Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-07-11

that you care; and once l believed you
loved mel"
81 do love YOU" he said earnestly.
eyes, with wavering, selfish love
that recks not OF the i'll it beings, or
endure. Oh, hear me-" she pleaded,
passionately clasping his hands in her
own, "hear me for once and have
pity! Release me from my oath, and
let me tell him all. He will do you no
harm for my sake. | win buy his re-
lease; will follow him 10 the battle
field itself; viii seek him through
the length aud breadth of France, IL
you will only give me leave 10 confess
ALTO clear myself in his eyes for
ever"
He looked at her, wrathful and dcs-
perate in his sudden anger.
What you ak is Madness he
said; lit would give one or the other
of us to certain death, and
the guilt would be yours.
Did you say he had Joined the army
this rash hot-neaded foolg"
"How dare you miscall him?" she
flashed out wr..thfully, 'you-a cow
ard and" A warning look stop
ped her WORDS.
ut is not for you TO upbraid me"
he said. LAS for what you ask, 1t Is
mpossible-doubly impossible now
since, by his rashness, your husband
has placed himself in direct antagon-
ism 10 me. | cannot afford to ruin
myself for a womans caprice. AS L
said before the tie between Us is too
strong for you to break-the oath that
binds you to serve me comes before
yolr marriage VOWS" She lookeI
him full in the eyes. In her own
giowed the light of despair; the re-
solve of ono fixed and determined
upon some course of action, who
counts not the danger that lies in the
path. and would perish in the attempt.
''You think SOP" she questioned
very calmly "Well, do not. New
ertheless, have no fear of me, l will
not betray you. came mt peril of my
life to warn you now. / have been
tracked here by woman, vile OF
tongue and cruel of heart. If she
suspects you, know not. In any case
this place IS no longer safe. He
started.
"And yol have delayed thu5?"
Her face flushed with syorn, her
eyes surveyed mockingly.
do you hear the pursuer's step al
ready?'
"Do not play with me-" he said
with sudden tiercenesS. III there is
danger, say So"
There is danger" she answered
him calmly, "but we seek it hence
forth together" He looked at her in
amazement.
"What do you mean? Is this a
time for jest?'
"Heaven knows it is not, neither
have l the will TO attempt it. What 1
say l mean. | have no home, her
voice quivered, "no shelter, no love to
love TO look for, save yours. You Of
fered it once, and / refused it."
''But now, when shelter means dan
ger and protection death, you ac-
cept?n he said in wonder.
"Even so"
al thought l knew something oI
women" the man muttered, looking
at her with doubtful and reluctant I'D.
miration. al see | was wrong"
For an instant silence reigned be
tween them.
Her face looked bloodless as marble
resolute as despair. The words she
had just uttered had cost her more
than it was in him TO imagine.
you mean it?" he asked her q
length.
"Of a certainty do" she answered
; YEARLY. 81 have no home-I car
never look in his face, nor touch hi
,, hand until my oath is absolved.
> may as well share your peril as liv,
, here in a shame that will poison my
whole future. He will never believe
in me again" The mute despair, In,
,, utter hope ,essne5s in her face ant
. words, touched even his selGshness.
, lit is "a hard fate" he said slowly
ITO lose all through me. Can yol
bear itp"
! cater what l have borne to-day,
l she said with an irony that touched
him to the quick, "you can ask that
| had to choose between you both, ant
r chose-you!" He flushed from Chi
= to brow, and remained mute with
shrinking hesitation that told of tn,
Q struggle within.
( 1--WE 60 together thenP" he asked
family at last. She lifted her bowed
Q head and looked at him. SILVER rar
through her graceful limbs, and OF
ner face glowed the martyrdom o
. despair.
YES"
A momentary JOY quivered over tn
handsome womanish features OF tn
man who had wronged and insnare,
her.
r $50 best!" he said gayly. "Onc
: we escape out of this curse,
country. 1t will 60 har,
r with me II do not win you such splen
)! dor and such happiness as you woul
never have found in yonder drear
, hamlet" She made no answer. Ii
Y her heart she asked herself with bit
: ter mockery;
"Gold; will that content, having los
lOvao1