The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-07

me, dear love, in exchange for Inc, this poor
and unworthy self, but yours completely,
eternally? Come, speak,
HER AGITATION WAS AS GREAT AS HIS.
She felt that it would be a wrong to him to
accept his offer. And yet she loved him
oh, how dearly
Twilight threw its tenebrifc shadows
over the beauteous scene. Across the placid
waters of the Potomac the verdure of the
Virginian hills had deepened into purple
with the gloom of the coming night. No
sound broke the stiffness but the beating of
the oars of q row-boat near the shore at their
feet and the weird wall of the whip-poor-
will from the trees above their heads. Anon
departing steamboat glided by, its smoke
stacks bslching blackuess unabashed, al
though the ether cope of heaven so purely
rooted them in.
Beverley" said she, after long, long
pause, "i it may strike you as strange that 1
make no reply when You ask me if l will
marry you. You who are so rich, so flat
tered-you have everything to make life
sweet"
"Of what avail are my advantages if 1
cannot have yOuP"
ado you think me your equal?" asked
Christabel.
g think you my superior" he answered.
"Tush! That is folly!" she exclaimed.
I am poor in purse, obscure in name, a
disregarded factor in the commonwealth
woman"
You are she whom I lovel" he urged,
passionately, seizing her hand.
"Larz Beverley / L An, par
don me! let you sec too clearly my feel
ings. But you know that l have never met
one exactly like to you. 1t is not surprising
that Ia poor working girl, who have had
little but penury, toll, and sorrow so far in
life
SHOULD BE ENTHRALLED By YOU,
gentleman so thoroughly, with manner so
polished, speech so pure D
He took advantage of this moment of
weakness on her part.
"Christabel, you love mel" he cried, with
ringing triumph.
She arose to avoid his extended arms.
II must return" she said, hurriedly; the
dew is falling heavily; 1 cannot afford to
be ILL.,"
when shall see you again ?" he asked,
adapting his pace to her rapid step.
"When you have ceased to think you love
me-"
"That will be never!"
Beverley" she asked, in q quiet tone,
"wbat is your idea of the highest good in
life?"
"Your love-" he answered, quickly.
"Ah, why will you not be serious?" she
said.
81 assure you think that love is Gods
best gift to man."
"Well, then," she assented, "His next
best gift"-
Z" Is liberty" said Larz
81 thought you would say that" she
replied, gravely. :" You appreciate the free
dom of the American, who looks up to his
native skies and feels that there is no supe-
rior power standing between him and heaven.
A man can draw his lungs full of seif-respect
in the atmosphere of this country, can he
not?D
"Yes, that is freedom, Christabel-the
freedom for which our ancestors suffered,
bled, and died." said Larz, with feeling.
He whom marry, be he rich or poor"
she resumed, "must be large enough in
mind to understand that the day for ver-
nility in woman has passed; that as in the
eyes of God we are equal, so must we be in the
eyes of man. Woman, against fearful odds,
has fought her way to the front; she is now
recognized power in every way, save one.
No longer will she endure being treated as
neglected quantity Ia the conduct of the
country. She must have voice-that voice
which speaks through the ballot. But here
we are at Frau Trichmann's door; the chill
dren will come rushing out when they see
me-"
"Bless their little dimples!" exclaimed
Beverley, in mood to bless everything and
everybody. "Why, Christabel," he went on,
"as though your advanced ideas had any
terror for me! / am with you first, last,
and always, in everything that tends to
strike off the shackles placed on woman
during the dark ages"
"Your hand upon that!" she demanded,
with happy smile.
"And yours in pledge of our betrothal,"
he answered. "We are affianced-nothing
can prevent our union"
Nothing but disgrace" she replied, her
lovely countenance becoming grave again; {;
'should disgrace, merited or unmerited,
ever taint my name. I'll seek hiding-place
from mortal eyes-in yonder stream"
ITO be continued.l