Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-11-30

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s. sE-&1.sses1 - = .s1fstsfx1Z Z z< 81 ~
..szuu.I........
ksve been waiting - - - = ~
/ ls$t hour tor you - 4; q l
Somehow ke ssartled E & lans lannss
gnage conveyed 4 diiI<rei Eufihe
thai, the isxsse words IN e16S ~ inan's
mouth, 5.na sireaes Conva - eirl
who had heen swooed b. 1pvers.
and who was 50 sure she r. Fly un-
| derstood mems hearts and <& y WAYS
was confounded somehow = vague
impefuosity Of this mans me- ~-eon.
founded, half plessed and Irl 1ioued
at the next words be said.
walk further this way. ~. Yon-
der Is summer-house, snd 6&ot You
a few minuses." e
Ireue lifted her shouldels . ees-
ture quite nasural to her = \ little
jisp.eased. = she felt hertz MA
Rvx Eyrvtonss iInpefSo0<1fa ~.
| II i, delightful out here. Mr.. Eyer
lon. hate summer-houses."
She looked at him with well assumed
nonchalence in her eyes-those mag.
nificent eyes that sent such quivers
through and through him.
Then the pain on his face made hel
| regret almost her curt words: and as
they walked on, she thought what q
grand man he was, how royally he
would WOO, how proudly wear the
trophy when won-and how she loved
| him
Then all her pride and anger few to
arms at his imperious demand, uttered
in low. intense tone:
But particularly request it, Irene.
Come"
Her whole nature felt the womanli.
ness, the happiness of yielding to his
will, and with half-laugh. she stepped
into the open, breezy structure. and
sat carelessly down on the long wooden
seat.
Now, Mr.. Egerton -
She looked up, with enhancing lights
in her eyes.
He was standing in front of her, look.
ing eagerly at her, with an expression
on his face that a man might wear who
has deliberately come face to face with
his destiny-such a look in his eyes,
eager determined, passionate, that a
man ight wear when he knew he was
taking his fate in his own hands.
His low, eager words broke the ST.
lence Of that second that was tinsing
lrene's cheeks with faint, unusual da-
mask.
"Do you love me? That is what
want to know-that is what I waited to
hear you say-what | came to YOU to
have you tell me. Answer me-do you
love me ~
1t fairly took her breath, this fierce,
passionate wooing from the man she
had thought an iceberg-this lover.
who never had limited word Of more
than friendly regard: took her breath,
almost, and yet delighted her-,his girl,
whose heart and soul bowed in humble
allegiance to him.
Yet something, away down in the
lower part OF her nature. arose in re-
bellion that any man-even Rex, her
king-shouid demand a confession OF
love before he had given an avowal;
and with that sudden uprising, all the
latent coquetry in her nature, that is
in every woman's nature, upro>e with
it. She raised her dark eyebrows sur
prisedly.
.'As if |, or any other woman, would
listen TO such question! The idea,
MIR. Egerton, of asking il you are be-
loved by woman TO whom you never
gave the first intimaiion of regard be-
fore :"
But yom know what I mean when
ak YOU. You know, a. well a. though
] had been at your feet for a year, that
you are the one woman i'm the world
for me, and that love you with pas
sion that is deathless a. intense ~
Her heart was throbbing madly un-
der that calm, smiling exterior. He
loved her--he loved her, this splendid,
strengthtul man And yet not even he
should share her love, unless he sued
more humbly than this.
''Oh, then, by the royal right, you
are privileged to ask me what questions
you please: only Mr.. Egerton. don't be
too certain"
Certain that you love me, know
You do, as well as do you, only you
do not choose to say so-only you will
not yield the Loyalty your heart urges
you to give. Irene, once asain-do you
love me :"
She knew, now, imperiousness and
ccquetry on her part would never con-
quer him-she knew, now, there was
another way. Should she let him see.
let him know. just little Of her heart:
So she tackled of, thoughtfullv, twist
ing her rings, while he waited in a gust
Of agony for her answer. ve,y soft.
and sweet, and maddening, it came.
''Mr. Egerton, women do not care TO
confess all they feel when their suit
ors are eager to take 80 much for
granted"
Surely now he would follow her lead
surely now he would lose that white.
intense look, and smile at her, aud call
her darling,-snd kiss her.
She was deceived in her mental es,i-
mate of him-so ignorant of the depth
of his capacity for worship-so unable
to comprehend the fears OF such a soul
as bis.
He did nothing she hoped he would.
Instead. he only stepped nearer. and
then he looked straight down into her
eyes.
Women cannot hide hat they feel:
nor am taking anything for granted.