Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-25


sitions OF the actors in the drama were
changed again. Sir Peter had gone
into the smOlSing-room, and all such
guests rs were not staying in the
house had taken their departure.
Elvira Beauchamp, by one of her
adroit movements, had gained Eber.
hard's side.
You look like n thunder cloud,
she said saucily. care you meditating
a murder, may aslhP"
MAY l ask how much longer you
contemplate playing fast and loose
with two strings to your bowP" he re.
turned grimly. 1T may be very
amusing for you, but"
death to you. Is that it?"
at would be that, / verify believe
death, or something less prefer
able" in slow passion-fraught tones.
II contemplate nothing" the CO.
quetto said impatiently. 81 am the
sport OF fate, rs | told you before; |
shall just be thrown in the direction
it chooses"
Il was told this evening that you
intended to marry Ruskin."
Il have often been told that / am
going to marry you," she laughed.
make it true"
His hands clasped hers with vice
like pressure. She WINGED and laughed.
Il am not prepared for any extreme
measure yet"
"Elvira, you told me you loved me-. "
Hoarse and unsteady his voice be-
came.
IL tell you it again; love you, Eb-
crhard, and you alone
Then marry me at once"
"And starve. "No; not starve. be-
cause they would feed me in prison,
where l should certainly find myself.
Eberhard, you must have common
sense. If we could find anyway
OF paying my horrid dcbts-Sir Peter
would do it, verify believe, if | asked
him, but"
You shall not ask him. Would you
stoop to anything OF that kind?"
His face was as white as death.
Il don't stoop; | am knocked down
by fate" Miss Beauchamp returned
easily. "By tho way, dear, did you
make that application to your uncleP'
II did grimly; land with the re-
suit l anticipated, of course. Here is
his letter. He absolutely refuses to
lend me one farthing."
LET me look at what he says"
She took the letter from him and
scrutinized it eagerly, moving little
nearer the liGht rs she did so.
"What curious handwriting" she
said. Il think l will keep it, II you
will let me, Eberhard. | like odd
specimens of caligraphy."
by all means keep il" negiigently,
but then in quicllened tone he said:
What are you going to give me for
il, Elvira?"
What do you think it is worth?''
coquettishly, uplifting her lovely face.
"Nothing could be worth such re-
ward, but / ask for kiss, my dar-
ling"
"You are very bold, sir" She
glanced round, and no one was able to
see, so she smiled at him. "My
hands. / suppose, you mean?" up-rais.
ing the pretty little jeweled fingers.
You know otherwise"
He stopped boldly and pressed his
lips on hers, and she did not rebuke
HIM; she almost returned the caress,
and then she tripped away lightly, in
differently, as if it were nothing to
! her, this kiss which meant so much "a
him; and gloomily he stood there
thinking, long after Elvira had left
him:
1T is folly-it is madness-it is IN
impossibility, this love of mine; and
yet cannot give her up, he said. 81
could sooner part with my life"
A touch on the shoulder broke hi,
reverie, and the object OF his thoughts
stood beside him.
There was slightly troubled eX
preston in the beautiful eyes as they
were lifted earnestly to his, sligA
culver upon the lovely lips as Elviri
said softly:
Ibid you mean your words just now
Eberhard? Would you indeed do any
thing for me?"
Anything in the power of man t.
do"
He drew her to him as his eyes gaz
ed devotedly into hers. and his voice
thrilled in its utterance.
Would you bear anything for my
sake-I mean, bear anything TO make
me happy"
"My darling, yes"
Then you are better. nobler thar
man ever was BEFORE" she said will
emotion in her voice and something
suspiciously like tears in her eyes
The next moment she was in his arms
folded close to his heavily beatinl
heart. while his kisses fell like rail-
upon her bright dark hair. IL Low,
you-oh, Eberhard, l do love you!'
she murmured. You are better +,
me than | deserve"
my love-my darling BE true
be patient, Elvira, my own, and surel,
we shall conquer our difficulties. Low,
must conquer fate"
Nothing could kill your love TO
meP' she asked again, uplifting thos
glorious eyes. They might hav
| Il 4