Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-05-11
" AIF1RIE-
HALF "A TRUTH.
-BY THE DUCHESS. :"


ru- arms. Al! HEAVIER, 10 think hOwnear-
lost your Yes, elm closer-Closer to
.e .;earest; but could not have parted
frlm yen forever, Val RE: always my
heart warred against tie falsehood you
forced upon ne. Unjust have followed you
You knew | loved you, Valerie, before to-
day.
Yes" she said. softly. 81 knew, I tried
TO put the thou yht away; but taat day.
when you woul not let Zoe leap the gully
-"
All" he said. with quick-drawn
breath. "the mad happiness of that ride!
and when you yielded to me, and gave me
your dear hand, Fairy Qucen, YOU almost
conquered me then, | knew felt that
your heart was mine. and yet that cruel
thought always sealed my lips, that were
stripped Of wealth you would not listen to
your heart. Il Is like treason to you to
speak Of this, and yet / must make contes-
sion to ease my conscience" he added,
with the old bright, tender smile.
Il have the most TO confess, Max" said
the girI. wistfully Indeed, YOU have
nothing: yOu spared me what / deserved,
or seemed to deserve
"~gureI you because | loved you, and
you but a STRIPPING, cast alone ona brilliant
"'.''''' - ,,..' ,'l' ,,l,....;il,,I
I""'' ""7 q I%iT nv. ~ ~
N'''t ~ anu :, '''S' - 'ou -.
Iit;In / knew OF you after all"'
lie sat down av he spoke, drawing her to
his side and a5 Valerie nestled to him, lie
added softly:
"If toll you that before to-day | had
hell You ia nv arms and kissed you, as |
d" HpN,' lending down, and touching his
lips To- her brow, would you forgive me-
Forgive y"H>. she SaId' col"FIHS deeply
'bul-7u' Max, when
'ine dry yoa sPralhed your ankIc-you
faiuie aud cau@hi YOU we were alone,
ana the temptation was 100 SlT"hS Tor me-
did NOT l"lrh your Ups sweetheart, but
Eour brow Kissed many, many Times. Am
forgiven.
You know you are, Max" the girl wills
prTrd, hiding her lace. More than Tor
given.
by hd-by she spoke again, not lifting
her head:
Max, they Will say the world will say
--th" worst I'll nc-Lhat | have been suc-
crS1luI. your sister VIII say So too"'
Let the world say what it will, dearest.
kuo" your heart, and you know mine
i not that onoughz'
~ Tor you, Max, then tor me, did not
ear, for myalG
surely nothing can touch me when |
have my Fairy Queen" said the soldier
smiling. 'Af;rr all, was right when |
said You would admit mo to the Fairy
Iaug.'
res, said Valerie, dreamily, 81 thought
ooilcn OF y"ur sa;ing that!'
I'D arrest! Well, You shall hold high
rcvri now under the Enchanted oak in
iE" \hbptS "i'n, II tpmorro" IS moon
ii4Hl
"BH; was going to Lord Mortpn'a" said
Valerie, raising herself.
"Eailh'' returned BnaurcglrI, coolly
nud drawn her into her oil position.
I'VE must see about that. don't feel in
cliucd 10 sporr you. IIiG her, comes the
riding party. wish they had lost their
way; yer thank Heaven ihal we both stay
rl al home, aud both, ! think, for the same
reason that It was suffering Too great to
bear To- br with each other - soon before
pnrtin2; to wear the ma-!, Of ind ference
with breaking hearts. IAN right, Fairy
Queen"
'hr. MAN.
ThcY heard the paI ride unto the ter
race steps. tail.in.. and laughing. Braurr-
@rrd ROSE, and hclI the .irl to his heart, as