Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11

had no idea you would; but you'll
come round all the same in the end. Only
try it" concluded Paulett, with short
| laugh.
Only give me the chancer said
Broughton, answering with another
laugh. Come, old fellow, don't take it
so au grand serieur;; pretty girl is worth
| few shivers, and I'm not obliged to
stay and freeze longer than l like.
| She may be as cold as those stone
| women, but she is long way better
worth looking at than any have seen;
so If you don't unlock the door of the gal
lery, why, shall have to get in at the
| window, that's ALL / don't stick at tri-
| fies, as you know
Paulett did know, and, besides, had no
prete1t for refusing; so Clarence Brough-
ton had his own way, as usual, and made
| Margaret Fane's acquaintance.
He had made light of the matter to
Paulett, but it was not light matter to
him for all that. He had been swayed
| by impulses enough in his life be-
fore, but none that took such entire
| possession of him. His whole heart
was in the venture, and to his i'm
| petuous nature, which circumstances
| had conspired to spoil, the delay and
caution necessary to success were almost
intolerable. His wishes had never
brooked opposition, and it was late to
learn the lesson now
Marguerite was such mystery to hint
Was she indeed SO colds But why, then,
that softness that lay in the depths of
her dreamy eyes, that strange wistful-
ness which lowered about the childlike
curves of her lips? They were not for
4 him IL WAC fr,,a. bt1f ~ fhau xpara box.
| soul might they not one day be for him
if he could only school himself to wait?
AS for that, he could wait any length
OF time, he thought, with such an end
N sight; still, the words were trembling
on his tongue ten times day, and it was
only the fear of running his own cause
that kept them back.
They were spoken at last. 1t was one
morning that he brought her handful
of mountain blossoms which he had
gathered at no little trouble and some
risk. But what did that matter if he
could make her eyes look at him an in
slant with that look which flower,
picture, breath of music, could call in
to them? He had his reward, but the
look faded again as she said:
But, Mr.. Broughton, Lieut. Won An
dernach said these flowers grew only on
the Wasserberg, and that the ascent was
dangerous?"
Lieut.. Won Andernach often talks
nonsense" answered Broughton lightly.
Marguerite looked at him a moment
still and then with sudden movement
dropped them into the rapid stream that
ran foaming through the ravine below.
"That is very fattering," said Brough
ton, biting his lip. Surprising had
risked my life it is pleasant to know
what value you set on it,"
What right have to your life?" said
Marguerite in a low tone. did you
think | would take them at that price?"
"Why not?" he returned, coming and
standing before her. Don't know | am
nothing to you in comparison? Haven't
| seen you look at those senseless things
with look / never could hope for
though would sell myself ten times
over? Haven't seen the tears in your
eyes"
He could see the tears in her eyes now
and they made him pause.
Marguerite" he said, bending down
and taking one of her hands in his, 81
have no right to speak to you so, know,
but you try me beyond my strength.
Since the day saw you / have had no
thought but you, and you are hardly con-
scious of my existence. You live in
world Of your own and see nothing and
care for nothing outside. If l had gone
over the Wasserberg or were lying at the
bottom of that river / dare say
you would not remember it by
tomorrow; you would have the
mountains and the clouds to look
at, and would not miss me.
You are so cold Oh, Marguerite, am /
nothing to your can ] never be any
thing?"
81 don't know" she said, vaguely.
Her face wore look of pain and per-
plexity, but in the eyes she lifted for
moment there was something that was
like revelation to him.
Marguerite" he whispered, "you do
care for me--a little? say, dear?"
81 cannot tell-perhaps; but am so
cold, as you say" with little quiyering
smile; land if am cold, l cannot
change my nature for you"
"As If would have you changer" he
exclaimed, with all lovers incon-
sistency. al love you for what you are
only let me love you. Little Iceberg"
he said, looking fondly down at her;
E" but fire will melt ice"
vi lCC pun out III SHS
with another faint Smile.
81 am not afraid of that" he replied;
and indeed in that first fullness OF his
unlooked-for happiness there was no
room in his thoughts for doubt or fear
for ANYTHING save the feeling that he had
won his life's great stakes; that the
smile that had seemed as far away as a
star was TO be his light henceforth; the
heart that had never known one throb
for another was his own, too, TO quicken
at his will. He was all security in
the present and confidence in the
future: it was an easy thing to wait pa.
tiently, now he had gained so much and
was SO sure of the end.
But this mood did not last; 1t could
not with a character like his. II was
easy, doubtless, before making the trial
to resolve to be patient and give this
girls heart time to learn the lesson love
had begun in it. But patience was pre-,
cisely what Clarence Broughton had
never possessed. He could conquer difii-
culties with an impetuous effort, but he
could not wait to see them vanish OF
themselves. Things in their course never
went fast enough for him; an hour must
do days duty, a week the work OF
4 oh Yn q