Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-31
A MAD LOVE.
By MARY C. PRESTON.

~ ~ ~ ANn A-N1S 1NN
Why should you urge me to listen, when
your words but pain me? l am sorry
very sorry, but can not care for you. Why
say morey'
The mans face dsrkened. 1t was a pc
cuhar, Spanish face, with dark eyes, straight
nose, rather low forehead, and full, impetu
GUS lips that could curve very cruelty al
times-as they did now.
The girl, who had rejected his offered
love and WHO stood before him in an atti
tude Of shrinking dread, was very pale and
also very beautiful, in q sweet, fower.hke
dainty way.
His passionate words had startled and re-
PEELED her, as he saw by the shrinking in
her eyes and her deadly pallor.
His teeth met grating!y as he looked al
her, and his dark eyes glowed like torches
of flame.
But | will say more ne burst out, grasp
ing her hand with almost painful force, and
retaining it despite OF her struggles to re,
lease it. You do not understand what you
have awakened in my Soul, and | will tell
you-a mad, unreasonable idolstry, which
turns it from all things Of earth or heaven
toward you; a feeling IS resistless as the
ocean in its anger, as much to be feared by
you. / am no clSd. / will not lay my
heart at your feet, that you may trample ii!
l will have equal love Or
He broke of suddenly aud fell on his
knees before her, his face changing aud
melting until it was glorifed by the new,
soft feeling that had come to the unframed
heart of this child OF Spain.
MY love-my queen he whispered,
forgive my wild words! Let me kneel to
you; let me love you; let me see you smil-
ing on me; ] give you such love as men
seldom giye-l give you my life! Let your
heart answer never so family will be blest.
Love, whisper me a word; give me a smile;
leave me ny life; l would die, body and
soul, without YOU
His voice was Ike harp chords when the
fingers Of a musician has swept them softly;
his graceful form was quivering with emo
ton; the lights tell redly on his bent, dark
head.
He still held her hand, aud had bent his
lips TO it. Their tremulous touch thrilled
the girl profoundly, and a tiuge of color
flushed her cheeks.
81 beg of you-I command you, Mr..
Longanzas, rise and end this very painful
interview" she said, slowly; 81 am so sorry
you did not know, butt am betrothed!"
A low cry left the mans suddenly livid
lips; with one hand he flung backward the
masses ofhis dark hair, which had fallen on
his forehead, and sprang to his feet; but he
still retained her hand.
ITO whom
He asked the question lercely, his
burning eyes on her face.
She looked tearlessly back on him, as
she answered:
Lionel Grey
The Spaniard said nothing more, but an
expression of cruelty crept over his full, red
lips; he flung her hand from him, and left
the room. ,
Stella Lee sank into a chair, startled and
halt Mortified BY the interview: her even
nature, gentle and sweet, could have no
sympathy with that 6ercely impetuous one
Of the man who had knelt for her love; she
was repealed by it; she sank from 1t with
something akin to terror.
Lionel, her promised husband, her father 3
ward, had met Pedro LOnganzas, and liked
him; a sort of friendship had arisen be-
tween the two young men, which at last
brought the Spaniard to Stellss presence.
From that first hour of meeting, Pedro
had loved the fair American girl with what
mioht truly be termed q mad love, since she
coHld never fail to shrink from its force,
through her " dainty ~gentleness, even
were She heart tree; but she was not so, Tor
she and Lionel had boon pledged to each
k,.1rap,nnfh and loved 9aCn
other devotedly.
~ will not tell Lionel Stella thought,
when she had grown calmer. They are
friends, and | am sure he Is sorry now Tor
his rudeness. l never thought OF such a
hin as his loving me. I'll try to forget II.
But she did not forget it, try as she might;
the impetuous words sounded IN her ears
constantly. the flashing, dusky eyes we're
sver before her; vet, for 3 week, she did not
see the Spsnisrd agsia.
She was walking alone in the groundS one
evening in the cleaning, when he suddenly
snneared at her side, ike q phantom. de
ba5 come so stealthily and silently that she
had not heard his approach, n he startled
her somewha'. u -r
ing to speak with perfect u~ncCncern' -,
have been watching the day die, and do
not ace you coming toward me. -.
"The day dier' he repeated, toIdlng ms
ems across his bosom and standing before
bs- with his head thrown back. i nave
beeu watching you; you are my DAY; -
A shade OF annoyance crossed her tarr
i"S lyon will not say such things to me
hs-asf,sr." she said, coldly. PRAY to sllo"
me to pass, l am going in the air mas
Ge removed his hat, and passed his hama
- over his forehead. She saw that MS
O" wss like that Of one who had died IN
49, A sudden fesr seized her, and she
attempted to glide BY him; but ne Prsysa -
her, Flinging aside the hat ne nau ne'N' "'
csncbt her suddenly in his arms. uL,
"Hs shall not claim you you sGa,l DC
u,;nsT' he whispered, at her ear, 1 nave
tonIb+ AGAINST this temptation tor q weeh,
= has conquered me. GU shsh DC
s;ns. # not in life. in DEATH
mi SSs strugpled wildly to free herself; Su'
oS.sngtb was but that OF q butterfly
Sel saI, hat she was lifted from the earto
o uS Sorne rapidly through the CLUSTERING
ana sS.d O and a great fear came over ne'
paaO OSs wsS in the grasp Of a nsdma1.
Not far away she caught the lslnI -,
.tTSbt from q window OF hsr nomeL,
I'd home. She knew she was oo:9
ue from il. down to the lake. oesia'
80 sbe had stood so short q ume ee
Nh ,e The sunset turn Its still surface I
SsIon She struggled wildly agsi1' an
a CIV Of terror ran eeh0lns 'niO
evening hush c,mo 70 me- Saw
mel ..,,d nv her. and her fac