Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-24

"You could not possibly become thsf, |"
she said, with the gentle gravity and
sincerity he had learned by this time to
know we'll Il am very glad that You
are to be near us, and that you are to
have the Buena Esperanto after all.
81 owe it altogether to you," he said
gratefully. Don Maurizio did not tell
me SO, but am sure that had you not
interested him in my behalf he would
never have thought of offering me this
opportunity"
81 told him simply what you told me
was important that you should pay" she
replied "He is very kind, my father,
and always ready to help every one; SO
felt certain that if he knew of anything
which would enable you to accomplish
your purpose he would tell you of it. i"
"He is more than kind, said Derwent.
earnestly. 81 can never forget his good
ness. And as for yours-well, language
fails me when try to speak of that
can only repeat what told you at Mira
flores-that my life belongs to you. And
when say this, remember that am not
using the fowery language of compli-
ment to which you are accustomed
mean the words with our Anglo-Saxon
literalness 1t is yours by every posi-
BILE claim-yours because you saved
it,
She lifted her hand with quick, de-
terring gesture, and he saw her cheek
grow pale. "Do not speak Of that" she
said. 81 try am trying hard-to for
get it."
"But do not try" he said impetu-
ously, land l could not forget it if l
would. 1t is as l told you; my life was
given to me over again by your hand
So it is yours, whether you ever have
use for it or whether you have not. And
then there is another claim" He paused
a moment, conscious that he was on the
brink of betraying all he felt, filed with
a sense of the utter hoplessness of any
avowal, yet impelled by a power stronger
than himself to speak mot only my
life, but my whole heart is yours" he
said, and when the words were spoken
a sense of wonderful calmness took pos
session of him suddenly. He grasped,
as it were, more than his ordinary self
possession. 1t was done. At least she
now knew the truth, and he need no
longer strive to tutor himself to play the
w
lover burned within him.
81 know that it is useless for me to
tell you this, he went on, after minute
that seemed strangely long to n1th-a
minute in which he heard the Murmur
of voices, SibyPs laugh, his mothers
tones, and that would always be asso-
ciated to the end of his life with the
vision of lovely downbent head and
the haunting fragrance of heliotrope
hot |
privilege of seeing and being with you in
the intimacy which has taught me to
know you. cannot help it if this is So
Separation from you will be like death,
| but it is better than the effort to restrain
my lips and eyes from telling you that /
love you with an alteration which over
whelms Inc. 1t has come upon me like
madness, and | fear that it will not
like madness pass away, for it is
founded on the knowledge of what you
are; and what that is have no words to
tell you"
Perhaps to the girl who had been sur
feited all her life with words of adula-
| ton this very reticence had an attrac-
ton and power. 1t was certainly not
such a declaration as one Of her own
countrymen would have made, but the
simple sentences seemed to go to her
heart more directly for their very sim
pIlCIGy. Ou0 lOOhSu up, anu SOm0JQ1ng
In the beautiful eyes sent thrill of hope
through Derwent's whole being. He
drew nearer to her.
''My princess" he said, low and eager
ly, 81 am not worthy to utter such words
to you, much less to hope that you could
give me one thought of favor. But if
my presumption does not make you ban
lsh me from your presence I am content
|. 10 be near you is enough-for the pres
emit. promise you that will speak Of
this no more until am a free man-free
from all claims against my honor, free
to try and win your heart, if you permit
me, as your father won another gentle
Mexican heart in the years gone by.
But if you could give me one word
one only-to live on until that day
comes!"
"And what shall that word be?" she
asked, with exquisite softness. "Shall
tell you that after you left Mirahores I
felt want-a vacancy-and I knew
when saw you again that life is q diff
terent thing when you are nearg So l
am glad that you are to stay in Mexico,
and perhaps some day you, too, will
learn to love the land as my dear father
has done, and them
"Ah. what beautiful cactus bloom.
Geofreyr cried Sibyl, half an hour
later, as she saw on Derwents coat q
rose red flower which had not been there
earlier. "Dona Zarifa has given You
her national emblem, perceive"
I'VE have gone through little cere-
mony," said Derwent, smiling, "and I
have received the cactus as a sign that
henceforth my heart, at least, is to be
Mexican"
THE END.