San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-19
His Second Campaign

self she was trembling little
1T was very, very wicked of me to
say that dreadful thing about you," she
said in a subdued but perfectly clear and
steady voice. 81 was laboring UNDER
mo, no." he cried; you need not be-
gin in that way. 1t was all my fault
You had right
Il had no right" she firmly said; lit
was mean of me; but you will forgive
me-you have come to do that?"
al have come to tell you how | love
| You" he exclaimed impetuously, land
to ask you to be my wife. Oh, Rosalie,
Rosalie, how love you!"
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 despairingly, 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"-
II know, know" she hurried to say;
Il did you irreparable wrong. shall
never forgive myself-nevqr."
Don't talk that way" ne exclaimed,
Il can't bear it. You have done no
wrong You are all right. Let the past
keep its troubles and misunderstanding
| want to be happy now. Rosalie, are
you afraid of me? Am | so dreadful to
you that you shrink from me in this
Way
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 not" she said, in sort of
breathless whisper. 81 cannot permit
it" She actually pushed him with her
hand.
In an instant a fash of resentment
fickered 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. II did not mean to offend you, ]
don't want you to be angry with me
you
II love, love YOU" he exclaimed, let
ting the words fall heavily from his
ashy lips, as if he were beginning to an
ticipate dreary failure.
She looked beseechingly at him, her
hands hanging loosely intertwined be-
fore her.
Il love, love you!" ne repeated.
81 wish you did not" she replied,
something of the old freshness and
naivete ringing through her troubled
voice. IL am so sorry to see you suf-
fcling."
He stood awhile in a kesitating att
trde, then with great effort he said:
80 it has come to this! Resale, Ro-
sale, must go away wounded to the
heart and die all alone somewhere? |
cannot believe you mean it; you will not
kill me, Rosalie, will you?' The frenzy
Of despair rang through his shaking, APP
pealing voice.
No, no. you wrong mer' she cried,
Won will not understand me. You re-
fuse to see that | would have you be my
friend-that honor you-that deSpise
myself for having suspected You wrong
fully-that | never can make amends for
the injury | did you"
II don't want to hear that" he said
imperiously, 1t dISpleases me. You
cannot appease me in that way any
more than you can satisfy your own
true heart. ROsalie, you cannot spurn
such love as mine You will keep tit
is priceless.
He spread out his arms again. She fed
through the doorway and stopped on
the balcony in the bright, slanting moon.
light. He, too. became mOtionlesS. As
they stood thus confronting each other
Ellisfelt that all his bright hopes were
wavering i'll the balance. and the ecstasy
of his suspense brought out cold drops
upon his forehead. He gathered all the
passion of his nature and his words
came from his lips with thrilling power:
"Rosalie, is this the end of it all: Don't |
you love me: Is my life at last to be a J
failure? Do yOu drive me away: Must
go? My God, and love you sor'
Must | go?' he repeated: "2oSalie |