The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-09-04

ana al was as II used TO hs[EIth- him.
But yet It might be overwork and the
strain OF night without sleep that gave
him such a dissipatad aspect | tried TO
think Il Was 50 Meanwhile he had
seated himself III an old worn ont piano.
and looking across TO me WAS pounding
out bar after bar of passionate music.
Really, this IS too muchi / cannot
stay and endure this absurdity." | cried
and walked &c the door
But he darted ar me and seized my
hand with ferceness and the grip Of a
vice, so that SHOOK with fear
Yen shall not 20. not until you have
seen her-her adorel Sit therer' be
Saunaered, and then, with an apparent
sense OF his own harshness. he fell on his
knees before me and kissed my fingers
with feverish frenzy My queenl my
own he cried.
was SO frightened l could not speak
What was | 10 do? To scream would
not have awaited me in that attic, and
yet l wonder now | did not try TO
scream | tore my hands away from
him and sprang from my Sect, ne not
seeking TO restrain RE. but still kneeling
and gazing up at me with wild but peni-
tent eyes.
"Open the door, sir. and let me go!
That is the least return you can make
for your rudeness." said.
mo, no, no,' he cried with a wall Of
grief. Il have insulted my goddess.
nave broken her heart She VIII not
speak &c me. But look, look" he said,
darling again toward the canvas and
throwing aside the drapery ''She is
here: | have her here forever. No one
can rob me of her now
Fancy my emotions twas portrait
Of myself
| shall never forget the tipsy cunning
Of Paul Bars expression as he watched
the eject Of his legerdemain. The por-
trait was excellent: 1t was, indeed. a
masterpiece. | was sufficiently IN my
senses to appreciate that. though my
absorbing thought was how TO get out of
the room. For some moments we each
kept our pose, | standing surveying the
picture, and he with his eyes bent upon
me, leaning against ire easel which was
N the pathway To the door
Suddenly, and to my intense surprise
ne pronounced my name.
'Virginiar'
1t was a whisper Amos, and spoken
as one might breathe the name of saint.
virginia.
Then with Il low cry he stepped for
ward pace or two and dropped on his
Knees again.
Il love you, adore you. l have brok-
en- your heart, my angel, but II was love
that forced me to it. Forgive me, and
tell me if you can that there is hope-a
shadow is enough. Hope that may
some day press you to this bosom and
call you mine-mine for eternity. Vir-
gIn1a. hear me! do not look SO cold and
cruel: you are stone, while am burn
ing! ! have loved you since the first
moment | saw you. | wish my heart
were dust for you to trample on If II
may not beat forever close to yours
With you as my bride could conquer
worlds | could become an Angelo. a
Rubens Without you shall dier'
He seized my hands again and COW
cred them with kisses.
Mr. Barr. Mr.. Barr! cannot listen
70 you further Let me go-you are
mad"
eyes, / am mad-mad with love for
you, sweet Virginia"
tried TO speak calmly, yet decisively,
though from fear and pity l was trem-
bling like a leaf | told him that
could not grant what he asked. loved
him as friend, as a brother almost.
and would do anything TO serve him but
consent to become his wife. His studio
was no place for such conversation.
said. Let him come to my house after
he had thought 1t over. He would agree
then that he had been carried away by
the impulse Of the oment. by the teIi-
sion of his Overstrained nerves. and tn
marriage between Us would be an alb
surdity. Were not our tastes and hab
its totally unlike:
Perhaps these were no words TO ad
dress to an overwrought soul. mastered
by passion. But, as have said | wa:
terrified and bewildered The strong
ueSIIE L lett 10 ITeaL UlIu Will dlI Lit
gentleness and tender consideration
could muster must have been to SONS
extent neutraiized by my anxiety to pu
an end TO the interview. As l spoke hi
eyes seemed to grow darker and TO GLOW
with fire, and the cunning, safyrlik,
expression | had noticed before to IN
tensny
Pardon me, said, for the pain
cause you. My presence can only IN
crease your suffering. l viii leave you,
and If you wish. we VIII talk of this TO
mSrrow.'
Tomorrow ne answered: ''thert
may be no tomorrow. 1t is stin today
still today" ne repeated with sort Of
chuckle Il viii live today, though
may die tomorrow My goddess, ny
queen is here, and love-love-lovel'
With a bound he folded me IN his hugs
arms and pressed my face against hi
lips three times IN mad embrace.
Coward! wretch l screamed; but
was pOwerless as babe
He let me go.
i viii not hurt you, my own true
love 4 Kiss ran do no harm O0ce