The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-01-03

are . genius, and that makes you q king
amongst men,"
"Not king who could WOO queen like
you," he answered; "but you will always
remember, Lady Lilias, that knew my
fate, that l never nursed myself on any
false hope. never hoped for kind
word, and l never dreamed Of smile. In
my widest moments I never even thought
Of federation where princes and peers have
failed. How could hopct"
The meadow-sweet trembled in her
hands. Her head bent lower and lower
over il.
II have never loved prince or peer" she
said.
"No; l know il. II dare say what
thought; | should say that you are one Of
those happy beings who have never
ached with heart | grow more daring,
you see, Lady Lilias. know already that
| have sinned past forgiveness. l know
that, in telling you the story OF my mad
passionate love, | have placed barrier he.
tween US for ever. So | will finish my sin,
and tell you that men have loved you and
men will love you. but that no man In
the wide world has ever loved you or can
ever love YOU a. | do. Remember always,
! through the long blank years In which !
shall see YOU no more, the greatest, deep
| est, most passionate love that was ever
| given to o human heart was laid at your
feet for you ~ tTample On-nothlDg more;
and, IL / had - hundred lives, a hundred
! hearts, they should all be laid there. The
knights Of old were content II they might
! die for the ladies they loved. Lady Lii.
| las, | would ask no greater favor from
| Heaven than that might give my life for
YOU"
She did not raise her face to his; but he
saw that the white hands caressing the
meadow-sweet trembled.
al have purchased brief delirium," he
! went on, ably lifetime Of pain. l shall
20 from you branded with the fire OF ia.
| tai love; aud yet ! would rather, far rath-
er, have loved you in vain for few short
days than be loved by any other woman
until DEATH
! His voice died away in passionate muir
murs, and he was silent. She looked at
him with infinite pity beaming In her soft
! eyes
81 am sorry" she faltered.
! "Why should you be sorry? II is not
| your fault that you are the most beautiful
Of women; it is not your fault that your
beauty and grace madden those who look
| upon them; YOU are no more To blame than
the star is 80 blame because the moth de-
sires it,"
"Still am SORRY" she repeated gently
--"sorry for your pain"
amy pam! Ali, Heaven, how can you
know what that pain is: How can you
! uuderstandi IL | had to choose, | would
! rather undergo the torture Vi the wheel,
| or of the stake, than that Of hopeless
! love. Those pains kill quickly-these live
| on. How should you know or understand
the anguish Of u lacerated heart, the Bit
ter pain OF longing, the chill of despair,
| the terri bic hopeessness, the weary stretch
OF life, into which no JOY can Creep All,
Heaven grant that none OF this pain may
ever be loursf'
| "None OF US know what life holds for
! u.s." she answered in a low voice, rs she
destroyed the meadow-sweet with her
white fip gers.
alt viii never hold hopeless love for
| YOU" hv said, how can it, when one look
| from your sweet eyes must win what you
desrci / snail read some day how some
! great man has wooed and won you. | shall
read Of your wealth and grandeur, Of
your high estate, and then All, then !
| shah lie with my face upon the earth and
! weep a. no man has ever wept! Then |
| shall find no peace on earth. but will you
i ask you TINS by my great love and my
great patn-rememDer me kindly. VIII
! you forget my presumption and think only
| of my great lover viii you remember
that I'VE with wound in my heart, and
| that all my life the wound VIII bleed2-
Will YOU think kindly of me for the sake Of
n Heaven. Il
my life here"
She saw him In the utter abandonment
Of despair, with his face bent and deep
eobs shaking his frame. She laid her hand
upon his head.
ado you know, she said in low voice,
| "bat ! wish my beauty, as you call il,
had been blighted before it had done this
TO your There is no fear that | shall ever
forget il. No man has declared his love TO
me like this before, ! shall think OF you
and think Of you kmdIy--as long as
live"
The gentle touch Of her hand seemed to
give him fresh life and courage. The next
moment he was kneeling at her feet.
"You are al angel of goodness" he
cried. "Will you think Of me kindlyi--
Will you let me worship you from a dis
lance! VIII you let me nil AL my Ile
with work for you--ob, my hearts love,
for your"
There was a strange tenderness In her
face, and a softened light in her eyes as
| she replied
al wil-if YOU wish it--be friend TO
you always; but, as TO the other, il could
never be, could it, Even il I-if | loved
you, il could never DE-"
"No," he replied; al know it, have
not dared TO ask. understand. 1t could
not be. But you are not angry with me
Lady Liliasi"
"No, am not angry" she answered
~Ou forgive me for having told you Of
my loveS"
al have nothing to forgive" she replied.
glove from you must always honor the one
you love"
"You care for me then a very little"
al will tell you the TRUTH" she said. 81
care for you-yes, little. But IL could
never be-neverl And We must say good
bye"
He took the hand that she held out 10
him.
IA 4