Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-06-29

90 you want to break my hearth
Page Carol ought to turn away and go.
but Tor the life OF him bo cannot stir. There
Is tho Tow, rnIIst-NJt TIUTnTI7 0l an 0iJer
voice. and then his blood thrills again at
that passionate. sweet one. hall choked
with tears:
4 can't do it. Let me have my own way.
will be happy Just n little while longer.
oh. mother, mother. | do love him SO
That broke tho spell, and Page Carroll.
burning with shame. on fire with feeling
that he could not define. turned sharply
and dashed away as II he were flying for
life.
Tho rose lay on tho grass In the moon
Hght-he thought no more OF roses that
night.
For all the rest OF the dark hours he had
to hear four words iung over and over
nothing but four words. in every key OF
passion. melting into careas. or wailing
into u cry. only that maddening confession
that ca, ricd with it, God only knew what
meaning for him. Il love him sol No moro
rest for Page Carol until he had heard
those words again. with one sweet dill
ference.
For awhile no never even remembered
what else had caught his ear, but it came
back to him with a dim trouble when the
ievor In his veins had cooled little.
What did il mean? He hal no right to
wonder or to think OF 1t at all, that broken
fragment Of some secret never meant for
his ears, Its very recollection seemed to
dishonor him, and yet he could not drives
it away. The burden OF n great sorrow lay
upon her image nova blow hanging over
her that would break her heart II ii fell. and
he could not take it upon his own. or step
between her and the unknown danger.
1t madd"n"d the man-it haunted him as
her sweet face did. and he had no rest from
that face day or night.
Page Carroll had drifted far away from
the conventional woman; hour by hour he
was floating further and further from tho
traditions OF his education and birth into
an ocean OF doubt and wonder. and every
thing but distru't-that ugly shadow never
darkened Alice Bcrkelcy's image mystery
though she might be to the carping little
world wherein he met her.
And he had begun to think that 1t did
not matter much. after all, what conven
tonal barriers she might have raised or
broken down. so long as her own pure self
WAS therc-th' loveliest woman on earth to
him, and the hottest. be she aristocrat or
rotlu'ierS.
lie haunted the out Of he-way places
along the beach that he knew she fire.
Guentcd. and smoked uncountcd cigars in
tho wool near "Holmes's Place" and ut
last. ono lazy, hot afternoon. down by the
sea, he came upon her, quite alone. whom.
for the first time. she showed no desire to
escape him.
She sat or .hc sands. with her face turned
seawLrd, and he loungrd beside her. and
they talked FOR IL few minutes rs common
place people Go-vory fast and easily. Then
the words tagged Il little. and then they fell
into long pauSeS, and Mt last INTO silence
that grew harder and yet more hard to
break: when each one was afraid to look
into tho others eyes: and SO they both
looked out to sea.
1t was Carol who spoke first.
You have not been ill, have you? You
have not walked here for SO many days!"
NO" she answered. simply.
I've been here every day watching for
you. They said you were not well when
called at The Oaks. You look now as il you
had been suffering. he said. hurriediy, de-
vouring her face with yearning. unre-
strained eyes.
He saw the color rush into 1t with vivid
crimson.
do 1? How absurd! Yes. l believe
had a headache, or was oyer-GatiSued that
Isn't the sea perfect this afternoon. Mr..
Carol? | never saw it so blue"
DON'T" cries Page. half flercely. scarcely
knowing what h, says. I'm not looking
at the sea. l came here-you know why |
came! Just to say three words-that |
love YOU"
MIR. Carroll" she cries. swiftly rising.
and he starts up. too. and stands before
her. barchcaded, in the sunlight.
what can | say moro that that? he
asks. in deep. shaken voice. Other mon
might rant and rave over i'll can't. | love
you! Ny whole life and strength have gone
into my love for you; and T. No. will
not lose you. my da ling"
Hush. Oh. Mr.. Carol. for PHYS sake
don't speak to me sol"
81 Will not. II you don't wish It," he says.
crushing down his passion and calming his
voice with a struggle that she cannot but
sec: "l'll wait until you answer ne. Alice.
Only answer me Quickly!'
And he folds his arms over his breast and
waits, pale and eager. for the words tn al
on
The minutes pass, and only the wash OF
the waves is heard filling up their silence.
why don't you speak to me| he cries.
passionatc!y. Alice. for Gods sake
answer me! Will you ho my wife,"
Your wife," she bursts into n wild laugh
You don't know what. or Whom. you are
asking. There can be only ono answer to
such a question as that. You are mocking
yourself and me, too. Mr.. Carroll"
She takes a quick step forward as she
speaks and as she hurrries on Caro-
strides be side her. his, colorless face growing
white with strong passion.
Il am asking tho ono woman-the only
woman on earth that ever loved-to give
mo all that care for on earth! l never
loved until | saw you, Alice. and shall new.
cr have any wife hut you-neyer!'
Inevcr can mary you! On. Mr.. CAIRO.
you are tO"turing mol You are mad TO tall
OFF loving m"-a woman o. whom yCl
know no.hng-whose whole lifo Is n mys.
tex 70 .vou. You. = Man who hne-n.lde E
god OF h own pedigree ana position. Il
marry il name'ess girl whose life six weeks
ago Won cannot guess nj! Let me pass on
Mr.. Carol. I've answered you. 1t is use
lss-utterly uSc!eSs!"
You don't love me-"
Still TO stops her way. and. Gatherins
her han Is in his. holds them with the
hot strength OF hop less longing.
Il cannot" she SAYS under bec breath,
the syla5les dropping clear and sharp. one
by one.
They seemed to stab into Page Carols
heart; the passionate. proud man who
never pleaded before to man or woman
and he does not plead now. A little shivcI
goes over his frame, and his face seems tC
grow harshcr and older in minute. He
Ssops her hands out OF his and draws
hack.
You cannot?" he whispers. hoarsely.
And this Tins the answer comes quick
AID ready:
Then that is ALI" Page bows very low
and like the courtly gentleman he is, tries
hard to smooth the agony out of his look
his farewell look at this lost Alice. As
you say it is useless. will go!'
He makes no movement to touch hei
hand, but with wild, impulsive gesture
she stretches out both to him.
Good by" she says. but his Good-by Is
never spoken: it goes out in dumb kisses
on those thrObbing little hands-many anG
hot IN iiercG-and then her lover is gone
He has staked all and lost it.and Alice
An, il iS for another man than Page Car
rol to hear those four words whispered
over. Il love you sol"
Two months have passed since the day
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