The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-25

criSlS felt impending, ner silence, her beauty, gave me courage.
 "L'onellei" cried, and the words that had trembled on my lirs for days nay, weeks past, were out at last, spoken beyond recall. "Lionelle, stay with me. Consent to become a mere mortal's wife
 We were alone and secure from caves troopers, at east for 2 moment. En- boldened by her passiveness, and grow ing courageous under the desperate fear of losing her forever, added wild word more
 !" You say you cannot grow old and die like other mAidens At least you can love as we'll as they. Retain, then, your vaunted immortality If you will |. Only love me, let me love you for this little life-this brief, brief mortal span"
 She smiled very pensively and kindly, and without shade of coquettisbness, much less emotion, made room for me on the rustic bench beside her.
 As we thus sat, the moon shining full upon us, saw how pale she was, ho~ more than wearyl My love became all at once tinged with strangest pity 1 longed now to be let into the secret of her mysterious lot as much for her own sake as my o~n, to be pen mitted 10 wrest her from ito give her repose, heap ten- dernesses upon her so long as lived. Her very coliectedness and the easy cor dlality of her manner inspired confidence The more approachable she seeme1 the less outwardly lover.like permitted my self to appear, so unwilling was to check her growing trustingness and nip her condolences in the bud.
 You mutt know it," went on. "This existence of empty pleasu C and ephe- neral popularity is undermining your health-killing you, in spite of that ex emption from mortal doom at which you hint Let me snatch you from such career. Marry me without more ado," added caressingly, "then we will steal away to some sweet spot, there to live for ourselves and each other
 She shook her head, that weary little head, and as on brothers breast it now dropped to mine clay there tor a bliss. ful moment p,llowed to sweetest rest.
 Gerald" she be- an-we had already once ar twice called each other by our christian names" dear friend, G-rald. even my friendship can be yours for day an hour only-love have none to give. am going away. You will soon lose your poor Lonelle, and you must never try to find heI--never, as long as you live"
 Nay" retorted lightly, yet under a testing word was hid vast resolve '' The locomotlve-if not loves wings may be the privilege of all, You cannot prevent me from purchasing a railway ticket, DO m atter how it is stamped"
 She now reused herself from her lethar- fast while she spoke rapidly and eagerly, as if in terror lest time should steal march upon us.
 If you value my peace of mind--if you care for me at all, you will retract those words you will give your promise never to try to discover me-never to fol- low me, in whatever direction l go"
 What conceivable right had she to de- mand such a sacrifice of me2 How could rely upon myself to keep such if wrought upon to make it ;? The further this beautiful vision of L,o. nelle receded rom my reach, the more passionately clung to its yesture skirts
 You are wiliuly shutting your eyes ts the truth l' said, for a moment ie.- ting outraged feeling have its way; then, to a softer mood, overcome by my great love for her, 1 gathered her lit- tie hands to my lips, and kissed them again and again No. Lioneie, il is not SO" cried. My secret was yours long ago. Listen. This worldling of yours never Cared for any one or anything in the wide world till he learned to know you. Bid me not lose you altogether"
 My poor Geraldi' she beg an, and in her turn she took my hands and pressed | them to her cold lips "I am linked to the suangest fate against my will. If, indeed. you were to track my footsteps, and follow me to the worlds end, you would be no nearer happiness. You could not belong to me any more than if | we were at opposite poles. l am in reality as much of stranger to you as if we had never watched the glow worm under the rose togetherp
 There rang through the speech, mingled with much sadness, even tinged with de- spar, playfulness that gave me courage Io ask more, The comrade was upper 'husN III LlouCuC tuOuRutS, not the | lover. Perhaps m him she might yet be won over to con6de And still clung to the shadow of nope.
 |" At least tell me why you impose such | unnatural conditions? Who and what are you, that you can thus afford to toy with human affection, and make a jest even of mortality2'
 An, those are que uestions-questions I may not answer; but rest assured of one | thing" she answered, "l am not the | light heaued, sportive girl you take me to be Against my viii, against my con- science. am com oelled to act part"
 Free yourself, then from such odious i thraldom " cred. "The door stands wide. Escape Is easy. Take the honest hand held out to you"
 She smiled, and putting a hand on each of my shoulders, bent her face to- ward my own as sue answered, her voice | gathering force and persuasiveness, her 1 eyes wearing a strange expression of dis tance, yet endesrment:
 q would love you. dear. if I could l