Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-03-02

tilul tacc--ah, happy light! The sweet
MINT wind carcsscs YOU and stirs the
white lilies you wear, ali, happy d
For one toucilo Of your white bands | would
die! II is worse than madness, this ont
pouring; send mc away while ] have the
strength to Coz ---g
Dut no words came from her lips, which
had grown strangely pale. >
~ on Will never forgive me, Lady bllias,
I cannot help it. | love you SO well that.
standing here under the night skies. |
swear 10 You that for one loving word from
your lips 1 would dic--I would die" hs
repeated; and his voice died awayin = long
low sob.
Had he gone mad, or was he dreaming?
4 white hand, on which rare gems slions
in the moonlight was laid upon his, and =
sweet voice whispered 20 him
"Iou need not die"
For one moment his brain recled and le
thought he should swog,i. lSbe was 70
near to him that the sweet subtle odor oi
| that 10 = ~ ~
7 81 VII so Tomorrow" he said; and his
voice Vas heavy with tears, "fou VIII
forgive mc-yod rlu bear with my folly.
Tomorrow l will go, a. 1 will pray
Heaven never to BRING me near toxou
again" d.
.'lou ced not go" whispered ti.e sweet
voice again.
enc never forgot the cry that came from
ms ilps-a cry Of wonder, pain, fear, and
love.
lou do not mean TO be cruel to me
yen bean 10 be Kind and gracious; but
Your HpfGa are sweetest poison. You do
not understand how YOU torture ne.'
she laid her other hand upon his.
81 fm not the one who does not under.
stand" rhe sud shyly and sweetly. She
bent hcr shaPcly head nearer to him, her
face crimson, her eyob dropping from his.
on viii not underestimate" sue ~interro.
gated.
IL dare not!" he cried. "You told
ne that IL codid never bc-you sent me
away you lett lac with my heart crushed,
even rs on had crushed the mCauoW-sweet
IA your lauGs.'
"Listen 10 me-" she said. al am sorry
thai / crushed the mcaGoN-tWcet. / VISA
thai ! had IL Ia my hanGs now--freSh and
living"
lnc,e was q note Of passion in her voice,
and he heard H.. What could it mean.-
lie tremhlcd ike 4 leaf in the wind.
H. she continued, IL had the mead.
ow-sWcct now, / would not crush is; and,
ii You said the sAlac nords now, | should
answer them differently"
lie could not believe it, although both
Of her hands were upon iie, and her face
was close 10 him; although She was hook
ing At him with infinite tenderness, and
the very light Of love was in her face and
shining IN her eyes, ho could not believe
it..
..Do you understand nowY" she said
gently; and lie answ erred her almost rough
ly.
az were to find this a jest, a dream"
"lti is neither" She replied earnestly
"Why viii you not believer" ~
"BecauSc," &c cried in a voice shaken
with %ru.eIon, "it is incredible! Because
l have never, from tue first moment l saw
YOU, had any hopel Because Or
Heaven, can it De true?"
lit Is true" she whispered; "and Won
must never call Ine the proudest girl in
England again. ] win tell you the truth.
l loved you even when l sent you away;
but l would not own it even to myself Il
would not admit IT, j acquired the habits
OF saying over and over to myself, 1t will
not DO until 1 really grew to believe thas
- "of'1 nv" oO' ~ Wv - shAA
after 1 had sent you away. / found that,
though l held as iIy own limos every
good gift, they were almost useless TO me
because | had not love. / found that /
had sent away with you the happiness OF
whole life. l should never have sent
for YOU; but Providence has brought you
back 10 me. j have mourned in my heaTt
for you rs people mourn for the 0ead.--
do you believe me Vane!"
She never forgot the cry OF rapturOus
that came from him, nor the sud-
den joyful radiance that overspread hs
face.
IL believe tat lastp' he cried
Heaven, thank lIeavcnV and hts
frame trcImblcd. .'Forgive mo-" he
said; You 10 not know what il is To me. |
as though l were coming from death
% life. GA, my darling, my love, how shall
thank you?"
lie wnis percd his thanks rs he gathered
ier to him aud kissed the beautiful Ease
hat he never dreamed would rest npon
lis breast. a few moment afterwards,
wien hin passionate ioyc-words had died
she SAID 10 him
~ Oh are trembling still, Vane."
81 have not realized it YETI" he an
az have never had any hope Lady
Lilias-'
care You going to call me Lady Lii
she interrupted, .aftcr all the niee
pretty Kind things | have said TO you? 1t
seems very formal. When papa is pleased
With me, lie calls mt Lily"
"Hc must call you Lily always then"
said Vane- ~ am trying to realize 1t, bus
| cannot. ! feel dazcd and blinded, rs
though | had been looking at the sun
Oh, Lily, sweet, can it be trne that you
love me-"
81 do love you," She replied.
"Can it be true that you will be my
ayes, If You ask me-" she answered.
''But, Vane, you have not asked nc yet"
He drew the beautiful head down UpoA
his breast"
"Will you be my wife, my belovedY" As
asked.
The answer contcnted him.
Half an hour afterwards they were still
by the lilies in the moonlight, and he was
slowly beginning TO understand his posi-
ton.
"What will Lord Audlcy sayi" he ask-
ed.
Lady Lilias laughed.
ollie Will say that ] have chosen wisely
and wcll," she replied. sit is an old