The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-11-29

Vernon, who had been sought after and
been beloved by half the habitnes Of the
place.
Acton was not at that season of the year
very well patronized. But some Of the
ton had sought it for an earlier recupera-
ton than was their won't and gaiety, and
music, and enjoyment, ruled the hour. As
I the only woman around whom his love CEN
tered, the miner had fallen under her
witcheries, and he had at last acknowl-
edged his love for her. But she, in re-
turn, had confessed love for him, but
vaguely intmating that darksome mystic
ry enveloped her life, and saying that she
could not wed him then, she had led him
on in love for her which had, at last, de-
manded, and received the present inter
view ~
You was unreasonable, my dear Eu
gene" said the woman, as with a sweet
smile she allowed him to lead her to a seat
on the messy height, far overlooking the
sea.
Unreasonable :" he echoed, reproach-
fully. ''Iou call me unreasonable for low
ing you and craving your sweet presence
You do not know the agony suffer away
from you.
80 spoke Eugene AllertOn.
She huttered up to him, coyly, as his
arm impulsively clasped her waist.
You knew l would come, dear Eugene,
she said, in low, persuasive tones. You
knew that | would not disappoint you,
when | SO love you-when my thoughts
and dreams are of but you-of you alone.
A wild, ecstatic gladneSs thrilled the
mans being as he listened to her honeyed
accents As mighty ocean engulfs and
devours the little rivulet which meanders
into its bosom so was his love for innocent
Myrtle Adams all swallowed up and lost
BY this more powerful and more passionate
love In that moment Of the most supreme
passion he forgot all save that he held to
his bosom the woman whose graces were
wiles and whose loveliness but hid a dark
some, conniving mind. He knew it not,
it is doubtful if he cared. He only felt that
her subtle witcheries had so entranced him
that there was no longer an identity sepa-
rate from an existence as her lover, as the
rightful possessor Of her Juno-hke mag
nIhicence.
IL love you = he cried, in his emotion.
''Oh Why is it that you withhold from
me the secret that you cannot wed me
now D.
''Secret = she repeated, coldness com
ing into her manner and her voice. II was
not aware that held a secret from you.
Her companlonfeellng the withdrawal OF
the womans form In new excess OF love,
drew her to him still closer. He was so
madly infatuated with her that he had |
rather let any dark mystery rest upon her
than to lose her by any investigation of the !
secret.
Forgive me, he said. Il spoke with
out thinking | do not care to know your
secret, if secret there be.
Beatrice Vernon's eyes we're glowing
like fire. Il
You must tell me, )" she iterated. II
demand % ssassw ths -ssn, n,s,,osed secret tof
which you refer. You cannot love me and /
bear in mind suspicion as to my perfect |
love for you.
You must have some secret, for you
r9suse to wed me.
NO" said the woman, II have no Sc
cret, but l cannot wed you now. You have |
honored me by asking me to become your
wife, but l cannot accede to your request |
until you have been fully satisfied that |
am what you think me-a woman who has |
loved you only for yourself alone"
Eugene Allerton started and looked at
the woman by his side in a strange sur
prise.
IF | ever believed that you loved me |
from any selfish designs 1 would never |
have asked you to become my wife. |
| trust you fully and unreservedly."
81 do not mean that, replied the wo-
man. in tone of voice which indicated
hidden undercurrent Of pertlnacity and
resolution. Eugene, as you love me, !
wish to know what your friend, Mr..
Darlington, says Of me.
"Mr. Darlington My friend =
eyes, you treat him as if he were an in
innate companion"
''You are in error He is but casual
"And he has not referred to me; he has
not vituperated me as a woman Of whom
nothing but Irritation and trifing might be
expected
The rising color in Eugene Allerton's
face showed how daring would be the man
who could cast word Of disrepute upon
the woman of his choice A new fervor |
burned high in his breast as he saw the |
sparkle of gladness and JOY come into
Miss Nernon's eyes He little knew that |
it was but caused by feeling of relief, for |
the woman was even then congratulating |
herself upon the successful working of all |
her plans.
81 have not asked you all this, she
sand, sweetly, 'believing that you would |
credit what you might have heard, but be- |
cause know that there is no woman, un- |
protected and lonely, as | am, who may
hope to escape the scathing torgues Of |
the gossips Of a place like this. There are |
two men here who have not only followed |
me with opportunities to wed them, but |
who, disappointed at the failure of their |
hopes to gain me, have done all in their |
Jealous power to humble me and degrade |
me in the estimation of others. You |
would not credit them, Eugene r.
She played her part well, and the soft |
and touching pathos of her voice and the |
pleading eloquence Of her gestures so in
fiuenced the man that he folded her closer, |
murmuring endearing words Of love into |
her ear.
81 would believe you if the world were |
against you, he fervently cried.
Then promise me that you will, when |
ever you hear one word against me or |
against my honor, cone to me and give |
me the opportunity of proving that ieal- |
ousy and malice are seeking an unfair ad- |
vantage Of my loneliness and isolation
from fatherly and brotherly protection.
Il promise you.
''And, perhaps" pursued the woman,
in voice which indicated that soft en-
treaty SO very effective when it shows |
woman weak relisnce upon the strength |
and love Of man, 81 may tell you before |
IoDer xrhv T cannot h.c0rna voIlr hV ida now |
Much as | love you and fully as you de- |
serve my truest and most earnest conf |
dence and trust, can only ask you to
wait"
She paused, furtively, and to the man
unperceivedly, watching the play Of fine
emotions upon his handsome features. He |