your taste. Writing, thank Heaven, you
confess to be out of your power; but there
still remains one position, where / faith
| fully believe you could not only be happy
yourself, but, what know is of more
consequence to you. where you could make
others supremely So"
| A little deceived by his tone, but still
retaining in her attitude that watchful
readiness for flight, Diana asked him
quietly what it was.
Mr.. Brande was very sure. He laid his
arm lightly against her waist, and said,
gently: 1T is, Diana, to be my wife. viii
you marry me?''
Diana was amazed at her own compo-
sure. Instead Of swiftly relieving herself
of his half embrace and leaving him to
gather his answer from her embrace, she
acted on newer impulse. She loosen
ed the clasp of his arm, and said, with
that composure which was death to hope:
"No, Mr.. Brande, / will not"
She waited then few moments ; not
trying to steady her brain, for it was new
er clearer; not trying to calm her agita-
ton, for her heart had never beaten more
softly, more equally; but only to hear
some remonstrance from the lips OF her
lover None came She heard only the
long roll of the broken and angry surf
the tiny, soft sound of the rain-drops that
fell more gently at this moment on the
wet leaves and the echoless grass; the
whisper of the dreary wind, which rested
just now, after its passionate rage OF lit
tie while ago. In the midst of Diana's
composure, at the bottom of her quietude
there may perhaps have been some strange
nameless pang She drew her breath as
with an effort, she spoke little haughti-
lv-this, too, may have been for the bet
ter sustaining of her part
II did not think" she said, with lifted
head, "to meet SO strange proof OF your
compassion when / weakly betrayed some
part of my petty griefs. / value your
pity, sir, because know you; but can
not accept it for love"
Mr.. Brande interrupted her quickly
''Be just, at least. love you, or all the
power of Heaven should not induce me
to ask your hand"
81 thank you the more" Diana returned,
with lofty comprehension, "that you have
deceived yourself before attempting to de-
ceiye me-"
Again Diana paused Again futter-
ing sick pain at heart prophesied evil to
come. She was Just turning away, when
everything suddenly changed. The lovely
night oppressed her. She felt so weak,
so powerless; she looked round suddenly,
and with childlike action laid her hand
upon the shoulder that was but dimly de-
fined through the darkness.
"Won't you promise me-" she said, in
strangely different tone, "tO be my
friend always, and never, never to say
again anything that you have said to-
night?"
He held her hand close in his cold firm
Anything" he answered, con one con-
dition. Will you promise, in turn, that
if your decision should ever change you
will tell me? For l love you. And a
year, or two years, or ten, will find me as
faithful as at this moment"
Diana's head dropped; there was a
little silence. Then she said, softly
81 will never change. But promise"
Mr.. Brande pressed her little hands yet
more closely; he bent his head low and
softly kissed them. And then, with her
cheeks on fire, Diana went away. In the
weary weeks that followed Mr.. Brande's
immediate departure, Diana had full time
to think of and to applaud her own de-
cision, and to congratulate herself upon
her courage in accepting servitude in
| place OF pity. The trouble was, that into
her musings there sometimes crept pale,
spectral doubt Was she quate sure that
| it was pity which Mr. Brande had offered
her? Had not the morbid and most
wretched pride of close-hugged misery
somewhat to do with her answer? In
very truth it would be sweet to be loved
by such man. And then, breaking in
upon her musings, would come Mrs. Cor
don's grating, complaining yoice-"Was
not that an unfortunate shade of ribbon,
and was she quite certain that two ends
would not be better than three? And
might not the strings look better if they
were shorter-say half an inch? Had the
darling little dog had his airing? And
did he seem quite well--not trifle Ian
guild perhaps?" With thousand more
such weighty questions. Making, oh!
how strong and bitter contrast with
that picture-well preserved in the COM
panion's heart-of the future which had
Cnce been offered her; which still, per-
haps, lay temptingly before her.
In very truth, the days grew strangely
wearier. But it was six months before
Louis Brande came again.
Mrs. Gordon wondered what he could
POSSIBLY nave COtnc lOT. ne certainty
told me-" she said, that he would remain
at least year in Europe" And then
"Don't sit so near the fire, Diana it
makes Inc uncomfortable to see your
cheeks SO red"
Dianas cheeks were red and warm,
but the fire had not much to do with
either.
Mr. Brande had been there week, and
had said not a word to remind Diana of
that stormy night upon the gallery. But
from morning till night his deep asking
eyes followed her. She remembered, and
she saw that he did, the promise she had
exacted; and-great heaven!-the one
that she had given in return. Now, pride
and truth had many a bitter struggle.
Diana grew, if possible, paler every day,
her large eyes larger, her heart more un-
quiet. And Mr.. Brande, watching her
with loves president eyes, waited pa.
tiently.
One morning she came to him where he
sat alone, looking beautiful. Her cheeks
were very brightly dyed, her lips droop.
ing. Her manner was radiant, though so
very quiet. She held out both her hands,
and said simply with her whole heart-'1
| no va roma to COW I moc %ol1