Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-30
CHAPTER XII.

meath her feet, as she huIrlGS rapidly to-
ward the garden! How her heart beats! Oh
that she were back again in her pretty safe
room, with the naughty ki, to scold! Oh, if
Aunt Priscilla were to rise, and, looking out
of her bedroom window, catch glimpse of
| her, as she haSteS to meet tie man she has
been forbidden to know. A thousand ter
rors possess her. The soft beauty of the
night is unseen, the rushing of sweet brooks
in the distance is unheard. She hurrieS on,
little, 1.-THE, frightened figure, with wide
eyes and parted lips, to the rendezvous she
has not sought. And what little way it
had seemed in the glad daylight, yet what a
Journey in the silent, fearSOme night! There
are real tears, born of sheer nervousness, in
her beautiful eyes as she runs along the gar
den path, and at laSt-dt IGSt-fndS herself
face to face with Desmond.
"Ah, you have comer' cries he, gladly,
going to meet her while yet she is long
way off.
Yes. But to come here, and at this
hour! 1t is madnessr' says Monica, hastily.
GA very blessed madness, then, and with
method i'll it; it has enabled me to see you,"
''Oh, do not talk like that. You ought not
to see me at all. And now, what is it? Kit
said you wanted lie sadly"
And so l do, and not only now but al
ways''
''If" reproachfully, SIT is nothing press
ing, would not tomorrow have done?"
'"ro-morrow never comes. There is moth
| ing like today: and how could have lived
| Till to-mo.roW? could net Sleep could
not rest, until | had seen you. My heart
seemed on fire. Monica, how could you
| have treated me as you did to-day"
''Why must you choose me to love,-nle,
of all the world?" says Monica, TREMENDOUSLY;
ut is wide, there are others and"
Because l must. 1t is my fate, and | am
| glad of it. Whom wOrthier could love?"
! says the lover, with fond, passionate rever-
ence.
'Many,no doubt. And why loveat ALP Let
us be friends, then, if it is indeed decreed
! that our lives meet"
There could never be mere friendship be-
tween you and me. If your heart sleeps, at
least your sense must tell you that
Then [ could wish myself without sense.
want to know nothing about it. Alas!
| how sad thing is love!'
And how jOyous It is the one emotion
to be fed and foStered. All others are but
vanity / will persist in loving you until l
die"
THAT is foolish saying and, even if you
do, what will come Of it alp" says Monica,
with a sigh.
Marriage, I trust" returns he, right
cheerfully. "Oh, Monica, if you could only
| love mer'
! 81 dare not.' Then, as though sorry for
these words, she holds out her hand to him,
and says with quick smile, 'Oh, Romeo,
| ROmeoI wherefore art thou, ROmeO?"
Il wish knew" returns he sadly. 'Yet
if were sure of one thine, should not des-
| ill -Sla5
Il can't say" says Monica. ''He is very
| kind tome always. | am sure ought to
like him.
"How has he been kind to your"
| "Oh, in many ways"
''He has brought you cup of somebody
else'S tea, l suppose, and has probably tr0t'
ted after you with camp-stOol; is that
! kindneSS?"
eff one is hot or tired, yes"
| you are the most grateful specimen OF
| your sex. | wish there was anything for
which you might be grateful to me. But
am not great at the petjts S0irCs business"
Il shouldn't have thought so this after
noOn," says Monica, ma .iciOuSy, when
you were so happy with O.ga Bohun. But
see, the moon has risen quite above the
elmS. must CO."
Not yet. There is something else. When
ttLIl L W SCC ) Olt tlS-EtIlI. w iICII'
| That is as fate wills l."
''You are my fate. VIII it, then, and say
| Tomorrow"
No, mop exclaims she, releasing her
hands from his, Il cannot indeed. | nlusE
not. In being here with YOU now l am do
ing wrong, and am beTaying the two PEG
! pie in the world who are the most kind 10
| me. How shall l 10 k into Their eyes to-
! morrow? No; will not promise to meet
| you anyWhere-erer.
How tender you are with them, and with
me how cruel! Monica, you iiil9 me?'
Yes, like you" says Miss Baresford, a.
she might have answered naI she been CUES
toned as to her opinion o. an aromatic rus
SET.
depressing a gesture Of Impotence, Des
| mont goes on calm "
'B tier than Ry3e?"
Than Mr.. Ryue?' She stops, and giancns
at the gravel at her feet in a would-bs
thoughtful fashion, and pushes it to and fro
with hr pretty Louis Quinze shoe. Shs
pauses purpose.y and makes quite an affair
o. her hesitation.
Eyes, Ryde," says he, impatiently.
How can L answer that" SIZE saws, =;
len-til, with studied del beratiOn, when !!
know 50 little of either him-or YOUR
knowing us both at least equally W.T..
you must have formed by this time Sofa
opinion of US"
Il should indeed" says the young girl
slowly, always with her eyes upon tie grav.
Ell; 'but unfortunately it never occurred to