Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-12-03

u had no right, she nrmly said; "tt
was mean Of me; but You win forgive
me-yon have come to do that"
IL have come to tell you how I love
you. tr exclaimed impetuously. "and
to ask you to be my wife. Oh. Rosalie.
Rosalie. how love you'll"
She retreated before him as she would
have done before fame. She put out
her beautiful hands and motioned him
back. He stopped short, strange
change coming across his dark face, He
was as handsome as man could be as he
folded his arms on his breast and looked
half despairin 2. half triumphantly
down at her When he spoke he had all
the magic of his voice under perfect con-
troll
'Rosalie," he said, "you. told me /
might come back to you when could
prove my honor unstained | bring it to
you as spotless as"-
Il know, 1 know" she hurried to say;
q did you irreparable wrong. shall
never forgive myself-never.
Don't talk that way" he exclaimed,
a can't bear it. You have done no
wrong. You are all right Let the past
keep its troubles and misunderstandings
| want to be happy now. Rosalie, are
you afraid of me2 Am so dreadful to
you that you shrink from me in this
wayY'
His grave, gentle voice was full Of
persuasive music. He stopped toward
her, his eyes growing cloudy and
soft. Suddenly he flung out his arms
and clasped her close to him, kissing her
hair and her forehead and murmuring
unintelligible things, She wrung her.
self away from him, her physical elusive.
ness seeming quite as pronounced as that
evasiveness which had always character.
lied her conversations with him.
You must notT she said. in a sort of
breathless whisper. 'l cannot permit
it, She actually pushed him with her
hand
In an instant fash of resentment
hickered across his face and he made an
impatient gesture.
"Rosalie, | did not expect this from
you" said he, slowly recovering his full
height.
"Ohr she cried, her voice thin and
dry, 81 did not mean to offend you,
don't want you to be angry with me-
you
II love, love you'll" he exclaimed, let
ting the words fall heavily from his
ashy lips, as If he were beginning to an
ticipate a dreary failure.
She looked beseechingly at him, her
hands hanging loosely intertwined be-
fore her
II love, love your he repeated.
Il wish you did not" she replied,
something of the old freshness and
naivete ringing through her troubled
voice, lam so sorry to see you suf-
fering"
He stood awhile in a hesitating atti-
tude, then with great effort he said:
$50 it has come to thisl Rosalie, Ro.
sale, must | go away wounded to the
heart and die all alone somewherep
cannot believe you mean it; you will moi
kill me, Rosalie, will youP" The frenzy
of despair rang through his shaking ap
pealing voice,
No, no, you wrong mer' she cried
you will not understand me- You re
fuse to see that would have you be m,
friend-that | honor you that despis
myself for having suspected you wrong
fully that never can make amends TO
the injury ! did you.
II don't want to hear that" he sale
imperiously 1T displeases me. Yo,
cannot appease me in that way an!
more than you can satisfy your owl
true heart Rosalie, you cannot spur
such love as mine. You will keep it--i
is priceless.
He spread out his arms again. She det
through the doorway and stopped OF
the balcony in the bright, slanting moon
light He, too, became motionless. A
they stood thus confronting each othe
Ellis felt that all his bright hopes wer
wavering in the balance. and the ecstas,
Of his suspense brought out cold drop
upon his forehead He gathered all tn
| passion of his nature, and his word
came from his lips with thrilling power
"Rosalie, is this the end OF it alp Dom
you love met Is my life at last to be 1
failureF DO you drive me awayp Mus
go? My God, and love you sol''
"Must go" he repeated; "Rosalie
must r.
"Yes-l-think you had better go.
she said, her voice oven and spiritless,
He staggered as II she had shot him
drew his hand across his forehead turn
ed and walked from her to the door
| From there be looked back. waveretI
then turned again and disappeared
Words cannot suggest the force of sucl
passion as his-a tropical storm in vic
lence, a mountain torrent in strength
He was wild, crazed, blind with despair
He tramped slowly along the hall, biting
his lips, his eyes flashing, At the stair
way he met Mr.. Roosevelt, who, thougl
evidently surprised to see him, held ou
his hand and greeted him cordially.
"Go to helll'' he muttered in response
MIR. Roosevelt did not catch TIN
words; he looked after Ellis in blanl
amazement as the latter mechanical,
descended the stair without havin,
touched his hand.
Rosalie was crying when Mr.. Roose
velt entered the parlor, and the old maj
guessed what was the matter. When h
! put his hand on her head she sobbed:
"Oh, uncle, take me home, please; / an
very, very wretched.'
Don't cry. my DEAR" he gently said
still keeping his hand upon her head
81 have come to say get ready. Gu
train is due in half hour"
He could not think Of any soothing
phrase. He regarded her as mer,
child, knowing at the same time tina
she was woman and suffering now
trouble which besets the path of all beau
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