Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-01-16

amph. Anna gazed al him for a
moment, one hand at her throat, in the
fruitless endeayor to save her sobs,
then fiery blush swept over brow and
cheeks.
DO you think she said. bitterly,
that am crying for you, that regret
what / said to you yesterday-do you
dare to think so? Obi surely nothing is
wanting to complete my humiliation
OIL in passion of shame and anger.
Oh, why can not control myself bet
ter than to lead you to suppose such
thingl Listen, do you know why l
came herep l came that, by remem-
bering your basenes5 and treachery, L
might despise you more, loathe and
detest you even more than 1 did al
ready
She broke off suddenly, for, quiver-
ing under Basil's mustache, she caught
sight OF tender, triumphant, but dis
tlnctly amused smile.
Furious at the sight she tried to
speak, to express her scorn and indig-
nation more fully, but conflicting emo
tions choked her utterance.
Basil waited quietly; he could afford
to wait now, for. after what he had
seen, he felt himself master OF the
situation.
At last she grew cslmer, and then
he spoke.
Anna he said, Il thank heaven
that was prompted to come here this
morning; had L gone as 1 intended yes
terday should all my life have remem-
bered you as sort OF iceberg-and
now
'Now?' she repeated, drawing up her
head in the endeavor to regain her old
sIateliness.
Now 1 have found you-a very
once. Anna-you can never do 50
again.
1T is like you to twIt me So" she
replied, quickly. 'Only you would be
unmanly enough to take advantage of
a weakness for which 1 shall despise
myself all my life. Do you suppose /
am breaking my heart because / love
you-you? No; 1 am crying because
have no heart to break am crying
for myself. for my youth which you
spoIlt, for that power of loving which
L once possessed and which is now gone
for ever. Yes. lied yesterday when
said my love for you had been child's
play; 1t was as true and deep and ten
der love as woman ever had for man.
But it is all gone-gonel aHd L shall
never love anyone any more.
Again her voice quIvered and tears
stood on the long dark lashes, and then
Basil rose and stood in front of her,
speaking slowly and deliberately.
Anna, do not believe you. / be-
lleve you love me STILL
She gaZed at him, too much insulted
and astonished for the moment to reply.
Il do asseverated Basil; no woman
| a M UAi
over 1t. If you spoke untruly yesterday,
so did /. l said my love had been rea
love only it wavered for a moment
now l say it wasn't-or it couldn't
have wavered at all-but agree with
you that yours Is. Ny belief is, Anna,
that you love me now, only you VII
not own it,
She looked at him, mastered by hi
tone, but still endeavoring to dgh
against him and herself
This is the most preprosterous'-shi
began, and then stopped short as Basl
took her hand and looked fxedly a
her.
, Well, IN some inexplIcable fashion
an unexpected ally came to Basil
assistance; neither more nor less thar
the very heart the existence OF which
| had been 50 stoutly denied. 1t backet
up Basil so vigorously, and so cordial.
endorsed the truth OF what he said
that poor Anna found herself quit,
! powerless between them. And so i
came to pass that when, suddenl.
abandoning his calm argumentive tone
he fell to pleading earnestly, appealing
TO the memory of the love that ha,
once been-that was still-so stronl
, within her, all her stern resolve
, melted away.
! If L cannot love you, BASIL sh
! said. at least-I can love nobody else.