, 1884-12-25

was now about 70 plead FOR It.
Once more I say. IL you condemn me
throw the book aside.
Philippa. with her eyes half closed, was,
as was usual at that hour, sitting In the pa
ito. In her land she held a sprig of orange
blossoms, and over and anon inhaled its do
lcioua perfume; an action. by tho by.
scarcely neadful, as the whole air was redo
lont Of the fragrance thrown from the great
tree in the contro Of the marble space. She
was, or fanciod she was, alone, as some little
time before / had left the court to obtain a
fresh supply Of cigarettes; and my mother,
who could mover quite adapt herself to tho
se~mLopen-air life, was taking n aiesta in the
drawing room. As 1 saw Philippn in all her
glowing beauty, tho white marble against
which she leaned making as II were a suit
able foil to the warm color Of her cheek-tho
long, curved, black, downcast lashes-tho
bosom rising and falling gently-like an in
s~piration the thought came to mo that in n
minute my fate would be decided. Heavensl
how could lave waited so long to hear the
words which l knew she would sayf
/ crept noiselessiy to her side. passed
my arm round her waist and drew her TO
me-. whispered words of passionate lovo
in hor ear-words, the confidence Of which
startled mo; but then this time ] knew that
my love Of years was 10 DO rewarded.
She did not shrink away; sho did not
struggle to free herself, but she trembled
like a leaf In my embrace. She sighed
deeply, even hopelessly, and I saw the tears
yelling in hor dark eyes Closer and hriner
/ hold her, and kissed her cheek again and
aRnin. Had that moment been my last /
should have said that l had not lived IN
vain.
"%Phnippa,n l whispered. my queen. my
love, toll me you love me at last.n
She WIS silent. The tears broke from her
eyes and ran down her checks. l kissed the
signs OF sorrow away.
Dearest" / said, at Is answer enough
that you suffer these kisses, but l have
waited 50 long-been so unhappy; look nj
me and satisfy me; let mo hear you say, Il
love your"
She turned her fearful eyes to mine. but
not for long. She cast her looks upon the
ground and was still silent Yet she lay un-
resisting III my arms. That, after all, was
the true answer.
Bull must have It from her lips TEL
mo, dearest-tell me once" ! prayed.
Her lips quivored: her bosom rose and fell.
Tho blush sproad from her check and stole
down her white neck.
"Ncs," she ~murfnured, ''now that IL is too
lat,, ! love YOU
laughed a wild laugh. l claspod Plilippa
to my breast
TOO later / cried. 1--WE may have fifty
years Of happiness"
at is loo inte.'' sho answcred. "For your
Eaks l have told you that l love you. Basil.
My love, | win kiss you once-then loose
me, and lot US say farewell"
"When death closes tho eyes Of one Of US
we will say farc0eil-not until them ! said.
as my lips mot hers ia a long and rapturous
kiss
Then with a sigh she gently but firmly
/ frnal hnr-1nIf frnvtt as rtt A1t. ~ 4ra
stool on the marble floor, face TO face, gaz-
Ing IN zach others eyes.
Basil she said, softly. 'nll this must be
forgotten Say farewell tomorrow We
must partr
Dearest, our livos henceforth aro one"
at cannot be. Spare me, Basili You
have bcon kind TO mo. IL cannot be-"
"Whyl Tell me whyf'
"Whyi need you nakf You bear an
honorcd and respected mama; and J., you
know what | ana shnned woman"
"A wrongcd woman, IL may 10, not a
shamed one"
"Ahi Basil, In this world. when a woman
Is concerned, wronged and shamed mean
tho same thing. You have been as a bro
ther TO me ! came 10 you In my trouble;
you saved my life-my reason. Bo kinder
still, and spare me the pain OF pnining you
by look, by word, by gesture, she seemed
20 Doaeecn me. Tn, now ! longed TO Tel
her that l firmly believed she was tho dead
mans wifoi l had much difficulty in
checking tho words which we're forming on
my lips But I dared not speak. Telling
hor that the marriage was n valid one meant
hat ! must tell her OF her husbands death,
and. It might be. how he died.
"Philippa,n l said, 'tho whole happiness
Of my life, my every desire IS centred upon
making you my wife. Think, doarest, how
when had no right 10 demand the gift my
life was mado desolate; think what it will
DO when l know you love mo and yet refuse
to DO minei Have I been true to you,
Philippar'
"Hoavon knows you have"
Then why, now that you love me, refuse
mo my rewardf'
"Oh, spare mel l cannot, / will not
give IL Basil, dear Basil, why with your
talents should you marry the c~ast-of-mis-
tress-of Sir Mcrvyn Ferrandi Why should
you blush TO show your wife TO tho worldf r.
"Blushi Tho world What Is my world
save youf You are all to me, sweetest
You love me-what moro do | wantf Before
this time next week we will DO marriod.n
Mover, novori I will not wrong the man
love. Basil. farewell foreverr'
She clasped her hands and fed wildly
across the court ! caught her at tho door,
which sho had reached and half opened.
promise me one thing" l said; 'promiss
you win wait here until my return. shall
not DO FIVE minutes. IL is not much to ask,
Phfippa.n
Philippa bent her head as in assent l
passed through tho doors, and In a few min
utcs returned to tho patio, accompanied by
my mother, who glanced from Philippa TO
mo In a surprised way.
"What is the matterf' sho asked, with her
cheerful smilo- .Havo you two young peo-
plo been quarrellingf'
Phillppn made no ans er. She stood with
her fingers in~terlaced; her eyes cast on the
ground.
Mother" / sad, ~ have to-day asked
Phfippa to be my wife. l have told her
that all my happiness depends upon her con-
sent 10 this l havo loved her for years;
and at last she loves me. Yes, she loves
me-"
Ny mother gave n little cry Of pleasurs,
and stepped forward. l checked her.
al love her, and she loves me- / con-
unued. "But she refuses to marry me.
And whyi Because she fears to bring shame
on an honorable name You know her
story; you are my mother. You. OF all poo
plo In the world. should be tho most jealous
as 10 the honor OF my name. You should
know whom you would choose for my wife.
Tell her
! said no mora My nsothar advanced
with outstrotehed arms, and in a moment
my poor girl was weeping in her embrace.
while words which l could not hear, but
whose purport I could well guess. were DO
ing whispered to her. I had indeed been
right in trusting to my mothers noble
nature.
Leave us for n little while. BASIL she
said, rs Philippa still sobbed upon her shout
der. Come back In a quarter OF al hour.
time"
10 BE- nsnifnueil
prr6nmerr r..e. !, Rhndoa \ TrnreIra